World Report. 2006, China and India

Author: Worldwatch Institute
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: China and India are not just on the horizon to become economic giants; now, these two nations are also major players in the Earth's biosphere. Therefore, whether our world can successfully build a healthy, prosperous, and environmentally sustainable future for the next generation, China and India play a pivotal role. The industrialized world has learned to mitigate the negative impacts of wealth creation by investing vast sums of money. However, it is clear that the industrialized world has never successfully halted these impacts; they are still far from solving the problems they have caused. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) warns that two-thirds of the ecosystem services on which human society depends are degrading or being used unsustainably, and if human society does not change its course, this trend may "deteriorate severely" in the next 50 years. In 2005, the Communist Party of China launched a new national slogan: "Building a Harmonious Society." This concept does not focus solely on economic growth as in the reform era but sets core priorities to strengthen democracy and the rule of law, promote fairness and justice, integrity and harmony, and harmony between humans and nature. The rapid development of China and India has attracted global attention, and they will become significant forces shaping the global economy. However, the rise of the third world has once again drawn attention to environmental issues. Pollution problems generated during the industrialization of developed countries are once again being exacerbated as developing countries strive to boost their economies. How to address and solve these issues and build a sustainable society are the key focuses of this book. Specific topics include food safety, freshwater ecosystems, biofuels, nanotechnology, mercury pollution prevention, and the environmental web woven by global trade.