Most of today's decision makers will be dead before the planet suffers the full consequences of acid rain, global warning, ozone depletion, widespread desertification, and species loss. Most of today's young voters, however, will be alive.

In this, perhaps the most important document of the decade on the future of the world, the urgency of changing certain policy decisions, some of which threaten the very survival of the human race, is made abundantly clear.

The World Commission on Environment and Development, headed by Gro Harlem Brundtland, Prime Minister of Norway, was set up as an independent body in 1983 by the United Nations. Its brief was to re-examine the critical environment, to develop proposals to solve them, and to ensure that human progress will be sustained through development without bankrupting the resources of future generations.

In Our Common Future, the Commission serves notice that the time has come for a marriage of economy and ecology, so that governments and their people can take responsibility not just for environmental damage, but for the policies that cause the damage. It is not too late to change these policies; but, it warns, we must act now.

"`a remarkably comprehensive guide to environmental concerns around the world. The book is a compact educator.' Garbage"

"`The ... volume is one of thorough analysis and passionate argument...it contains much lively challenge.' Reconciliation Quarterly"

"`a bold and important document. What is more, unlike so many prestigious predecessors of this genre, it is highly readable ...Our Common Future should underpin all the current deliberations on the state of the world economy.' Jonathon Porritt, The Diplomat"

"'The volume is one of thorough analysis and passionate argument ... it contains much lively challenge ... essentially a specialist study which usefully avoids the exaggerations of ideology which have often bedevilled the whole debate on aid.'"

"'Essential reading for courses on development.' P.J. O'Brien, University of Glasgow"

"'The most important document of the decade on the future of the world.' The Advertiser, Australia"