Current worldwide trends are not sustainable. The Club of Rome's warnings published in the book
Limits to Growth are still valid. Remedies that are acceptable for the great majority tend to
make things worse. We seem to be in a philosophical crisis. Pope Francis says it clearly: our
common home is in deadly danger. Analyzing the philosophical crisis the book comes to the
conclusion that the world may need a new enlightenment one that is not based solely on
doctrine but instead addresses a balance between humans and nature as well as a balance
between markets and the state and the short versus long term. To do this we need to leave
behind working in silos in favor of a more systemic approach that will require us to rethink
the organization of science and education. However we have to act now the world cannot wait
until 7.6 billion people have struggled to reach a new enlightenment. This book is full of
optimistic case studies and policy proposals that will lead us back to a trajectory of
sustainability. But it is also necessary to address the taboo topic of population increase.
Countries with a stable population fare immensely better than those with continued increase.
Finally we are presenting an optimistic book from the Club of Rome.
