Vital Signs: The Trends That Are Shaping Our Future

Front Matter....Pages i-xv
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Growth in Global Oil Market Slows....Pages 2-5
Global Coal and Natural Gas Consumption Continue to Grow....Pages 6-10
China Drives Global Wind Growth....Pages 11-14
Hydropower and Geothermal Growth Slows....Pages 15-18
Smart Grid and Energy Storage Installations Rising....Pages 19-21
Fossil Fuel and Renewable Energy Subsidies on the Rise....Pages 22-24
Continued Growth in Renewable Energy Investments....Pages 25-28
Auto Production Roars to New Records....Pages 29-32
Front Matter....Pages 33-33
Carbon Dioxide Emissions and Concentrations on the Rise as Kyoto Era Fades....Pages 34-38
Carbon Capture and Storage Experiences Limited Growth in 2011....Pages 39-43
Front Matter....Pages 45-45
Global Grain Production at Record High Despite Extreme Climatic Events....Pages 46-48
Disease and Drought Curb Meat Production and Consumption....Pages 49-52
Farm Animal Populations Continue to Grow....Pages 53-56
Aquaculture Tries to Fill World’s Insatiable Appetite for Seafood....Pages 57-61
Area Equipped for Irrigation at Record Levels, But Expansion Slows....Pages 62-65
Organic Agriculture Contributes to Sustainable Food Security....Pages 66-68
Investing in Women Farmers....Pages 69-73
Foreign Investment in Agricultural Land Down from 2009 Peak....Pages 74-77
Front Matter....Pages 79-79
Wage Gap Widens as Wages Fail to Keep Pace with Productivity....Pages 80-83
Metals Production Recovers....Pages 84-87
Front Matter....Pages 79-79
Municipal Solid Waste Growing....Pages 88-90
Losses from Natural Disasters Reach New Peak in 2011....Pages 91-95
The Looming Threat of Water Scarcity....Pages 96-100
Advertising Spending Continues Gradual Rebound, Driven by Growth in Internet Media....Pages 101-103
Front Matter....Pages 105-105
Emerging Co-operatives....Pages 106-108
Climate Change Migration Often Short-Distance and Circular....Pages 109-112
Urbanizing the Developing World....Pages 113-116
U.N. Funding Increases, But Falls Short of Global Tasks....Pages 117-119
Back Matter....Pages 121-150