The document summarizes the key points from the book "A World on the Edge: How To Prevent Environmental and Economic Collapse" by Lester R. Brown. It outlines the goals of "Plan B" to stabilize the global population, eradicate poverty, restore the environment, and stabilize the climate. It warns that current trends of population growth, food demand, aquifer depletion and climate change threaten to push the world's systems past a tipping point. Immediate action is needed through increased energy efficiency, renewable energy and reforestation to avoid economic and social collapse.

1. A Presentation for World on the Edge: How To Prevent Environmental and Economic Collapse , a book by Lester R. Brown

9. Three Indicators to Watch Photo Credit: iStockPhoto / Elenathewise, Sean_Warren, zabelin Food Prices Hunger Rates Number of Failing States These indicators help give a sense of how close to the edge our civilization may be. Economic Social Political

10. Food Prices Soaring Grain and soybean prices are fast approaching their peaks of 2007-08. Source: futures.tradingcharts.com Corn Prices (CBOT) Soybean Prices (CBOT) Wheat Prices (CBOT)

11. Hunger Rising World hunger and malnutrition were on the decline for much of the late 20 th century. But after falling to 788 million in the mid-1990s, the number of hungry people began to rise, reaching 915 million in 2008. In 2009 it jumped to over 1 billion. Crop failures caused by extreme weather events such as the 2010 Russian heat wave will make it harder to feed people around the world. Photo Credit: iStockPhoto / Claudiad

23. Average Global Temperature and Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Concentrations, 1880-2010

40. Plan B Energy Efficiency Measures

49. World Electricity Generation by Source in 2008 and in the Plan B Economy of 2020

51. Plan B Carbon Dioxide Emissions Reduction Goals for 2020