Our Common Journey examines these questions to draw strategic connections between scientific research, technological development, and societies' efforts to achieve environmentally sustainable improvements in human well-being. The book argues that societies should approach sustainable development not as a destination but as an ongoing, adaptive learning process. It proposes a strategy for using scientific and technical knowledge to better inform future action in the areas of fertility reduction, urban systems, agricultural production, energy and materials use, ecosystem restoration, and biodiversity conservation.

Our Common Journey documents large-scale historical currents of social and environmental change and reviews methods for "what if" analyses of possible future development pathways and their implications for sustainability. The book also identifies the greatest threats to sustainability -- in areas such as human settlements, agriculture, industry, and energy -- and explores the most promising opportunities for circumventing or mitigating these threats.