This book has been several years in the making. It has grown out of
basic areas of inquiry begun under the auspices of the Alliance for
Global Sustainability in the late 1990s, and has culminated with a
series of on-site, collaborative studies conducted through AGS in
cooperation with of?cials in Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
(PRC), during the early 2000s. Many individuals have made important
contributions to the ideas, ?ndings, and results that have been compiled
in this volume. The authors wish to recognize these signi?cant
contributions below. The Alliance for Global Sustainability is an
international partnership among four of the leading scienti?c and
technological universities worldwide: - The Massachusetts Institute of
Technology (MIT-AGS); - The University of Tokyo (UT); - The Swiss
Federal Institute of Technology (ETH); and - The Chalmers University of
Technology. Created in 1997, the AGS today brings together hundreds of
university scientists, engineers, and social scientists to address
complex issues that lie at the intersection of environmental, economic,
and social policy goals. Since its inception, the AGS has promoted and
supported multidisciplinary research teams drawn from its partner
institutions. Working on critical issues in sustainability across
several ?elds encompassing energy and climate, mobility, urban systems,
water and agriculture, cleaner technologies, public policy, and
communications, these teams have developed a signi?cant body of new
knowledge. Furthermore, A- sponsored teamshave worked withengaged,
farsighted leaders of global businesses and industries, governments, and
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to provide innovative but
practical solutions to urgent environmental problems worldwide.
