Saleem H. Ali, Chair and Distinguished Professor of Geography at the University of Delaware, dives into the essence of sustainability. He unpacks its history from the 1992 Earth Summit, discussing the intricate balance between economic growth and environmental conservation. Ali also analyzes impactful concepts like the 'Tragedy of the Commons' and the debate spurred by Ehrlich and Simon's bet on resources. He emphasizes the importance of renewability and corporate responsibility, showing how sustainability can drive profitability while preserving our planet.
46:19
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Author's Interdisciplinary Journey
Saleem H. Ali shares his journey from growing up in Pakistan with a passion for chemistry to studying environmental issues during the early 1990s movement.
His book is a culmination of this interdisciplinary background blending natural sciences with social science aspects of sustainability.
insights INSIGHT
Tragedy of the Commons Explained
The "tragedy of the commons" illustrates how overuse of finite resources leads to collapse unless managed by property rights.
Hardin's later controversial views reduced the relevance of his work despite its influential synthesis on sustainability.
question_answer ANECDOTE
The Ehrlich-Simon Resource Bet
A famous bet between Paul Ehrlich and Julian Simon tested if we would run out of copper due to depletion.
Ehrlich lost as new technologies and circular economy approaches extended resource availability beyond initial predictions.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Saleem H. Ali's "Sustainability" provides a concise and accessible introduction to the multifaceted concept of sustainability. The book explores the interplay of economic, environmental, and philosophical dimensions, examining resource management, technological interventions, and the challenges of balancing human needs with ecological preservation. It delves into the complexities of energy transitions, tipping points in natural systems, and the role of corporations in achieving a sustainable future. Ali's work emphasizes a systems-oriented approach, urging readers to consider the interconnectedness of various factors in shaping a sustainable trajectory for humanity. The book serves as a valuable resource for students and anyone seeking a comprehensive understanding of sustainability.
The Population Bomb
Anne H. Ehrlich
Paul Ehrlich
Published in 1968, 'The Population Bomb' by Paul and Anne Ehrlich predicts catastrophic consequences, including mass starvation and environmental ruin, due to unchecked population growth. The book argues that immediate action is necessary to control population growth to prevent these dire outcomes. Although many of the Ehrlichs' predictions did not come to pass, the book significantly raised awareness about population and environmental issues and influenced public policy in the 1960s and 1970s. The authors emphasize the need for conscious regulation of human numbers and highlight the strain that growing populations place on the natural world[1][4][5].
The growing concern about global environmental change and human impacts on the planet has led to the emergence of a broad field of study on the 'sustainability' of human societies. The term's common usage can be traced back to the advent of the Earth Summit in 1992 when 'sustainable development' was broadly embraced by the international community as an ostensibly win-win proposition for economic development, social inclusion, and ecological conservation. Yet both the natural science underpinnings and the social implications of a quest for sustainability have been diffuse. There is a need for a coherent
Sustainability: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford UP, 2024) begins by introducing the concept of sustainability and how it has developed. The central chapters consider four key concepts crucial to sustainability: a) material and energy flows in consumption and production; b) technological interventions for a sustainable society; c) tipping points, and resilience in natural and social systems; and d) renewability and circularity in the economy. In the concluding chapter, Saleem H. Ali explores political means of managing anthropogenic change for a more sustainable society.
New Books in Economics 
