Global Environment Outlook 2000

THIS VOLUME REVIEWS environmental conditions around the world. The GEO project was launched in 1995, in response to the need for more comprehensive, integrated, policy relevant assessments of the global environment and this volume is based on information provided by more than 850 individuals and over 30 regional and international collaborating centres. The book presents a region-by-region analysis of the state of the world's environment, highlighting key global concerns and making recommendations for policy action. The first chapter is on Global Perspectives, providing a background perspective to the environmental changes covered in the rest of the report. It describes the main drivers of environmental change- the economy, population growth, political organization, conflict, peace and security, and regionalization. It then assesses the main dangers and opportunities presented at the beginning of the third millennium: globalization, trade, international debt, demography, the consumer culture, technology and transport. Finally, it examines responses to the situation, covering environmental policies, the changing concept of development, science and research, business and industry, employment and consumer awareness. The next chapter is a Global and Regional Synthesis, providing an overview of the state of the environment at the end of the second millenium. Most of the analysis is regional but it begins with an overview of issues that are of global significance for the environment: climate change, stratospheric ozone depletion, nitrogen loading, toxic chemicals and hazardous waste, natural disasters, El Nino, forest fires and biomass burning, and human health and the environment. This section continues with a synthesis of the sectoral issues, which are then examined in detail region-by-region later in the chapter. The regions covered include Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, West Asia and the Polar areas. In each regional analysis, a social and economic background contextualizes the current assessments, and the range of sectoral issues are examined: land and food; forests; biodiversity; fresh water; marine and coastal areas; atmosphere and urban areas. Each is illustrated with graphs, tables, and “key fact” boxes which serve to make scientific information clear and accessible to the reader, whilst simultaneously highlighting issues specific to particular regions.
Chapter 3 describes the different types of policy responses that are being used to address environmental issues, and tries to assess their success or failure. It acknowledges difficulties with data quality and availability, uneven monitoring and a lack of indicators, and recognizes the lack of proper mechanisms, methodologies and criteria in determining which policy contributes to which change in the state of the environment. A general introduction is included, followed by descriptions of policy responses in the seven GEO regions. The analysis is conducted in terms of eight policy clusters. These are: multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) and non-binding instruments, including implementation,
compliance, effectiveness and reporting; laws and institutions; economic instruments; industry and new technologies; the financing of environmental action; public participation; environmental information and education; and social policies. These same categories are then used in regional analyses.
Chapter 4, on Future Perspectives, looks at the environmental issues that will require priority attention in the twenty-first century. It assesses old problems which are rapidly becoming worse or for which solutions are becoming increasingly difficult. It also identifies a number of key issues for the future through a series of alternative policy studies, carried out region-by-region. In the final chapter, Outlook and Recommendations, full-scale emergencies are outlined, emerging problems di