Introduction

Abstract

The widespread threat to the biosphere appears more closely linked with the world economy than ever before. In the future, we will probably continue to struggle because the two most significant forces of environmental degradation — the ever-growing population and the drive for industrial and agricultural development — continue unabated. Today’s global economy has reinforced the geographic separation among resource extraction, production, and consumption. Hence, those who reap the economic benefits of using natural resources often do not bear the environmental costs. The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 focused on these issues. This new awareness led to an international agenda for sustainable development and various non-binding agreements, but we must further prevent environmental degradation (Carnegie, 1992).