Vital Signs Volume 21 is all about growth. From natural disasters to cars to organic farming, the two dozen trends examined here indicate both increasing pressure on natural resources and scaled up efforts to live more sustainably.
In 2012, world auto production set yet another record with passenger-car production rising to 66.7 million. That same year, the number of natural disasters climbed to 905, roughly one hundred more than the 10-year annual average, and 90 percent were weather related. Alongside these mounting pressures come investments in renewable energy and sustainable agriculture. The number of acres of land farmed organically has tripled since 1999, though it still makes up less than 1% of total farmland.
Not all the statistics are going up. Key measures of development aid have fallen, as have global commodity prices. Yet the overall trend is expansion, both for the good and ill of the planet. Vital Signs provides the latest data available, but its value goes beyond simple numbers. Through insightful analysis of global trends, it offers a starting point for those seeking solutions to the future’s intensifying challenges.
Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction: A Global Disconnect \ Michael Renner
Energy Trends -Fossil Fuels Dominate Primary Energy Consumption -Nuclear Power Recovers Slightly, But Global Future Uncertain -Growth of Global Solar and Wind Energy Continues to Outpace -Other Technologies -Biofuel Production Declines -Policy Support for Renewable Energy Continues to Grow and Evolve -Phasing Out Fossil Fuel Subsidies
Environment and Climate Trends -Record High for Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions -Agriculture and Livestock Remain Major Sources of Greenhouse -Gas Emissions -Natural Catastrophes in 2012 Dominated by U.S. Weather Extremes
Transportation Trends -Automobile Production Sets New Record, But Alternative Vehicles -Grow Slowly -Air Transport Keeps Expanding
Food and Agriculture Trends -Agricultural Population Growth Marginal as Nonagricultural Population Soars -Global Food Prices Continue to Rise -Agricultural Subsidies Remain a Staple in the Industrial World
Global Economy and Resources Trends -Global Economy: Looks Good from Afar But Is Far from Good -More Businesses Pursue Triple Bottom Line for a Sustainable Economy -Development Aid Falls Short, While Other Financial Flows Show -Rising Volatility -Commodity Supercycle Slows Down in 2012
Peace and Conflict Trends -Military Expenditures Remain Near Peak -Peacekeeping Budgets Equal Less Than Two Days of Military Spending Chapter 7. Population and Society Trends -Displaced Populations -World Population: Fertility Surprise Implies More Populous Future -Women as National Legislators -Mobile Phone Growth Slows as Mobile Devices Saturate the Market
