From the introduction:

The author is posing the question whether we can expect that globalization – as seen as an increase of the international exchange of goods, services,capital, ideas and people – will lead to an increasing convergence of problems and finally to solutions. While the economic boom in the 'developed' industrial economies has come to an abrupt halt in 2007 and some of them are still in dire straits, India continues to impress the world with its high (although decreasing) growth rates. Out of the sudden all hopes rest on the emerging markets, especially Brazil, Russia, India and China, grouped together by Goldman Sachs as BRIC, and on the 'Next 11'. But while the former developing countries report a rapid agricultural and industrial growth, their emission also increases. China already has surpassed the USA in carbon emission. India also has emerged as a major polluter. India’s per capita emission is still low by any standard, but at a population of 1.2 million India has become a major polluter. CO2 emission is at 1.3 tons per head and 1.5 bn tons for the whole country. It is higher than that of Germany, where it is 9.5 tons per head and year and at a population of 82 million 0.8 bn tons. India has a share of 5 per cent in global CO2 emission at a share of 17 per cent in world population. Within a few years India is expected to become the third biggest polluter of carbon dioxide. As India’s economy grows, the utilization of resources and the pollution of the environment will not just increase, but sooner or later also impede economic growth.