The key premise is that some values of our society must be altered in order to avert catastrophic consequences. People's way of life seems to be a glaring example of values leading to high rates of personal consumption of resources and the waste of these same materials. Another consideration is that our population is expected to increase to rise to eleven billion within the next half century. Considering the mineral and energy resources needed in the future, these estimates must also include the consumption of a population almost doubled from its current status and these same figures must include an expected increase in the affluence of developed countries. The environment is in danger from our pursuit of affluence.
Serious worries come from predictions about the atmosphere.
The burning of fossil fuels will raise temperatures and result in climatic effects. Rising temperatures could have horrific effects. First of all, food production could seriously be imperiled even by increases of only one degree celcius. If the temperature should increase by five degrees scientists predict the coastal island nations would be submerged and possibly trigger the next ice age. Another environmental concern deals with the soil.