With an estimated population of nine billion people by 2050, we cannot continue to consume resources at the same rate and maintain our quality of life.

Conserving energy and thus saving money, reducing consumption of unnecessary products and packaging and shifting to a clean-energy economy would likely hurt the bottom line of polluting industries, but would undoubtedly have positive effects for most of us.

The fact of the matter is that today, stuff-selling mega-corporations have a huge influence on our daily lives. And because of the competitive nature of our global economy, these corporations are generally only concerned with one thing - the bottom line. That is, maximising profit, regardless of the social or environmental costs.

Humanity is facing a challenge unlike any we've ever had to confront. We are in an unprecedented period of change.

Because countries often have differing political and economic systems, agreements are needed to protect those invested in trade.

We have much to learn by studying nature and taking the time to tease out its secrets.

A book is like a single tree in a forest, in that it exists in conjunction with and because of a great many others around it.