While overconsumption by the developed world's roughly one billion inhabitants is an abiding problem, another one billion increasingly affluent ""new consumers"" in developing countries will place additional strains on the earth's resources, argue authors Norman Myers and Jennifer Kent in this important new book. The New Consumers examines the environmental impacts of this increased consumption, with particular focus on two commodities -- cars and meat -- that stand to have the most far-reaching effects. It analyzes consumption patterns in a number of different countries, with special emphasis on China and India (whose surging economies, as well as their large populations, are likely to account for exceptional growth in humanity's ecological footprint), and surveys big-picture issues such as the globalization of economies, consumer goods, and lifestyles. Ultimately, according to the orman Myers and Jennifer Kent, the challenge will be for all of humanity to transition to sustainable levels of consumption, for it is unrealistic to expect ""new"" consumers not to aspire to be like the ""old"" ones. Cogent in its analysis, The New Consumers issues a timely warning of a major and developing environmental trend, and suggests valuable strategies for ameliorating its effects.
Contents Preface Chapter I: WHO ARE THE NEW CONSUMERS? Definition of the new consumers Emergence of the new consumers The 20 new consumer countries The special case of China Over-consumption and sustainable consumption Appendix: GNI and its shortcomings Chapter II: CARS: DRIVING US BACKWARDS Car numbers Environmental problems The cars phenomenon in developed countries A better road ahead Conclusion Chapter III: MEAT: JUICY STEAKS AND HIDDEN COSTS Concealed costs of the meat economy The grain connection The water connection The future outlook The carnivorous culture Chapter IV: FURTHER RESOURCE LINKAGES: HOUSEHOLD ELECTRICITY, ECO-FOOTPRINTS AND HUMAN NUMBERS Household electricity Ecological footprints Population Chapter V: CHINA: A GIANT AWAKE AND ROARING The new consumers The new consumers' future Meat Cars Household electricity Environmental impacts The big picture
Chapter VI: INDIA: THE SECOND "BIGGIE" India's new consumers Meat Cars Environmental problems Conclusion Chapter VII: THE BIG PICTURE Asia: Saudi Arabia Africa: South Africa Latin America: Brazil, Mexico Eastern Europe: Russia Five economic superpowers The new consumers, present and future Globalization HIV/AIDS and other diseases The have-nots Conclusion Chapter VIII: SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION: WHAT'S THAT AND WHERE DO WE FIND IT? The drivers of consumption Eco-technologies: an imperative Conclusion Chapter IX: SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION: HOW TO GET FROM HERE TO THERE Making a personal difference The Auroville experiment The biggest question Beyond today's consumption
Appendix A Appendix B
Notes
Index Table I.1 The world's 20 largest economies in 2002 Table I.2 The new consumers in 2000 Table II.1 The new consumers' cars in 1990 and 2000 Table III.1 Meat and grain in 2000 Table III.2 Grain and meat demand 1997-2020 Table IV.1 CO2 emissions in 2000 Table IV.2 Ecological footprints Table IV.3 Population Table VII.1 Five economic superpowers Table VII.2 The new consumers and the economy in 2000 and 2010 Table VII.3 TVs and personal computers in 2000 Figure I.1 Income distribution, late 1990s
Library of Congress Subject Headings for this publication: Economic development Environmental aspects, Consumption (Economics) Environmental aspects, Sustainable development, Environmental responsibility
""Myers and Kent have written a clarion call to all people, rich and poor. While political interest in the environment ebbs and flows, the impact of consumption increases relentlessly. What is now a tragedy of the commons can only be overcome by the diligence and care this book embodies.""
' Paul Hawken, author of Natural Capitalism
""Myers and Kent have identified a major environmental issue for the 21st century'the rise of 'new consumers' whose environmental impact will be enormous if they behave like the 'old' consumers. They also clearly point out the fundamental limitations of consumerism (whether new or old) in achieving real, sustainable human welfare, and a path to sustainable consumption. The first step in overcoming the addiction of consumerism is recognizing that it is psychological 'junk food.'""
' Robert Costanza, Director, Gund Institute of Ecological Economics, University of Vermont
""In The New Consumers Myers and Kent brilliantly show why it's urgent for the global community to choose between sustainable patterns of resource use and today's accelerating drain on the planet's resources. They explore how both the new consumers of the rapidly developing world and the longtime over-consumers of the rich countries can both find a future that works.""
' James Gustave Speth, Dean, Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, and author of Red Sky at Morning
""Could increasing consumption be costing the world more than it is worth? Read this important book and find out!""
' Herman E. Daly, University of Maryland, author of Beyond Growth
""Norman Myers is one of the world's most insightful and original thinkers on the crucial environmental issues of our time. In The New Consumers he and Jennifer Kent incisively analyze the rise of consumption on a world scale and show us what can be done for people everywhere to enjoy a high quality of life without destroying the planet's ability to support our grandchildren.""
' Paul R. Ehrlich, Stanford University, coauthor of One with Nineveh
