Principles of Environmental Sciences

by Boersema, Jan J.; Reijnders, Lucas; Bertels, Joeri (CON); Bezemer, Henk (CON)

• ISBN13: 9781402091575
• ISBN10: 1402091575
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-12-01
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• More Book Details
• Purchase Benefits

Summary

International experts provide a comprehensive picture of the principles, concepts and methods that are applicable to problems originating from the interaction between the living/non-living environment and mankind. Both the analysis of such problems and the way solutions to environmental problems may work in specific societal contexts are addressed. Disciplinary approaches are discussed but there is a focus on multi- and interdisciplinary methods. A large number of practical examples and case studies are presented. There is special emphasis on modelling and integrated assessment.This book is different because it stresses the societal, cultural and historical dimensions of environmental problems. The main objective is to improve the ability to analyse and conceptualise environmental problems in context and to make readers aware of the value and scope of different methods.Ideal as a course text for students, this book will also be of interest to researchers and consultants in the environmental sciences.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. v
Acknowledgements	p. ix
Contributors	p. xv
Stating the Problem
Environmental Sciences, Sustainability, and Quality	p. 3
Biogeochemical Cycles	p. 15
Reconstructing Environmental Changes over the Last 3 Million Years	p. 19
Environmental History: Object of Study and Methodology	p. 25
Human Environmental History Since the Origin of Agriculture	p. 33
Recent Developments and Trends	p. 49
Principles and Methods
General Principles	p. 75
Specific Principles	p. 85
Social Science and Environmental Behaviour	p. 97
The Natural Environment	p. 143
Analytical Tools for the Environment-Economy Interaction	p. 177
Analysis of Physical Interactions Between the Economy and the Environment	p. 207
Environmental Policy Instruments	p. 239
Environmental Institutions and Learning: Perspectives from the Policy Sciences	p. 281
Technology for Environmental Problems	p. 305
Integration	p. 335
Environmental Modelling	p. 345
An Illustration of the LCA Technique	p. 375
Integrated Assessment	p. 385
Context and Perspectives
Environmental Policies in Their Cultural and Historical Contexts	p. 423
National Policy Styles and Waste Management in The Netherlands and Bavaria	p. 433
Land Use in Zimbabwe and Neighbouring Southern African Countries	p. 445
Climate Change Policy of Germany, UK and USA	p. 459
Technical Progress, Finite Resources and Intergenerational Justice	p. 473
Sustainability Is an Objective Value	p. 483
A Rejoinder to Wilfred Beckerman and Herman Daly	p. 491
Transitions to Sustainability as Societal Innovations	p. 503
Agriculture and Food Problems	p. 513
Tracing the Sustainable Development of Nations with Integrated Indicators	p. 517
Author Index	p. 529
Subject Index	p. 537
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.