New Books in Science, Technology, and Society Jack Buffington, "Environmental Innovation: An Action Plan for Saving the Economy and the Planet by 2050" (Rowman & Littlefield, 2024)
Aug 24, 2025
Jack Buffington, a sustainability expert and professor at the University of Denver, tackles the failures of environmental policies that focus on symptoms rather than root causes. He emphasizes the interplay between supply chains and sustainable practices, advocating for innovative approaches over consumer-driven changes. Buffington discusses the urgent need for community-based solutions to water scarcity, and he challenges cognitive dissonance in tackling climate change. Moreover, he compares governance models, highlighting the role of leadership in promoting effective environmental policies.
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Human Limits To Global Solutions
- Humans evolved to solve tribe-level problems, not global ones, which limits our ability to tackle climate change collectively.
- Technology is godlike but our institutions and instincts are not aligned to control its global consequences.
Economy And Environment Must Coexist
- Most of the world's population lives under economic stress so they will prioritize income over environmental goals.
- Solving environmental issues requires combining economic development with sustainability, especially in Asia and Africa.
Redefining Growth To Fit Planetary Math
- Growth itself isn't the enemy; the problem is how we define and manage growth in relation to planetary limits.
- Stabilizing populations and concentrating where people live can allow the planet to recover and balance emissions and absorption.
