Vital Signs 2012

Just as people schedule regular check-ups with physicians, our planet needs regular check-ups to catch issues as early as possible, before they become more serious and harder to heal. That is the much-needed service provided on a global scale by the Worldwatch Institute in this new book, Vital Signs 2012. By taking stock of global consumption, Vital Signs 2012 offers the facts that need to guide our stewardship of the Earth's resources-and some of these facts are shocking. The report covers topics from obesity to ecosystem services, from grain production to nuclear power. Taken as a whole, it paints a picture of skyrocketing population, disappearing forests, and increasing consumption peppered with bright spots like growing investment in high-speed trains and other efficient transportation systems. Vital Signs 2012is based on Worldwatch's online project of the same name, which provides up-to-date figures on important global concerns, as well as the Institute's own additional research. The book compiles the most important of these into an accessible, informative resource for policymakers and anyone who wants a realistic look at the state of our planet.

Acknowledgments	p. 9
Preface	p. 11
Energy Trends	p. 15
Oil Market Resumes Growth after Stumble in 2009	p. 16
Global Natural Gas Consumption Regains Momentum	p. 19
Nuclear Generation Capacity Falls	p. 23
Global Wind Power Growth Takes a Breather in 2010	p. 26
Another Record Year for Solar Power, but Clouds on the Horizon	p. 29
Biofuels Regain Momentum	p. 32
Global Hydropower Installed Capacity and Use Increase	p. 35
Energy Poverty Remains a Global Challenge for the Future	p. 38
Transportation Trends	p. 43
Auto Industry Stages Comeback from Near-Death Experience	p. 44
High-Speed Rail Networks Expand	p. 48
Environment and Climate Trends	p. 53
Carbon Markets Struggle to Maintain Momentum	p. 54
Carbon Capture and Storage Attracts Government Attention	p. 58
Food and Agriculture Trends	p. 61
World Grain Production Down in 2010, but Recovering	p. 62
Organic Agriculture Sustained through Economic Crisis	p. 65
Sugar Production Dips	p. 69
Fish Production from Aquaculture Rises While Marine Fish Stocks Continue to Decline	p. 72
Meat Production and Consumption Continue to Grow	p. 76
Global Economy and Resources Trends	p. 79
World's Forests Continue to Fall as Demand for Food and Land Goes Up	p. 80
Tropical Forests Push Payments for Ecosystem Services onto the Global Stage	p. 83
Value of Fossil Fuel Subsidies Declines, National Bans Emerging	p. 86
Energy Intensity Is Rising Slightly	p. 90
Population and Society Trends	p. 93
World Labor Force Growing at Divergent Rates	p. 94
Women Slowly Close Gender Gap with Men	p. 98
Numbers of Overweight on the Rise	p. 101
Notes	p. 105
The Vital Signs Series	p. 127
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