The 21st century emerged with a gradually increasing public awareness that the world was entering a troubling age and we had better pay attention if we wanted to be assured of a sustainable future.

It was pointed out as early as 1972 by Dennis and Donella Meadows that there are ‘‘Limits to Growth’’, and if we were to continue at the then current rate of consumption of the Earth’s resources, we would not have a sustainable world in the longer range future.

Aurelio Peccei, the founder of the Club of Rome—which commissioned the Meadows’ book—called for a ‘‘New Ethic for Mankind’’ and that is what this present document presents as a new and significant reality.

The Golden Age of Greece, from around 500 to 300 BC, was built on the energy of slaves. We are now in another Golden Age blessed with energy from an abundant supply of oil and natural resources. But this will of course not be so in the longer range future. Warning signs are abundantly apparent. We will need to plan now for a true transition to a new age and a new ethic.

The transition from a growth society that we in the developed countries presently enjoy, to one with a stable world population and economic sustainability could require the greatest evolutionary change in the history of humankind. The changing conduct and ethical base of the world’s population must indeed change. This is no exaggeration, as will be pointed out in the text that follows. This book, therefore, will show why this is so and why we must begin now to find ways to ease this transition—for the good of the future of the human species on this finite planet.