Worldwatch Institute merits respect and their work, sadly, merist far more attention than sometimes seems to be the case. Worldwatch is regularly engaged in thought-provoking research and publication of valuable works. Sigh, Vital Signs 2009 simply fails to meet the high standards that the Institute has set for itself.
Subtitled “The Trends That Are Shaping Our Future”, this April 2009 publication has one simple (yet glaring) problem: most chapters have data cut-offs of 2007 or, at most, spring 2008. Thus, missing from the discussion are the spike and collapse of oil prices, the economic collapse, and Barack Obama’s election. While one year does not a trend make, these events and other 2008 factors could represent enough of a break from the past to change the trends.
There is the chapter “Global Economic Growth Continues” which seems so at odds with economic turmoil in much of the world. And, there is “Oil Consumption Continues Slow Growth” which misses the fall in oil demand (both from increased prices and then economic collapse). The oil chapter misses most of 2008’s drama in oil prices with the research cut off, evidently, in early March as “On March 3rd, prices closed at $102.42, having set a new inflation-adusted record high earlier during intra-day trading.” If that had only been the 2008 peak …
This failure results, it seems, from Worldwatch’s transition to what might be a more valuable resource: Vital Signs online. This will be a subscription service (materials available for free for the moment) with added ‘vital signs’ trend analysis being posted throughout the year, rather than an updated volume. Vital Signs 2009 looks to be, primarily, reprinting of 2008 on-line publications. The problems with the oil chapter result as the original publication was Oil Consumption Continues Slow Growth published 28 March 2008. Vital Signs 2009 might have been somewhat less frustrating if these original publication dates had been put with each chapter.
Even with the frustrations, there are interesting elements and items within the publication in part because of the breadth of subjects coverered, which means that there will be new information and perspectives for virtually anyone who cracks open the book. Even so: take the time to check out Vital Signs online but Vital Signs 2009 isn’t so vital for your bookshelf.