People born today will live for 68 years on average, 20 years longer than those born in 1950. By the mid-twentieth century, industrial countries had already made major strides in extending lifespans with improvements in sanitation, nutrition, and public health. After World War II, rapid gains in life expectancy in developing countries began to narrow the gap between these nations and industrial countries. Although average life expectancy worldwide continues to increase, gains have come more slowly in the last few decades. Worryingly, life expectancy has actually declined in some developing countries, while a few industrial countries have stalled or made slow progress on this important indicator of human health and well-being.
Tag: Sustainability
Map Shows Who Gets Screwed by Climate Change, Who Doesn't
In a new map illustrating climate vulnerability, it’s obvious which countries take the biggest hits, and are most susceptible to the effects of climate change. Developed by risk analysts Maplecroft, [ … ]
News For The Sustainably-Minded Business Reader: Triplepundit
Sustainable business site Triplepundit reports on all aspects of triple bottom line business practices.
Britain's First Planned Solar Powered Town Should Inspire Communities Worldwide
A small town in the UK has taken the initiative to become more sustainable and energy independent hoping to set an example.
Top 10 Tips For a Zero Waste Home
Do you think you can reduce your annual trash to squeeze inside a single quart size jar? Well, Bea Johnson and her family did, and so can you. You probably [ … ]
Tour a Sustainable Community: Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage Open House, Sept. 24
Ever wonder what it’s like to live in a sustainable community? Or what life is like off-the-grid, using renewable energy? On September 24, Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage will be hosting its [ … ]
Learning from China: Why the Existing Economic Model Will Fail
By Lester R. Brown For almost as long as I can remember we have been saying that the United States, with 5 percent of the world’s people, consumes a third [ … ]
Is Krill Oil Your New Best Source for Omega-3s?
What’s that smell? Another slightly fishy health fad, of course! Krill oil capsules are becoming a popular alternative to fish oil, but questions remain: are they really better? And is [ … ]
Biofuels For Transportation: Been There, Done That
There is a great deal of controversy about the wisdom of diverting a significant percentage of the US corn crop into the production of ethanol to fuel cars. Something like [ … ]
Sustainable Wheat Production Through Intensification
Last week I had the honor of meeting Dr. Jason Clay, Vice President of the World Wildlife Fund. We were on the same panel at CropLife America’s second annual National Policy [ … ]
Education Leads to Lower Fertility and Increased Prosperity
By Brigid Fitzgerald Reading As the world continues to add close to 80 million people each year, high population growth is running up against the limits of our finite planet, [ … ]
Sustainability as Security: Mr. Y’s National Security Narrative
No doubt, today’s kind of an odd day to be discussing new thinking on national security, as the US (and much of the world) is celebrating the killing of Osama [ … ]
“Let No Man Say It Cannot Be Done”: Restructuring the American Economy
By Lester R. Brown We need an economy for the twenty-first century, one that is in sync with the earth and its natural support systems, not one that is destroying [ … ]