This Almanac of Environmental Trends is an example of the creative destruction of the marketplace, or, in the language of popular culture, a reboot of a stale franchise the annual Index of Leading Environmental Indicators. Since 1994, the Index has reported highlights of environmental trends in the United States, most though not all of which have been steadily improving. The 2011 Almanac of Environmental Trends brings tracking environmental progress fully into the 21st century of real-time analysis and commentary. The Almanac explores the nature and sources of environmental progress, affirming the central role of markets, technology, and human creativity in solving the environmental challenges of our time.