Only One Earth: The Care and Maintenance of a Small Planet

by Barbara Ward, René Dubos

An unofficial report commissioned by the Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, prepared with the assistance of a 152-member committee of corresponding consultants in 58 countries.

Genres: Nonfiction, Environment, Science

225 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

Reviews

[Ray LaManna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This report to the UN Secretary-General, published in 1972, was way ahead of its time. It raised a red flag about a number of environmental issues, like rising seas and climate change, which are very prominent today. And yet, 46 years later, the nations of the earth are still struggling with even more dire consequences for the planet...and our current administration in the White House even acknowledges that we have a problem!

If you want a good historical perspective (which will at times get you very depressed, read this book.

[Paul Below · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating book written as a primer for the UN environmental conference in 1972.

Although the style is a little archaic it has a concentrated wealth of the problems then facing mankind, ranging from the need to find food, energy, meaning and basic quality of life for an exploding and urbanising world population, without further trashing the earth.

If you're not overwhelmed by the identification of the huge and wide ranging problems as seen at that time it's a positively written book with indications and pointers to what we were doing or thinking about then. We have made great strides in some directions since then, less so in others.

Interesting perspective, added to by input from 150 or so leading world figures from a variety of backgrounds and countries.

Global warming is covered, but thinly. The risk came from both fossil fuels and deforestation. Particle pollution was still something that could cut both ways - either accentuating and masking the warming effects from CO2. An immediate concern was the risk from supersonic flight.

[Jonathan Bein · Rating 3 out of 5]

A report commissioned by the Secretary general of the united nations conference on the human environment. The conference was held in Stockholm in June of 1972. It's fascinating to re-read this material and get a sense of what the experts thought the future would hold for us given then current trends in population, patterns of human settlement, land use, agriculture, air and water pollution, depletion of resources, and yes even climate change. This report was written as a factual background and conceptual framework for the conference so it does not delve into detailed solutions or plans for action, but with the benefit of almost 50 years of new data it is a pretty firm foundation for anyone who wants to construct arguments about the results of our actions or inaction on many of these important issues.

[Joel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many informative & useful books, of this general sort, have come out since this U.N. report was published in 1972. Many probably used this book as a basis. Though I read this some 14 years after its original release, it till had impact.

[Kim Zinkowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why did so few people pay heed to this alarming message delivered some 50 years ago?