Eco-Economy

by Lester R. Brown

"One of the world's most influential thinkers."― Washington Post In 1543, Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus challenged the view that the Sun revolved around the Earth, arguing instead that the Earth revolved around the Sun. His paper led to a revolution in thinking―to a new worldview. Eco-Economy discusses the need today for a similar shift in our worldview. The issue now is whether the environment is part of the economy or the economy is part of the environment. Lester R. Brown argues the latter, pointing out that treating the environment as part of the economy has produced an economy that is destroying its natural support systems. Brown notes that if China were to have a car in every garage, American style, it would need 80 million barrels of oil a day―more than the world currently produces. If paper consumption per person in China were to reach the U.S. level, China would need more paper than the world produces. There go the world's forests. If the fossil fuel-based, automobile-centered, throwaway economic model will not work for China, it will not work for the other 3 billion people in the developing world―and it will not work for the rest of the world. But Brown is optimistic as he describes how to restructure the global economy to make it compatible with the Earth's ecosystem so that economic progress can continue. In the new economy, wind farms replace coal mines, hydrogen-powered fuel cells replace internal combustion engines, and cities are designed for people, not cars. Glimpses of the new economy can be seen in the wind farms of Denmark, the solar rooftops of Japan, and the bicycle network of the Netherlands. Eco-Economy is a road map of how to get from here to there.

Genres: Nonfiction, Economics, Environment, Ecology, Sustainability

354 pages, Paperback

First published November 17, 2001

About the author

Lester Russel Brown is an American environmentalist, founder of the Worldwatch Institute, and founder and president of the Earth Policy Institute, a nonprofit research organization based in Washington, D.C. BBC Radio commentator Peter Day calls him "one of the great pioneer environmentalists."

In the mid-1970s, Brown helped pioneer the concept of sustainable development, during a career that started with farming. As early as 1978, in his book The Twenty-Ninth Day, he was already warning of "the various dangers arising out of our manhandling of nature...by overfishing the oceans, stripping the forests, turning land into desert." In 1986, the Library of Congress requested his personal papers noting that his writings “have already strongly affected thinking about problems of world population and resources.”

He has been the recipient of many prizes and awards, including, the 1987 United Nations Environment Prize, the 1989 World Wide Fund for Nature Gold Medal, and the 1994 Blue Planet Prize for his "contributions to solving global environmental problems."

Excerpted from Wikipedia.

Reviews

[Colleen Mertens · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this to learn what we need to do to integrate the environment with the economy. This book explores how the economy needs to be based on sound environmental policy if we are to continue living on Earth. The book was originally written early in the new century and it would be nice to get some updates on how we are doing on some of the principles explored in this book. We need to learn more from this book and thinking more about the environment if we want Earth to continue. This should be required reading for all politicians.

[Patrick Taggart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite repetitive in the examples given, but overall an eye-opening read, providing a lot of value to readers.

[Will Bradford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely some good ideas and data but very repetitive. Many figures illustrated the same point on repeat (the deep sea fisheries!!).

Inertia is our worst enemy, but Pearl Harbor restructured the entire economy in a year

Elevate dependable sources and form a coalition between activists and gov

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this one for book club. I must admit I was a bit daunted by a book club book with charts and graphs. But, it was a great read -- interesting ideas and lots and lots of data and facts. Brown presents a compelling argument for a complete change in our global economy. And he comes across as optimistic. I'm not sure how he did that with all the doom and gloom in his facts. My big problem with the book was that it was written 8 years ago -- much has changed, I think. I'll have to go online and get a current analysis of the status of development of an eco-economy.

[Oleguer de la Tupchique · Rating 3 out of 5]

Briefly speaking:
Economists are malevolent, but still we can change the flow of events.
This book can be regarded as economic, with a slight domination of biological issues.

PS: "No use hoping for a miracle, there's a price we'll have to pay" (c)

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

good but nonpolitical.

[Meredith]

started this one a few years ago....a little heavy just to pick up....may enjoy reading with someone so we could discuss

[Tommy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is probably Lester's best effort. He's not a great writer. He is a great advocate for environmentalism and a living legend.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read...has a sense of urgency that made me feel a little less hopeful for our future, but gave me a little more fire to try harder too. Well written and interesting.

[Nell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lester Brown has been on top of the big world environmental issues for a long time.

[Guswong · Rating 3 out of 5]

didn't learn much. his solutions don't go far enough for me. don't talk about less consumption enough.

[Sherry Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

dedpressing