'The continued poverty of the majority of the planet's inhabitants and excessive consumption by the minority are the two major causes of environmental degradation The present course is unsustainable and postponing action is no longer an option. Inspired political leadership and intense cooperation across all regions and sectors will be needed to put both existing and new policy instruments to work. ' From the Synthesis Global Environment Outlook 2000 (GEO-2000) is a comprehensive and authoritative review and analysis of environmental conditions around the world. It is the flagship publication of the world's leading environmental organization, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and is based on information provided by more than 30 regional and international collaborating centres. The book presents a region-by-region analysis of the state of the world's environment, highlighting key global concerns and making recommendations for policy action. The regions covered include Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, West Asia and the Polar Areas. Chapter 1: Global Perspectives describes the main drivers of environmental change, such as the economy, population growth, political organization and regionalization, as well as potential impacts of recent global developments including the growth of the consumer culture, trade and international debt. Chapter 2: The State of the Environment provides a global and region-by-region overview of the environment at the end of the second millennium. The chapter covers global issues such as ozone, climate change, El Nifio and nitrogen loading, and universal issues of land and food, forests, biodiversity, freshwater, marine and coastal areas, atmosphere and urban areas. Chapter 3: Policy Responses reviews the broad range of policy instruments and responses being used to address environmental issues, including multilateral environmental agreements, and analyses the difficulties of compliance, implementation and assessment. Chapter 4: Future Perspectives looks at environmental issues that will require priority attention in the 21st century and some alternative policy options that could be used in the regions. Chapter 5: Outlook and Recommendations makes recommendations for future action based on the environmental legacy left by past and present policy and management systems. GEO-2000 will be the benchmark reference and guide to the state of the global environment. Written in clear, non-technical language and supported throughout by informative graphics and tables, it is essential reading for all those involved in environmental policy making, implementation and assessment, and for researchers and students of regional and global environmental issues. Originally published in 1999

'The continued poverty of the majority of the planet's inhabitants and excessive consumption by the minority are the two major causes of environmental degradation The present course is unsustainable and postponing action is no longer an option. Inspired political leadership and intense cooperation across all regions and sectors will be needed to put both existing and new policy instruments to work. ' From the Synthesis Global Environment Outlook 2000 (GEO-2000) is a comprehensive and authoritative review and analysis of environmental conditions around the world. It is the flagship publication of the world's leading environmental organization, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and is based on information provided by more than 30 regional and international collaborating centres. The book presents a region-by-region analysis of the state of the world's environment, highlighting key global concerns and making recommendations for policy action. The regions covered include Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and Central Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, West Asia and the Polar Areas. Chapter 1: Global Perspectives describes the main drivers of environmental change, such as the economy, population growth, political organization and regionalization, as well as potential impacts of recent global developments including the growth of the consumer culture, trade and international debt. Chapter 2: The State of the Environment provides a global and region-by-region overview of the environment at the end of the second millennium. The chapter covers global issues such as ozone, climate change, El Nifio and nitrogen loading, and universal issues of land and food, forests, biodiversity, freshwater, marine and coastal areas, atmosphere and urban areas. Chapter 3: Policy Responses reviews the broad range of policy instruments and responses being used to address environmental issues, including multilateral environmental agreements, and analyses the difficulties of compliance, implementation and assessment. Chapter 4: Future Perspectives looks at environmental issues that will require priority attention in the 21st century and some alternative policy options that could be used in the regions. Chapter 5: Outlook and Recommendations makes recommendations for future action based on the environmental legacy left by past and present policy and management systems. GEO-2000 will be the benchmark reference and guide to the state of the global environment. Written in clear, non-technical language and supported throughout by informative graphics and tables, it is essential reading for all those involved in environmental policy making, implementation and assessment, and for researchers and students of regional and global environmental issues. Originally published in 1999

Economic production indicators such as gross domestic product (GDP) and the Human Development Index (HDI) fail to reflect the state of natural resources or ecological conditions and both focus exclusively on the short term. The Inclusive Wealth Report 2014 is the second book in an important biennial series that provides a new framework for measuring the inclusive wealth of nations. It provides an overview of how the capital asset components of inclusive wealth evolved between 1990 and 2010, and analyses the meaning of these trends for sustainability. While the asset base studied is largely unchanged from the 2012 report, the country sample has been expanded from 20 to 140 nations and the focus has shifted from natural to human capital. This report offers a wealth of information for researchers and policy-makers, identifying key gaps in data and knowledge, and suggesting specific needs for future research.

The Global Gender and Environment Outlook (GGEO) provides an overview of critical evaluations and analyses of the interlinkages between gender and the environment, and their importance for gender-sensitive policymaking and actions. The GGEO was first proposed by the Network of Women Ministers and Leaders for the Environment (NWMLE) to UNEP at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20). The 2014 United Nations Environment Assembly subsequently welcomed the development of the GGEO, and the use of social science information and gender relevant indicators to examine the links between gender and the environment. The report describes policy options and concrete opportunities to contribute to the future we want - a future of justice and equality that leaves no one behind. It reflects and builds on the ground-breaking work of hundreds of scientists, policy experts, gender advocates and members of community groups. And it examines a wide range of topics, including food production, water and sanitation, energy, sustainable consumption and production, fisheries and fishing communities, and forests and those who depend on them for their livelihoods

The Global Gender and Environment Outlook (GGEO): The Critical Issues provides an overview of critical evaluations and analyses of the interlinkages between gender and the environment, and their importance for gender-sensitive policymaking and actions. The GGEO was first proposed by the Network of Women Ministers and Leaders for the Environment (NWMLE) to UNEP at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20). The 2014 United Nations Environment Assembly subsequently welcomed the development of the GGEO, and the use of social science information and gender relevant indicators to examine the links between gender and the environment. The report describes policy options and concrete opportunities to contribute to the future we want - a future of justice and equality that leaves no one behind. It reflects and builds on the ground-breaking work of hundreds of scientists, policy experts, gender advocates and members of community groups. And it examines a wide range of topics, including food production, water and sanitation, energy, sustainable consumption and production, fisheries and fishing communities, and forests and those who depend on them for their livelihoods.

This volume studies the risk to the environment and human health posed by nitroPAHS. Data on the in vivo genotoxicity of nitroPAHs are available for 15 nitroPAHs. All nitroPAHs that gave positive results in vivo were also positive in vitro. Four nitroPAHs that were positive in in vitro genotoxicity tests revealed inconsistent or inconclusive genotoxicity (2-nitronaphthalene, 5-nitroacenaphthene and 3-nitrofluoranthene) or negative genotoxicity (2,7-dinitrofluorene; limited validity) results in vivo. There are no reports on the effects of individual nitroPAHs on humans. As would be expected, since nitroPAHs occur in complex mixtures in the atmosphere and exhaust, the exact contribution of nitroPAHs to the adverse health consequences of exposure to polluted atmospheres and to exhaust cannot be elucidated.

This book evaluates the risks to human health and the environment posed by exposure to three flame retardants: tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCPP), tris(1 3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCPP), and tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP). In view of their many similarities, TCPP and TDCPP are covered together. Data on all three flame retardants are extremely limited and largely confined to studies of environmental levels and adverse effects detected in experimental animals and in vitro test systems. The monograph on TCPP and TDCPP describes manufacturing processes and summarizes current uses. The vast majority of TCPP is used in rigid polyurethane foams, with main applications in insulation for buildings and in refrigerator casings. TDCPP is likewise added as a flame retardant to polyurethane foam and has some additional applications as a flame retardant for non-woven fabrics. For both chemicals, studies show that residues are found infrequently and at low concentrations in food items. For TCPP, traces have been detected in industrial and domestic effluents but not in surface water or drinking water. Traces of TDCPP have been detected in sewage effluent, river water, seawater, drinking water, and water sediment and in fish. In view of the low volatility of both chemicals, the report concludes that human exposure from these sources will be very low and will not present an acute health hazard for the general population. Likewise, no adverse effects on the environment are anticipated from the use of either of these flame retardants.Experimental studies of TCPP in laboratory animals demonstrate low to moderate toxicity by the oral, dermal, and inhalation routes. Tests indicate that the chemical is neither a skin nor an eye irritant. No studies were available to evaluate reproductive toxicity, immunotoxicity, or carcinogenic potential. In vitro and in vivo mutagenicity studies produced negative results.Toxicity studies of TDCPP show low to moderate acute toxicity by the oral route and low acute toxicity by the dermal route. The report found no evidence of teratogenicity or mutagenicity. A single carcinogenicity study found an increased occurrence of several tumors at all exposure levels tested in both male and female rats. In the absence of data on the mechanisms of carcinogenic action, the relevance of these findings to humans could not be assessed. The limited studies of occupationally exposed workers were judged inadequate for evaluation.The second monograph evaluates TCEP, a flame retardant with declining uses in the production of liquid polyester resins and in textile back-coating formulations. Traces have been detected in river water, seawater, drinking water, sediment, fish and shellfish, and a few food items. Experimental studies show low to moderate acute oral toxicity. In repeat dose experiments, TCEP caused adverse effects on the brain, liver and kidneys. The report concludes that TCEP is not an irritant to the eye or skin and is not teratogenic, although some adverse effects on the fertility of male rats and mice have been demonstrated. Data indicating low environmental exposures support the conclusion that TCEP poses a very low risk of adverse health effects for the general population. Use of TCEP is not expected to cause any adverse effects on the environment.

Evaluates the risks to human health and the environment posed by endrin, an organochlo-rine insecticide used since the 1950s to protect cotton, rice, sugar cane, maize, and other crops against a wide range of agricultural pests. Because of its high toxicity and persistence in the environment, endrin has been banned in many countries and severely restricted in others. Ingestion of contaminated food is the most important route of human exposure.

A critical review of all data relevant to the assessment of human health effects associated with exposure to electromagnetic fields in the frequency range of 300 Hz to 300 GHz. Emphasis is placed on new data that shed light on the interactions of electromagnetic fields with biological systems and on the specific biological effects and responses that result. Over 500 recent studies were rigorously assessed. Sources of exposure considered include broadcasting systems microwave ovens induction heating stoves visual display units television receivers dielectric heaters for industrial use radar installations and medical devices and procedures. A chapter devoted to interaction mechanisms reviews the electrical properties of tissues and discusses direct and indirect interaction mechanisms including the interaction of biological bodies with electrical charges induced on ungrounded or poorly grounded metallic objects such as cars cranes wires and fences. A review of the large body of data from cellular and animal studies considers the strength of evidence pointing to effects on the nervous endocrine and immune systems on reproduction and on pre- and post-natal development. The report concludes that most of the biological effects of acute exposure are consistent with responses to induced heating Data on human responses are assessed in the next chapter which addresses concern about the effects of locally elevated temperatures resulting from the deposition of radiofre-quency energy and the possible dangers particularly for pregnancy outcome linked to the use of visual display units. The report concludes that current data provide no clear evidence of detrimental health effects in humans exposed to radiofrequency fields. The remaining chapters provide guidelines for health hazard assessment and standards for protection.