Includes bibliographical references (p. [164]-165) and index.

Introduction 1. The birth and evolution of the Club of Rome: early identification of a global crisis 2. A new way of thinking: the MIT study The Limits to Growth 3. How have the concepts and doctrines of sustainability changed? 4. Intergovernmental action 1972-2012: from Stockholm to Rio plus 20 5. Planetary boundaries: doomsday prophecies or scientific projections? 6. A crisis of institutions: how to manage our interconnected future? 7. Overcoming the crisis of mind and action: creating new institutions and strategies for a global emergency 8. The future: thinking big about global institutions and world governance 9. Epilogue: what should be done?

"The book provides a critical history of the concept of sustainability and the various institutional measures taken to promote, implement and enforce sustainable development"-- Provided by publisher.