Dedication Preface About the Author Introduction – the Looming Challenge of Sustainability Chapter 1: The Secret’s in the Overlap: Sustainability as an Integrated System Abstract 1.1. Environmentalism and sustainability 1.2. Systems thinking 1.3. Lessons for the future Chapter 2: Living in a Bubble: A Mental Model of How the World Works Abstract 2.1. Defining our predominant mental model 2.2. Economic growth and human thriving 2.3. Energy and technology advances 2.4. Population growth and pollution Chapter 3: The Ant Who Lives Forever: A Systems Interpretation of Our Mental Model Abstract 3.1. Systems depiction of our mental model 3.2. Implications of our mental model Chapter 4: Addicted to Growth: Economic Growth Promises Happiness and Well-Being Abstract 4.1. Addicted to economic growth 4.2. Economic growth trends 4.3. Repercussions of economic growth 4.4. A promise broken: creating a new perspective Chapter 5: Two Faces of Happiness: Instant Gratification versus Sustainable Well-being Abstract 5.1. Blending eastern and western ideals 5.2. Sustainable happiness and well-being 5.3. Long-term/short-term balance Chapter 6: The Bubble Bursts: Population and Pollution Become Our Concern Abstract 6.1. Population growth 6.2. Increased pollution 6.3. Interaction among population, economy, and environment Chapter 7: Applying the Brakes: Factors That Limit Growth Abstract 7.1. Ancient civilization and limits to growth 7.2. Carrying capacity 7.3. Limiting factors Chapter 8: The “I”s Have It: A Systems View of Sustainability Abstract 8.1. Integration and interdependence 8.2. The system diagram 8.3. Mental model and integrated system compared 8.4. A video of the future 8.5. Imperfections and lessons Chapter 9: Creating Balance: Effective Interventions Abstract 9.1. Sustainability solutions: systemic or suboptimal? 9.2. Analytic approach 9.3. Areas of intervention 9.4. Proposed actions Chapter 10: Pieces of the Puzzle Level I: Paradigm Shifts Abstract 10.1. Synergistic plan to achieve sustainability 10.2. Building the foundation 10.3. Area 1: mental model 10.4. Area 2: balanced cultural values Chapter 11: Pieces of the Puzzle Level II: Structural Changes Abstract 11.1. Altering feedback loops 11.2. Area 3: energy cost 11.3. Area 4: births per year 11.4. Area 5: median age Chapter 12: Pieces of the Puzzle Level III: Transition to the Future Abstract 12.1. Attending to the present 12.2. Long-term versus short-term conflict resolution 12.3. Area 6: environmental technology and policies 12.4. Area 7: energy technology and policies 12.5. Area 8: food and water technology and policies Chapter 13: From Bud to Blossom: Nurturing Sustainable Stewardship Abstract 13.1. From anxiety to hope 13.2. From mental model to integrated system 13.3. From integrated system to sustainable stewardship Chapter 14: The Global Commons and the Uncommon Globe: System Insights and Conclusions Abstract 14.1. The global commons 14.2. Insights from systems thinking 14.3. Where to now? Glossary Index