Tomorrow's environment is global

Abstract

The coming century will increasingly be characterized by environmental challenges that transcend the borders and responsibilities of sovereign states. Despite the declining birthrates of the past decade, for most countries the greatest population increases will occur in the next half century. The sheer magnitude of production, resource exploitation, and consumer demand will place increasing strains on natural cycles and ecosystems upon which life depends. Already, such phenomena as the unexpected seasonal collapse of ozone over Antarctica, as well as the ominous growth of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, signal the need for more intensive international cooperation among nations and peoples. Other potential issues are rising sea levels, changing weather patterns, jeopardized availability of fresh water, dozens of new megacities (exceeding five million inhabitants) in poorer countries, massive destruction of forests, habitat, and biological diversity, and widening diffusion of toxic chemicals and wastes. The historic 1987 Montreal Protocol on protection of the ozone layer provides many lessons for the coming century: new forms of international cooperation, new ways to stimulate technological innovation, and the inclusion of new participants at all levels of the decision-making process.