New seminal environmental works. Nine review articles. - WZB

Udo E. Simonis 23
Our Common Journey. A Transition Toward Sustainability
By the Board on Sustainable Development
Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press, 1999, 363 pp.
ISBN 0-309-06783-9.
In the Netherlands, in Denmark, and elsewhere in Europe there have been
interesting discussion forums focusing on the subject of sustainable
development. We can now also report on an attempt from the United
States.
A report moderate in length though far-reaching in its intent has appeared
there under the title: Our Common Journey. The title quite consciously
plays on the title of the epoch-making 1987 report of the World
Commission on Environment and Development (Our Common Future),
seeking in some lengthy passages to pick up again on, and to answer, the
questions at that time formulated as fundamental.
The effort and commitment involved in this new report must have been
enormous: the 25 members of the Board on Sustainable Development at the
National Research Council (NRC), and scientists from various disciplines,
discussed four years long how we - the Americans and the global citizens -
can be steered on to a path of sustainable development.
This effort entailed evaluating some 375 NRC reports and hundreds of
other sources, as well as holding various workshops and symposia. Now,
the final report is available in book form. Occasion enough for a broader,
worldwide discussion.