EPIBuilding a Sustainable Future
Books
Lester R. Brown

Table of Contents

Includes Podcasts of Preface and chapter introductions.

Entire book
(pdf)
Data sets

Preface (pdf) (Listen to Audio)

1. Selling Our Future (pdf)
    Introduction (Listen to Audio)
    Food: The Weak Link
    The Emerging Politics of Food Scarcity
    Our Global Ponzi Economy
    Mounting Stresses, Failing States
    Plan B—A Plan to Save Civilization  
Chapter 1 Data (xls) (pdf) (highlights)

PART I. THE CHALLENGES

2. Population Pressure: Land and Water (pdf)
    Introduction (Listen to Audio)
    Civilization's Foundation Eroding
    Water Tables Falling
    Farmers Losing Water to Cities
    Land and Water Conflicts
    Cars and People Compete for Grain 
    The Rising Tide of Environmental Refugees
Chapter 2 Data (xls) (pdf) (highlights)
        
3. Climate Change and the Energy Transition (pdf)
    Introduction (Listen to Audio)
    Rising Temperature and Its Effects
    Melting Ice, Rising Seas
    Melting Glaciers, Shrinking Harvests
    Rising Temperatures, Falling Yields
    The Decline of Oil and Coal
    A Challenge Without Precedent
Chapter 3 Data (xls) (pdf)

PART II. THE RESPONSE

4. Stabilizing Climate: An Energy Efficiency Revolution (pdf)
    Introduction (Listen to Audio)
    A Revolution in Lighting Technology
    Energy-Efficient Appliances
    Zero-Carbon Buildings
    Electrifying the Transport System
    A New Materials Economy
    Smarter Grids, Appliances, and Consumers
    The Energy Savings Potential
Chapters 4 and 5 Data (xls) (pdf)

5. Stabilizing Climate: Shifting to Renewable Energy (pdf)
    Introduction (Listen to Audio)
    Turning to the Wind
    Solar Cells and Thermal Collectors
    Energy from the Earth
    Plant-Based Sources of Energy
    Hydropower: Rivers, Tides, and Waves
    The World Energy Economy of 2020
Chapters 4 and 5 Data (xls) (pdf)

 

 


6. Designing Cities for People (pdf)
    Introduction (Listen to Audio)
    The Ecology of Cities
    Redesigning Urban Transport
    The Return of Bicycles
    Reducing Urban Water Use
    Farming in the City
    Upgrading Squatter Settlements
    Cities for People
Chapter 6 Data (xls) (pdf) (highlights)

7. Eradicating Poverty and Stabilizing Population (pdf)
     Introduction (Listen to Audio)
     Educating Everyone
     Toward a Healthy Future
     Stabilizing Population
     Rescuing Failing States
     A Poverty Eradication Agenda and Budget
Chapter 7 Data (xls) (pdf) (highlights)

8. Restoring the Earth (pdf)
     Introduction (Listen to Audio)
     Protecting and Restoring Forests
     Planting Trees to Sequester Carbon
     Conserving and Rebuilding Soils
     Regenerating Fisheries
     Protecting Plant and Animal Diversity
     The Earth Restoration Budget
Chapter 8 Data (xls) (pdf)

9. Feeding 8 Billion People Well (pdf)
     Introduction (Listen to Audio)
     Raising Land Productivity
     Raising Water Productivity
     Producing Protein More Efficiently
     The Localization of Agriculture
     Strategic Reductions in Demand
     Action on Many Fronts
Chapter 9 Data (xls) (pdf) (highlights)

PART III: THE GREAT MOBILIZATION

10. Can We Mobilize Fast Enough? (pdf)
     Introduction (Listen to Audio)
     Shifting Taxes and Subsidies
     Coal: The Beginning of the End
     Climate Stabilization Steps
     Three Models of Social Change
     A Wartime Mobilization
     Mobilizing to Save Civilization
     What You and I Can Do
Chapter 10 Data (xls) (pdf)

Endnotes (pdf)
Index (pdf)
Acknowledgements & About the Author (pdf)
Plan B 4.0 Data