Summary

This revised and updated third edition provides an invaluable introduction to the characteristics, challenges and opportunities of sustainable development. The book's primary focus is on the developing world where conditions such as rising poverty and mounting debt combine to present particular challenges of sustainability. A key text, An Introduction to Sustainable Developmentincludes:

an analysis of the origins of sustainable development a discussion of the impact of past development processes on people and the environment details of the steps taken at a variety of levels to ensure sustainable development is identified a discussion of the particular challenges and opportunities of sustainable development in urban and rural contexts in the developing world a summary of the ongoing challenges of sustainable development for the global community.

In the five years since the first edition there have been important shifts in development thinking. These shifts are reflected in this revised edition which considers the outcomes of Rio Conference, and contains many more insights into best sustainable practice on the ground. In this latest edition, the breadth and depth of the material has increased, and a new larger format enables the use of a more accessible design and use of student-friendly features e.g. boxed examples, discussion questions and further reading and glossary.

Overall, this new edition of a classic text is a must-read for all those studying disciplines where sustainable development is key.