Includes bibliographical references (pages 223-272) and index.

A planet under stress -- Emerging water shortages -- Eroding soils and shrinking cropland -- Rising temperatures and rising seas -- Our socially divided world -- Plan A : Business as usual -- Raising water productivity -- Raising land productivity -- Cutting carbon emissions in half -- Responding to the social challenge -- Plan B : Rising to the challenge. Plan B is a way of sustaining economic progress worldwide, an alternative to continuing environmental deterioration and eventual economic decline by stabilizing the population and climate before these issues spiral out of control.