The GEO Year Book 2004/5 is the second in an important series which serves as a guide for policy makers and a stimulus to future action towards the achievement of sustainable development. A spin-off product of UNEP's flagship report, Global Environment Outlook (GEO), it aims to bridge the gap between science and policy by highlighting the major global and regional environment issues and developments of the year and their implications on focusing on major policy developments and instruments that have a bearing on sustainable development.