Environment and Society : Human Perspectives on Environmental Issues

by Harper, Charles L.

• ISBN13: 9780132403566
• ISBN10: 0132403560
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-01-01
• Publisher: Prentice Hall

Summary

This integrative book about human-environment relations connects many issues about human societies, ecological systems, and environments with data and perspectives from different fields of study. While the viewpoint is primarily sociological, coverage is specifically designed to relate to a diverse audience and encompass viewpoints from a variety of natural and social science approaches.KEY TOPICSChapter topics include environmental problems and ecosystems; the resources of the earth: sources and sinks; global climate change, scientific uncertainty, and risk; population, environment, and food; energy and society; transforming structures: markets, politics, and policy; environmentalism: ideology, and collective action; and globalization: trade, environment, and the third revolution.For individuals with an interest in and concern forthe environment.

Table of Contents

Environment, Human Systems, And Social Science

Environments and Ecosystems Sociocultural Systems

Ecosystem and Sociocultural Evolution

Human Ecology Environmental Social Sciences

Conclusion: Environment, Ecosystems, and Human Systems

Personal Connections

Humans and The Resources of the Earth Sources and Sinks

Land and Soil Water Resources

Biodiversity and Forests Wastes and Pollution Conclusion

Resources of the Earth Personal connections

Global Climate Change

Ozone Depletion and Ultraviolet Radiation Turning Up the Heat: Global Warming Do we know enough to act?

Personal Connections

Energy and Society

A Historical Detour: Recent Energy Crises Energy Problems: Environmental and Social

The Energetics of Human Societies

The Present Energy System and its Alternatives

In Summary: Energy and the Risks We Take Personal Connections

Population, Environment, And Food 224

The Dynamics of Population Change

How serious is the problem of population growth?

Making Sense out of this Controversy Population, Food, and Hunger Feeding eight billion people in the next 50 years?

Stabilizing World Population: Policy Options Conclusion Personal Connections

Globalization, Growth, And Sustainability 288

Globalization Sustainability Growth and Sustainability: Two Perspectives Sustainable Societies?

Transformations and Sustainability

Social Change Conclusion

A Transformation to Sustainability?

Personal Connections

Transforming Structures: Markets and Politics

Markets Politics and Policy Possible Levers for Progress

The Global Political-Economy and the Environment Conclusion Personal Connections

Environmentalism: Ideiology and Collective Actions

American Environmentalism

Global Environmentalism

Environmentalism and Change Environmentalism: How Successful?

In conclusion Personal Connections

References

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.