Priorities
1. Biotic regulation of environmental dynamics
1.1. Biosphere dynamics: Biogeochemical cycles; use of biospheric resources (thresholds); monitoring of both terrestrial and marine biosphere dynamics (relevant indicators).
1.2. Consumption of biospheric resources: Use of renewable and non-renewable resources; developed and developing countries; countries with a transitional economy.
1.3. Life standards: “Golden billion” and the rest of the world; sustainability — ecological, socio-economic, political, and ethical.
1.4. Carrying capacities on natural, regional and global levels for various components of nature: land, forests, seas, inland waters, etc.
1.5. Sustainable development and population dynamics.
2. Water
Drinking water deficit.
3. Energy
Fossil fuels versus renewable sources (wind, tides, etc.); future of nuclear and hydrogen energy; coupled energy production development and environmental dynamics.
4. Food
Impacts of environmental dynamics.
5. Environment
Key issues for life support:
5.1. Climate change (internal variability, external impacts: anthropogenic contribution — greenhouse gases and aerosols, volcanic eruptions, solar activity).
5.2. Stratospheric ozone depletion.
5.3. Tropospheric ozone increase (UV-B enhancement and subsequent impacts on man and ecosystems).
5.4. Polluted urban atmospheres and health.
5.5. Environmental economics (ecological taxes, etc.).
5.6. Environmental ethics.