The Global Environment Outlook (GEO) series of reports are the flagship publications of UNEP. They present comprehensive and authoritative reviews and analyses of world-wide environmental conditions and trends, and the policies and policy instruments available to address them.

GEO-3 comes 10 years after the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and 30 years after the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment in 1972. By tracking and analyzing important environmental issues over the period 1972-2002, GEO-3 provides an integrated explanation of major trends that have shaped our environmental inheritance.

Continuing the global and regional focus of previous GEO reports, GEO-3 presents the 30-year retrospective analysis of environmental state and trends, and associated policy responses under themes of land, forests, biodiversity, freshwater, coastal and marine areas, atmosphere, urban areas and disasters. A special focus on human vulnerability to environmental change highlights the increasing risks and impacts on people. The outlook section of the report, spanning the next 30 years, is presented through four scenarios. The innovative approach reveals salutary lessons for all who strive towards a more desirable future.

CONTENTS :

Forward
Preface
The GEO Project
Synthesis
The GEO Regions

1 Integrating Environment and Development: 1972-2002

2 State of the Environment and Policy Retrospective 1972-2002

Socio-economic background
Land
Forests
Biodiversity
Freshwater
Coastal and marine areas
Atmosphere
Urban areas
Disasters
Conclusion

3 Human Vulnerability to Environmental Change

4 Outlook 2002-2032

Driving Forces
A tale of four futures
Environmental implications
Lessons from the future
Technical annex

5 Options for Action

Acronyms and Abbreviations
Collaborating Centres
Contributors
Index