Product Description

When "Blueprint for a Green Economy" was published, its central message - that environmental problems have their roots in economic "failures", served to change the direction of environmental policy. The goal of sustainable development was seen to be illusory unless an economic perspective was brought to bear on the issue. A decade on, two of the original authors, David Pearce and Ed Barbier, return to the original theme to see what has changed. They find that the picture has improved, with governments worldwide now talking the language of environmental economics and making steps towards an economics-based environmental policy. However, there is a long way to go and "Blueprint for a Sustainable Economy" maps out the agenda again, with special reference to developing country problems where the neglect of environmental quality is costing nations dear. The authors show that their original formulation of the meaning of sustainable development has flourished into whole theories of how to achieve sustainability and how to measure a sustainable path for modern economies. They also show that all the principles applicable to a nation, or to the world as a whole, are equally applicable to corporations. They offer a blueprint for the start of the century.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #409423 in Books
• Published on: 2000-04-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

From the Publisher
'This new book covers all major areas of the sustainability debate and provides rich case study examples.'
John Dixon, Lead Environmental Economist, the World Bank

'The major finding is that both rich and poor countries have done much to implement the ideas and policies they recommended. This new volume is a welcome start to the 21st century’s environment agenda.'
Professor Gordon Conway, President, the Rockefeller Foundation

‘...a readable and robust presentation and defence of the economic approach to solving the problems of sustainable development……a highly recommended read’
THE BUSINESS ECONOMIST, Vol. 31 No. 3

‘…well written and referenced text…the arguments are cogent…a welcome addition to the literature on sustainable development.’
PROGRESS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 2

‘…maps out the agenda with special reference to developing-country problems…shows how the original formulation of the meaning of sustainable development has flourished into while theories of how to achieve sustainability.’
INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND ASSESSMENT (IEMA), July 2000

‘the latest offering from these two established authors contains useful information helpful, summaries and new ideas’
ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING C: GOVERNMENT AND POLICY

About the Author
Edward B Barbier
Edward Barbier is senior lecturer in Economics at York University, UK, co-author of Blueprint for a Green Economy (Earthscan, 1989) and author of Elephants, Economics and Ivory: Economics, Natural-Resource Scarcity (1990), Sustainable Development (Earthscan, 1991) and Paradise Lost (Earthscan, 1994).
David Pearce
David Pearce is Professor of Environmental Economics at University College London and founding Director of the Centre for Social and Economic Research on the Global Environment (CSERGE). He was for several years special adviser to the UK Secretary of State for the Environment, and was awarded an OBE for services to the environment in the 2000 New Year's and Queen's Birthday Honours Lists. He is author, co-author or editor of over 40 books, including the much acclaimed Blueprint series (Blueprint for a Green Economy; Blueprint 2: Greening the World Economy; Blueprint 3: Measuring Sustainable Development; Blueprint 4: Capturing Global Environmental Value; Blueprint 5: The True Costs of Road Transport; Blueprint for a Sustainable Economy); Acid Rain in Europe; The Economic Value of Biodiversity; Economic Values and the Natural World; Sustainable Development; and Valuing the Environment.