ABSTRACT
Environmental problems present a challenge for contemporary democracies. Democracies are forced to make difficult choices about how limited resources will be used. These choices are complicated by the often vastly differing attitudes people have about the environment, its problems and what actions (if any) should be taken to address these. Nevertheless, no matter how difficult, conscious choices eventually have to be made. Environmental degradation is unrelenting. Indicators suggest that, rather than go away, many environmental problems will only get worse. The scale and nature of environmental problems demands a collective response.1
