The Limits to Sustainability Science: Ecological Constraints or Endless Innovation?

摘要

The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) takes place in Rio de Janeiro on 20–22 June 2012. Twenty years after the 1992 Earth Summit that led to the establishment of two major environmental conventions (the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity), Rio+20 presents an opportunity for the leaders of the world's governments to re-examine their commitments to sustainable development. An Essay by Burger et al. [1] in this issue and a Perspective contributed in response by Matthews and Boltz [2] raise concerns that certainly should be considered in Rio. But it's almost certain they won't be.