"State of the World began in 1984 as a new annual project created to measure worldwide progress in achieving a sustainable society. Sing a broad network of information sources, the report monitors changes in the global resource base (land, water, energy, and biological support systems), focusing particularly on how changes there affect the economy. A natural outgrowth of the Worldwatch Institute's ongoing progress, the book is published in response to a growing demand for policy-oriented interdisciplinary research. Here the reader will find news on innovative and particularly successful technical developments; an emphasis on global economic connections that policy makers often overlook; a review of national policies and programs, including progress toward specific national goals; and a survey of major financial commitments by governments and international development agencies"--Provided by publisher.