Analysis Of World On The Edge Essay

The world is facing issues of overwhelming complexity and urgency. The challenge is to think globally and develop policies to counteract environmental decline and environmental collapse. Brown illustrates the economic future through an environmental perspective to develop a plan that will sustain civilization. Throughout the book, he concentrates on four major components that will head the world towards a brighter future. These include a massive cut in global carbon emissions, the stabilization of world population, the decrease of poverty, and the restoration of our planet’s diverse natural landscape. Brown presents the reader with very accurate arguments in World on the Edge however; he also makes some weak points that may not be the best plan to save the planet.

Brown gives concise, but very informative, summaries of what he regards the key issues facing civilization as a consequence of the stress we put on our environment which is a valuable contribution to the ongoing debate. For example, in chapter five Brown discusses the emerging politics of food on scarcity. Food prices soared rapidly between the years 2007 and 2008 and the social order in many countries begin to break down. He goes on to describe many different places that go through this process. One of Brown’s most important topics is that he explains how the world’s governments and social movements can still avoid the threat of worldwide disaster, on every continent this century, if we can act in this decade with the degree of urgency required by our situation. Brown understands why we have reached this point of worldwide crisis. He states that the interests of the fossil fuel and defense industries in maintaining the status quo are strong. Although Brown does not de...

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...a, particularly among vulnerable populations in Bangladesh and Maldives. “The 1995 flooding of Bhola Island, Bangladesh provides a striking example of a social and environmental catastrophe in what was arguably a climate refugee crisis as many of those who fled from the island returned to nothing” (Riva, 20). Riva claims that populations that are vulnerable to environmental hazards face the real threat of displacement under climate change.

In conclusion, Brown’s World on the Edge gives great plans and ideas on how to save the ecosystems and various habitats around the world. I really enjoyed the book and thought that Brown’s arguments were very logically and thorough. It was a very readable and authorative account of the problems we face from global warming to shrinking water sources, fisheries and forests. The books provide me with a plan to help the planet.