"As China and India become world-class economies, they are set to join existing industrialized nations as major consumers of resources and polluters of local and global ecosystems. Vigorous discussions are under way in both countries at every level about the right development paths to follow, including "leapfrogging" the technologies, policies, and even the cultures that now prevail in many western countries. Besides the focus on China and India, State of the World 2006 looks at actions corporations can take to be more socially responsible; examines the potential socioeconomic, health, and environmental implications of nanoscale technologies; assesses the impacts of large-scale development of biofuels on agriculture and the environment; describes mercury sources, industrial uses, and health hazards worldwide; and provides an overview of the need to safeguard freshwater ecosystems, with examples of proven approaches in cities, villages, and farming regions around the world." -- Publisher's description