Humanity will have to cope with many problems in the coming decades: for instance, the worldpopulation is likely grow to to 8,8 billion people by 2035. Also, changing climate conditions arenegatively affecting the livelihoods of millions of people. In particular, environmental disasters arecausing substantial damages to properties. From a social perspective, the inequalities between rich and poor nations are becoming even deeper, and in many countries, conflicts between national and international interest groups are intensifying.The above state of affairs suggest that a broader understanding of the trends which may lead to a more sustainable world is needed, especially those which may pave the way for future developments. In other words, we need to pave the way for sustainable futures.Consistent with this reality, the proposed Encyclopedia of Sustainability Futures aims to identify, document and disseminate ideas, experiences and visions from scientists, member of nongovernmental organisations, decision-makers industry representatives and citizens, on themes and issues which will be important in pursuing sustainable future scenarios. In particular, the publication will focus on scientific aspects, as well as on social and economic ones, also considering matters related to financing and infra-structures, which are important in pursuing a sustainable future.The Encyclopedia of Sustainability Futures will involve the contributing authors in line with theprinciple of co-generation, from across a wide range of disciplines, e.g. education and social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, the arts, languages etc, with papers adopting a long-term sustainability perspective, with a time horizon until 2050. The focus will be on themes which are felt as important in the future, and the chapters are expected to interest and motivate a world audience.
Professor Walter Leal Filho (BSc, PhD, DSc, DPhil, DEd, DL, DLitt) holds the Chairs of Environment and Technology at Manchester Metropolitan University (UK) and of Climate Change Management at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (Germany), where he directs the Research and Transfer Centre "Sustainability Development and Climate Change Management". His main research interests are in the fields of sustainable development and climate change, also including aspects of climate change and health. He holds various doctoral degrees. He is a member of the Society of Biology, Royal Geographical Society (FRGS), and Linnean Society (FLS). His field experience in over 70 countries, involves missions undertaken on behalf of various international organisations (e.g. European Union, World Bank, OECD, UNESCO, UNEP) and attendance to specialised events in North America, Latin America/Caribbean, Europe, Africa, Asia and Pacific Region, and the Middle East. Among the many awards he has received, it can be mentioned the 1999 "Leading Editor of the Year Award" and the 2000 "Editor of the Year Award", by MCB University Press, the "Eco-Citizen Award" (2001) in Rio de Janeiro and the Aurelio Giuseppe Prize awarded by the Italian Council of Ministers for his environmental work. Moreover, he was awarded the "Golden Page Award" (April 2003) in London for his editorial work and the North Sea Star Award (2006) by the EU-Interreg Secretariat for his project work in the North Sea Region. In the field of sustainable development, Professor Walter Leal is the founder of the European School of Sustainability Science and Research and of the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme (IUSDRP). Apart from being author, co-author, editor or co-editor of over 150 books and journals, Professor Leal has published in excess of 300 articles in journals. Having undertaking sustainability and climate change projects round the world, he is a seasoned editor and project manager.
