Table of Contents

Lester R. Brown

Plan B 2.0:
Rescuing a Planet Under Stress and a Civilization in Trouble

2006

Preface (pdf)

1. Entering a New World (pdf)
Introduction
The Nature of the New World
Learning from China
Learning from the Past
The Emerging Politics of Scarcity
Getting the Price Right
Plan B—A Plan of Hope

PART I. A CIVILIZATION IN TROUBLE

2. Beyond the Oil Peak (pdf)
Introduction
The Coming Decline of Oil
The Oil Intensity of Food
The Falling Wheat-Oil Exchange Rate
Food and Fuel Compete for Land
Cities and Suburbs after Peak Oil
The World After Oil Peaks
Data

3. Emerging Water Shortages (pdf)
Introduction
Falling Water Tables
Rivers Running Dry
Disappearing Lakes
Farmers Losing to Cities
Scarcity Crossing National Borders
A Food Bubble Economy

4. Rising Temperatures and Rising Seas (pdf)
Introduction
Rising Temperature and its Effects
The Crop Yield Effect
Reservoirs in the Sky
Melting Ice and Rising Seas
More Destructive Storms
Subsidizing Climate Change

5. Natural Systems Under Stress (pdf)
Introduction
Shrinking Forests: The Costs
Losing Soil
Deteriorating Rangelands
Advancing Deserts
Collapsing Fisheries
Disappearing Plants and Animals

6. Early Signs of Decline (pdf)
Introduction
Our Socially Divided World
Health Challenge Growing
Throwaway Economy in Trouble
Population and Resource Conflicts
Environmental Refugees on the Rise
Failed States and Terrorism

PART II. THE RESPONSE – PLAN B

7. Eradicating Poverty, Stabilizing Population (pdf)
Introduction
Universal Basic Education
Stabilizing Population
Better Health for All
Curbing the HIV Epidemic
Reducing Farm Subsidies and Debt
A Poverty-Eradication Budget

8. Restoring the Earth (pdf)
Introduction
Protecting and Restoring Forests
Conserving and Rebuilding Soils
Meeting Nature’s Water Needs
Regenerating Fisheries
Protecting Plant and Animal Diversity
The Earth Restoration Budget

9. Feeding Seven Billion Well (pdf)
Introduction
Rethinking Land Productivity
Raising Water Productivity
Producing Protein More Efficiently
New Protein Production Systems
Moving Down the Food Chain
Action on Many Fronts

10. Stabilizing Climate (pdf)
Introduction
Raising Energy Productivity
Harnessing the Wind
Hybrid Cars and Wind Power
Converting Sunlight to Electricity
Energy From the Earth
Cutting Carbon Emissions Fast

11. Designing Sustainable Cities (pdf)
Introduction
The Ecology of Cities
Redesigning Urban Transport
Farming in the City
Reducing Urban Water Use
The Challenge of Urban Slums
Cities for People

PART III: AN EXCITING NEW OPTION

12. Building a New Economy (pdf)
Introduction
Shifting Taxes
Shifting Subsidies
Ecolabeling: Voting With Our Wallets
A New Materials Economy
New Industries, New Jobs
The Environmental Revolution

13. Plan B: Building a New Future (pdf)
Introduction
Listening for Wake-up Calls
A Wartime Mobilization
Mobilizing to Save Civilization
A Call to Greatness
You and Me

Additional Resources (pdf)

Notes in pdf

Acknowledgements (pdf)

About the Author (pdf)