STATE OF THE WORLD
2004
Worldwatch publications available from Earthscan
State of the World series from 1994 to 2004
(an annual report on progress towards a sustainable society)
Vital Signs series from 19921993 to 20032004
(an annual report on the trends that are shaping our future)
ENVIRONMENTAL ALERT SERIES
Beyond Malthus
Lester R. Brown
Fighting for Survival
Michael Renner
Full House
Lester R. Brown and Hal Kane
Last Oasis
Sandra Postel
Life Out of Bounds
Chris Bright
The Natural Wealth of Nations
David Malin Roodman
Power Surge
Christopher Flavin and Nicholas Lennsen
Saving the Planet
Lester R. Brown et al
Tough Choices
Lester R. Brown
Vanishing Borders
Hilary French
STATE OF THE WORLD
2004
A Worldwatch Institute Report on Progress Towards a Sustainable Society
Brian Halweil and Lisa Mastny,
Project Directors
Erik Assadourian
Christopher Flavin
Hilary French
Gary Gardner
Danielle Nierenberg
Sandra Postel
Michael Renner
Radhika Sarin
Janet Sawin
Amy Vickers
Linda Starke, Editor
First published by Earthscan in the UK in 2004
This edition published 2013 by Earthscan
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Copyright Worldwatch Institute, 2004
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the Worldwatch Institute; of its directors, officers, or staff; or of its funders
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN: 978-1-84407-065-7 (pbk)
Cover design by Declan Buckley
Cover photos. Top: Tikrit, Iraq, April 2003; copyright Martin Adler/Panos Pictures.
Bottom: Three Gorges Dam, Yangtze, China, July 2001; copyright Chris De Bode/Panos Pictures
Worldwatch Institute Board of Directors
ystein Dahle
Chairman
NORWAY
Larry Minear
Secretary
UNITED STATES
Thomas Crain
Treasurer
UNITED STATES
Geeta B. Aiyer
UNITED STATES
Adam Albright
UNITED STATES
Cathy Crain
UNITED STATES
James Dehlsen
UNITED STATES
Christopher Flavin
UNITED STATES
Lynne Gallagher
UNITED STATES
Satu Hassi
FINLAND
John McBride
UNITED STATES
Akio Morishima
JAPAN
Izaak van Melle
THE NETHERLANDS
Wren Wirth
UNITED STATES
James Lee Witt
UNITED STATES
Emeritus:
Abderrahman Khene
ALGERIA
Worldwatch Institute Staff
Erik Assadourian
Staff Researcher
Ed Ayres
Editorial Director Editor, World Watch
Chris Bright
Senior Researcher
Lori A. Brown
Research Librarian
Steve Conklin
Webmaster
Cyndi Cramer
Development Associate
Katherine Dirks
Executive Assistant to the President
Barbara Fallin
Director of Finance and Administration
Susan Finkelpearl
Media Coordinator
Christopher Flavin
President
Hilary French
Director, Global Governance Project
Gary Gardner
Director of Research
Joseph Gravely
Mail & Publications Fulfillment
Brian Halweil
Senior Researcher
John Holman
Director of Development
Susanne Martikke
Communications Associate
Lisa Mastny
Research Associate
Anne Platt McGinn
Senior Researcher
Leanne Mitchell
Director of Communications
Danielle Nierenberg
Staff Researcher
Elizabeth A. Nolan
Vice President for Business Development
Kevin Parker
Director of Foundation Relations
Tom Prugh
Senior Editor
Mary Redfern
Development Associate
Michael Renner
Senior Researcher
Lyle Rosbotham
Art Director
Radhika Sarin
Staff Researcher
Janet Sawin
Research Associate
Patrick Settle
IT Systems Administrator
Molly OMeara Sheehan
Senior Researcher
This twenty-first edition of State of the World draws on the dedication and hard work of every member of the talented Worldwatch staff. Backed by the generous support of Board members, funders, and friends, the Institutes researchers, editors, marketers, communications specialists, librarians, interns, and administrative staff all deserve our sincere thanks for their contributions to this years special report on the consumer society.
We begin by acknowledging the foundation community, whose faithful backing sustains and encourages the Institutes work. The Overbrook Foundation and the Merck Family Fund awarded grants specifically for our consumption efforts. We also would like to acknowledge several other flinders who generously support Worldwatch: the Aria Foundation, the Richard & Rhoda Goldman Fund, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, The Frances Lear Foundation, the NIB Foundation, the V. Kann Rasmussen Foundation, the A. Frank and Dorothy B. Rothschild Fund, The Shared Earth Foundation, The Shenandoah Foundation, Turner Foundation, Inc., the U.N. Environment Programme, the Wallace Global Fund, the Weeden Foundation, and The Winslow Foundation.
In addition, we give thanks to the Institutes individual donors, including the 3,500+ Friends of Worldwatch, who with their enthusiasm have demonstrated their strong commitment to Worldwatch and its efforts to contribute to a sustainable world. We are particularly indebted to the Worldwatch Council of SponsorsAdam and Rachel Albright, Tom and Cathy Crain, John and Laurie McBride, and Wren and Tim Wirthwho have consistently shown their confidence and support of our work with generous annual contributions of $50,000 or more.
For this 2004 edition of State of the World, the Institute drew on the talents of an unprecedented number of outside authors, putting into action our strategic goal of strengthening ties with leading thinkers and practitioners in the field of sustainability. Sandra Postei, a Worldwatch Senior Fellow and director of the Global Water Policy Project, and Amy Vickers, award-winning author, engineer, and water conservation specialist, wrote the chapter on water productivity. We are also delighted to include contributions from consumption experts Isabella Marras, Solange Montillaud-Joyel, and Guido Sonnemann of the U.N. Environment Programme; William McDonough and Michael Braungart of McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry; Paul McRandle and Mindy Pennybacker of the Green Guide Institute; Juliet Schor of Boston College; and David Tilford of the Center for a New American Dream.
