Weak versus Strong Sustainability

Abstract

This is an open access title available under the terms of a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License. It is free to read, download and share on Elgaronline.com. This newly and fully revised fifth edition explores the two opposing paradigms of sustainability in an insightful and accessible way. Eric Neumayer contends that central to the debate on sustainable development is the question of whether natural capital can be substituted by other forms of capital. Using global warming and other major environmental issues as examples, he shows how policies and solutions radically differ depending on which paradigm is more plausible.

Topics & Concepts