The Natural Advantage of Nations: Business Opportunities, Innovation, and Governance in the 21st Century

The Natural Advantage of Nations is about innovation, solutions, competitiveness and profitability. It is also about building environmental integrity and sustainability now and for future generations. It pulls together for the first time the work of more than 30 of the world's leaders in sustainability, containing fresh evidence from around the globe, to show that, far from being in conflict with economics and business practice, the drive for a sustainable world is both an environmental imperative and a practical and profitable necessity that is already happening. This book draws a bold vision for the future and tells us how to get there by building on the lessons of competitive advantage theory and the latest in sustainability, economics, innovation, business and governance theory and practice. This is top-shelf reading for business people, economists, engineers, consultants, policy-makers, researchers, students and indeed anyone working to create a better world. The authors incorporate innovative technical, structural and social advances, and explore the role that governance can play in both leading and underpinning business and communities in the shift towards a sustainable future. The resulting vision is one in which business, government and civil society all have power, and each plays its part in forging a sustainable future.Coupled with a companion website, The Natural Advantage of Nations covers the breadth and depth of the business case for sustainability, and moves it forward. The result is nothing less than the most authoritative and comprehensive guide to building the new sustainable economy.Even before publication, The Natural Advantage of Nations was selected as one of three books featured and promoted in the back of the recently published "Limits to Growth-The 30 Year Update". It is an ideal text for sustainable development and environmental studies courses, and a significant educational resource for both undergraduate and postgraduate courses in economics, business schools, courses in innovation, urban planning, geography, engineering, the role of government in the 21st century, globalization, and tripartite world. The book is designed to be self-explanatory and user friendly, and contains a comprehensive table of contents, index, notes and reference list. While written clearly for the layperson, it is also academically extremely rigorous with over 1500 notes and references. In addition there are over 150 freely downloadable references on the book's companion web site (www.thenaturaladvantage.info). Therefore this book will be a significant asset to any student, teacher or researcher saving one and all literally years of time and research.