Ecological Economics: An economic concept beneficial to the Earth

Author: Lester R. Brown
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-05-01
Features: This is a specialized book describing an ecological economic blueprint, as well as a popular read aimed at awakening the public and urging decision-makers at all levels to change their mindset and take action. Economists focus solely on economic achievements, while ecologists, in addition to seeing economic success, also recognize the severe costs paid by the Earth's ecosystem. Brown calls for the integration of economic principles and ecological principles, urging economists and ecologists to work together to build an economic model that benefits the Earth—ecological economics. Just as the heliocentric theory of Copernicus replaced the geocentric theory of Ptolemy, saving our overburdened planet requires viewing the economy as a subsystem of the Earth's ecosystem, replacing the economy-centered approach with an environment-centered one, and urgently needing an environmental revolution to accelerate the transformation from traditional economics to ecological economics. Despite the Earth being in ruins and ecology on the brink of collapse, Brown is an optimist, believing that humanity should and can save its home—the Earth. The dawn of the ecological economy he envisions has already appeared in Denmark's wind farms, Japan's solar roofs, the Netherlands' bicycle networks, and China's aquaculture systems.