Includes bibliographical references (pages 263-275) and index.

Citizens concerned about the environment are taking up the call for a new, sustainable lifestyle. Lessons from Nature tells us what sustainability really means, and how we can achieve it. Daniel Chiras brings the concept of sustainability to life, defining it in a variety of contexts--economic, biological, political, and ethical. He also explores creative, practical ways we can apply the principles of sustainability to agriculture, industry, transportation, and other aspects of modern life. Chiras views the environmental crisis as an opportunity to redirect society away from short-term, stopgap solutions toward a new world ethic based on living in harmony with nature. He offers a fresh, bold vision of the future in which all human endeavors, from international policies to individual actions, unite us in our effort to save the planet. Lessons from Nature is foremost about solutions. It opens with a frank discussion of the scope and causes of our current crisis. Next, it examines key trends in population, agriculture, energy, biological diversity, pollution, and solid waste disposal, offering feasible, affordable suggestions to put them back on a sustainable course. Chiras offers numerous examples of positive actions on the part of individuals, corporations, and governments throughout the United States and the international community, and he sets a clear agenda for additional action.

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