GEO Year Book 2007 : An Overview of Our Changing Environment

This is the fourth in the series of annual reports linked to the UNEP Global Environment Outlook (GEO) which seeks to bridge the gap between science and policy by reviewing major global and regional environmental issues and policy developments during the year 2006. The 2007 Year Book includes global and regional overviews of significant developments over the past year. It highlights linkages among ecosystem health, human well-being, and economic development; examines new thinking on the value of ecosystem services and the threat from ecosystem degradation; and describes recent research findings and policy decisions that affect our awareness and response to global change. A special feature analyses the intersection between environment and globalisation where ecosystem services and the human well-being that depends on those services are affected by natural resource exploitation in response to global demands. The chapter also explores some of the innovative policy mechanisms that link global supplies of goods and services with sustainable development objectives. The emerging scientific and policy challenges of nanotechnology are examined from an environmental perspective. Nanotechnology will bring environmental benefits but it is vital that appropriate assessment and legislative processes are adopted to address the unique challenges presented by nanomaterials and their life cycles.