Charcoal-making is one of the oldest industrial technologies, and in the last decade there has been a growing wave of excitement about its potential for combating climate change. This is because burying biochar (fine-grained charcoal) is a highly effective way to extract carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. In addition it can increase the yield of food crops and the ability of soil to retain moisture. Some people are concerned that awarding carbon...

This Briefing explains the origins of the climate crisis and describes some of the dangerous trends created by global warming. It describes the global policy framework of 'Contraction Convergence' (CC) and how this was created and introduced to the United Nations in the 1990s by the Global Commons Institute (GCI) to avert these trends. Based on the thesis of 'Equity Survival', CC seeks to ensure future prosperity and choice by applying the global...

In this Briefing, Robin Stott proposes solutions to the key problems that beset our present health system. He argues that if we are to develop a true public health service rather than a 'disease service', we must make radical changes to the decision-making processes. --Provided by publisher.

In the last twenty years ecovillages (local communities which aim to minimise their ecological impact but maximise human wellbeing and happiness) have been springing up all over the world. They incorporate a wealth of radical ideas and approaches which can be traced back to Schumacher, Gandhi and the alternative education movement. This Briefing describes the history and potential of the ecovillage movement, including the evolution of the Global Ecovillage...

The Natural Step framework for sustainability was first developed in 1989. The framework and the organisation, The Natural Step International, have been through many changes during that time, yet the essence of this unique, science-based approach remains unchanged. It is a way of seeing the world that helps decision-makers put sustainable development into action. TNS is now well-known around the world: there are teams established in ten countries,...

The advances of modern biomedicine have provided a sophisticated but somewhat mechanistic approach to health. It is an approach which is able to function well in emergencies, but which has fallen down in the more basic areas of maintaining and creating health. Dazzled by the progress of science, we have lost touch with the simple remedies and body wisdom that were once a part of every household. This Briefing suggests that Complementary and Alternative...

While environmental education, and more recently education for sustainable development are important trends, they are not sufficient to reorient and transform education as a whole and yet time is short to realise such change. The Briefing critiques the prevailing managerial and mechanistic paradigm in education, and argues that an ecological view of educational theory, practice and policy is necessary to assist the sustainability transition. The Briefing...

Many strange things are done in the name of ?development?: agencies build concrete boxes with tin roofs, cram 120 children into them and call it ?education?; millions are invested in youth?training? but little in job creation, which means youth move from being unskilled unemployed to skilled unemployed. Billions of dollars are shovelled every year into ?budget support? ? but little of it, if any, ever trickles down to the young people of the world?s...