1. Serious Threats to our Future

2. Increasing numbers of people lack the means for a decent life.
Professor Whiteley's commentary: The context for this answer is the continuing population explosion on the planet. Bright's development of the significance of this first threat is that population now (about 7 billion) is twice what it was in 1950, and is projected minimally to increase to over 9 billion by the year In Bright's view, such an increase is not likely to foster either social stability or ecological stability.

3. Certain forms of pollution are altering global chemical cycles which in turn "regulate" key ecosystem processes.
Professor Whiteley's commentary: Bright focuses on three specific forms of ecosystem altering pollution. Carbon dioxin, primarily from burning fossil fuels, is causing global climate change by trapping heat and thereby raising the temperature of the earth. The second and third forms of pollution are from the production and use of fertilizers. The nitrogen and phosphorus cycles, both of which effect ("regulate") plant growth, have been altered.

4. Toxic chemicals released into the environment pose long term, and not fully understood, risks.
Professor Whiteley's commentary: In addition to the lack of understanding of the risks associated with most of the 80,000 to 100,000 synthetic chemicals which are estimated to be in production for making plastics, lubricants, solvents, etc., the sheer volume of production on a global scale is staggering: million tons per year.

5. The fourth threat is biotic mixing which refers to the introduction of organisms into an environment which is new (not native) for them.
Professor Whiteley's commentary: This threat occurs in this era of globalization through transocean air travel, shipping, and the international shipment of goods including their packing materials.

6. The fifth threat is the pervasive global decline of natural systems such as forests, wetlands, and coral reefs.
Professor Whiteley's commentary: This threat is inextricably linked to population growth, to the fact that the global economy is not sustainable, and, in some analyses, to global warming. This threat is developed in the third and fourth State of the World lectures, and in various chapters in the assigned readings.