A large number of people and organisations are since many decades devoted to environmental problems and to the development of a sustainable future society. In spite of these efforts we must realize that the threats related to nature are more serious than ever and, paradoxically, general interest in environmental issues is lower than it was 20 years ago.
The book gives an overview of our environmental problems and how politicians and other decision makers are handling these. Obstacles to the development of a sustainable society are identified. A most serious obstacle is our way of thinking.
The book presents a strategy on how to avoid these obstacles. A strategy around which, hopefully, many people could gather.
(A summery of the book's major messages)
Despite early warnings from environmentalists like Rachel Carson, Georg Borgström, Hans Palmstierna and others, and a number of environmental conferences over the last decades, human devastation of nature and its resources continues. Proposals on environmental protection, in some cases even implemented, are of minor impact rather than profound improvements. We need to ask ourselves, why? The answer is to be found in our way of thinking. Below some examples in support of this thesis.
Today many people believe that technology alone can support the development of a sustainable future. Instead, we must develop sustainable patterns of life and use the technology for making these patterns attractive.
Economic growth implies increased production and consumption of commodities and services, which, contrary to some opinions, leads to a further strain on the environment. A major force behind economic growth is our high dependence on income. A higher level of self-sufficiency can reduce this dependence.
The unemployment problem is today primarily met by efforts to increase the supply of employment opportunities. It could also be met by reducing demand for employment.
In the work for a sustainable future we often take our current society system for granted. We thereby risk perpetuating the flaws of today’s system. Instead we should build a vision of a sustainable society and then work toward that goal.
We are reluctant to realize that a sustainable society in many ways is incompatible with the industrialized system of today. A sustainable society must therefore, similar to the development of our industrial society, be developed parallel to the current system and on its own terms.