"On subjects as diverse yet interrelated as the earth's water resources, 21st century energy sources, climate change, the demise of diversity in plant and animal life, overpopulation and malnutrition, this book collects and accessibly presents the most up-to-date research on subjects of major global concern from 12 leading scientists. Sustainable Future provides us with the tools to make up our own minds about sustainability, the future of our planet and where global attention and resources must now be focused. The cost of inaction is alarmingly high, yet a huge number of people remain uninformed about the consequences of doing nothing. A Sustainable Future serves as both an introductory guide to the key issues of sustainability and is also a wake-up-call, a plea to society to act, to inform itself, and to call politicians to account. In his closing chapter, editor Klaus Wiegandt recommends ways in which society might realistically begin to reform to be more conscious of issues of sustainability."--Publisher's description.