This volume investigates the current state of the global natural resource base and the environmental implications of human consumption patterns. The World Resources Institute utilizes a team of international experts to synthesize environmental and developmental data, providing a framework for understanding the intersection of population growth, resource depletion, and economic development. The text serves as a diagnostic tool for policymakers and researchers to evaluate the sustainability of global resource management.

Experts and researchers frequently cite this series as a foundational reference for longitudinal environmental studies. Readers note the high density of statistical data, which provides a rigorous basis for comparative analysis in the field of global resource management.