Has the future a future? Are we bringing history to an end? Observing any one of several individual, but critical trends suggests that without rapid and positive action, history may only have a very short way to run. Whether it is the growth of world population, of greenhouse gas concentrations and the accelerating rate of climate change, growing shortages of fresh water-the list is endless-we are facing a mounting global crisis that will peak in less than a generation-around the year 2030.
But there is also considerable scope for optimism. There are exciting and radical new developments in the energy field. The world's first hydrogen powered aircraft flew in June 2005. A method for controlling malaria should be developed within 4 years. And many more people are informed over major issues and are aggressively lobbying for change, for example, in the critical areas of energy and climate.
In this updated companion to The 2030 Spike Colin Mason aims to cut through the rhetoric and often conflicting information-on depleted fuel supplies, rampant population growth, poverty, climate change and famine-to illustrate a broad picture of the world as it is and the action we should take to avoid catastrophe. A Short History of the Future will tell you what you need to know and help you to decide what collectively we can do to avoid the mounting global crisis.
|