World Resources 1996-97; The Urban Environment

THE SEVENTH REPORT in the World Resources series, this book gives a comprehensive range of data and information on the environment and development. Part I concentrates upon the urban environment with an introductory chapter on the origins and types of environmental problems evident in cities, their costs and implications for the poor and for governments. Other chapters in this section explore the implications of environmental problems for health; the depletion of natural resources and pollution caused by cities; urban transportation trends and impacts; urban environmental priorities for action; and the strengthening of local government and community initiatives.

Part II summarizes global conditions and trends on a variety of key issues in the major resource categories. Various chapters focus upon future trends and each has an annex of data tables. The areas covered are basic economic indicators; population and human development; forests and land cover; food and agriculture; biodiversity; energy and materials; water and fisheries; and atmosphere and climate.