Stumbling Toward Sustainability

Stumbling Toward Sustainability, which was published in 2002, assessed sustainable development efforts over the ten years following the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, or Earth Summit. The book also contained detailed recommended actions for the next five to ten years. It was the only comprehensive assessment of U.S. sustainable development efforts by any entity other the most detailed and thorough assessment of U.S. policy related to the environment in several decades.

Reviews

This type of thorough, probing effort by scholars and policy observers to evaluate a nation’s progress toward sustainable development should be lauded and repeated throughout the countries of the world.
—Yolanda Kakabadse Navarro, President, The World Conservation Union (IUCN)
As the world prepares to evaluate the progress of individual nations in meeting commitments made at the Earth Summit ten years ago, this is an important book for United States policymakers to review. Sustainable development is increasingly important in both developed and developing nations, and our country plays a critical role in fostering and implementing sustainable practices.
—Senator Russell Feingold, D-WI
A much needed report from civil society, this volume assesses U.S. performance since Rio. It lays out a roadmap for a societal shift that takes new routes to improving people’s lives and sustaining the environment.
—Jonathan Lash, President, The World Resources Institute, and former Co Chair of the President's Council on Sustainable Development
This timely book spotlights the promise of new approaches to decision making and incentives for stewardship. The authors also show we must do far more to protect our ecosystems and public health. Business as usual puts the world we cherish at great risk.
—Fred Krupp, Executive Director, Environmental Defense
The authors offer useful suggestions on how to chart our way forward through the clouds and darkness, and to find a ‘new world’ of economic, environmental, and social harmony.
—John Stein, Director Strategic Environmental Initiatives, Anheuser Busch, Inc., and Vice President, Board of Directors, Global Environmental Management Initiative (GEMI)
The pledges we made at the Earth Summit are critical to the health of our planet. This book tells us what we need to do to live up to them and build upon them for the future.
—John H. Adams, President, Natural Resources Defense Council
This book is perhaps the preeminent work to date on sustainable development and where we are and where we are going.
—Vail T. Thorne, Chief Environmental Counsel, The Coca Cola Company