Quality of Life in the Global Environment:
Preparing for the Next Century
April 1997

What condition will the earth's environment be in by the middle of the next century? Predictions based on current trends and indicators certainly vary. But even the most optimistic of these raise serious concerns. Without doubt, we face a major task in striving to safeguard the planet's ecological health while meeting the needs of a human population estimated to be nearly nine billion by the year 2050.

The crucial environmental issues ahead make it necessary that we examine our current views of nature, our lifestyles, the institutions that define our culture, and our notions of quality of life. Are these adequate? Or do they need to be altered to deal with the challenges ahead? This Choices and Challenges forum, held on April 3, 1997, presented cultural, political, socioeconomic, and ethical perspectives to inform our thinking about our environmental future.