Developing a Plan for the Planet A Business Plan for Sustainable Living

Chambers I and Humble, J (2011)

Reviewer: Michael G Dilcock

Almost 25 years have elapsed since publication of the Brundtland Report (Our Common Future), two decades post the Rio Declaration with Agenda 21 a buzz word buzzed out and this controversial subject area remains just that in its continued polarisation of opinions. Whilst much of what is written elsewhere is indeed opinion rather than substance, here is a book that deserves attention because the arguments are supported by clearly identifying data that can not only be independently checked because it is evidently set out in a tabulated form. The advantage being that it makes it possible for the reader to make eventual adjustments that will become necessary through future events and developments. As is so sadly often the case with publications of this nature, it is a book before its time that by nature of the potential cataclysms under consideration might well be lined up with respective others in – we told you so!

The books detailed content is as follows:

Why we need a plan for the planet

Part I Understanding our current situation

Part II Understanding the key global challenges
Executive Brief No. 1: population growth
Executive Brief No. 2: climate change
Executive Brief No. 3: energy supplies
Executive Brief No. 4: water and food supplies
Executive Brief No. 5: planet sustainability and biodiversity
Executive Brief No. 6: extreme poverty
Executive Brief No. 7: global health
Executive Brief No. 8: universal education
Executive Brief No. 9: conflict and peace
Executive Brief No. 10: financing a sustainable world
Executive Brief No. 11: the challenge of interconnectivity - the perfect storm or the perfect opportunity

Part III Developing a plan for the planet:
Building a global vision for Planet Earth
Global objectives and strategies
Addressing our key global challenges
Taking responsibility:
Translating understanding into action

Part IV Managing a plan for the planet:
Ten global management best practices
Global management best practices
Applications to managing a plan for the planet
Global management best practices: a health check

Part V Delivering a plan for the planet
Leveraging the triangle of change
Leveraging international organisations and government
Leveraging the business contribution
Leveraging the power of the people
Embracing the new green revolution
Embracing the spiritual imperative

Epilogue

Appendices

Bibliography

Index

Ian Chambers has a business career which has spanned global business and transformational change management, business consultancy, government, health and community action programs. He has also been an active member of the advisory committee of the Green Economics Institute, where he has worked on developing practical approaches to green business development. This background, along with his degrees in business management and psychology, have provided the insights, frameworks and the unique approach to tackling our global challenges outlined in Developing a Plan for the Planet. John Humble, M.A (Cantab), is an international management consultant whose books, including 'Management by Objectives', and 'Improving Business Results', have been translated into 17 languages. He also wrote the first UK publication on Social Audit, developed the first CEO attitude survey on Social Responsibility across 11 European countries, and published 'The Responsible Multinational'. His awards include the Ford Foundation Businessman Award; the Burnham Medal of the British Institute of Management; Fellowship of the International Academy of Management and the Social Responsibility Award of Management Centre Europe.

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