For Earth's Sake

This report offers an alternative perspective on the environmental well-being of our planet and proposes a uniquely Southern agenda for research into global environmental change. The report is the product of a consensual process of group discussions and debate, synthesis of written input, and collective review by researchers from Latin America, Africa, and southern Asia. Part I presents the Southern perspective on the global environmental crisis, including the basic concepts of sustainability and burden sharing; international and national factors involved in the global environmental and developmental crisis; and the response to global environmental change within a fair and sustainable order. Part II discusses the role of social science research in development planning and environmental issues, along with the challenges for Southern researchers. Part III sets out values, principles, and approaches that the authors believe should guide all research efforts on environmental and development issues. A research agenda is proposed, structured around three sets of physical environment issues and five social issue areas.