ABSTRACT

It is now clear that human activity has influenced how the biosphere supports life on Earth, and given rise to a set of connected environmental and social problems. In response to the challenge that these problems present, a series of international conferences and summits led to discussions of sustainable development and the core dilemma of our time: How can we all live well, now and in the future, without compromising the ability of the planet to enable us all to live well?

This book identifies the main issues and challenges we now face; it explains the ideas that underpin them and their interconnection, and discusses a range of strategies through which they might be addressed and possibly resolved. These cover things that governments might do, what businesses and large organisations can contribute, and the scope for individuals, families and communities to get involved. This book is for everyone who cares about such challenges, and wants to know more about them.

chapter |5 pages

Introduction

part I|83 pages

Issues

chapter 1|4 pages

Global warming and climate change

chapter 2|4 pages

Inequality

chapter 3|4 pages

Species loss

chapter 4|5 pages

Human population

chapter 5|4 pages

Acidifying the oceans

chapter 6|5 pages

Electricity generation

chapter 7|4 pages

Genetic modification

chapter 8|4 pages

Clean water for all

chapter 9|4 pages

Gender disparity

chapter 10|4 pages

Natural resource depletion

chapter 11|4 pages

Migration

chapter 12|4 pages

Air pollution

chapter 13|4 pages

Elephants, rhinos and donkeys

chapter 14|4 pages

Environmental justice

chapter 15|4 pages

Economic growth

chapter 16|4 pages

Water pollution

chapter 17|4 pages

Eating meat

chapter 18|4 pages

Weather and climate

chapter 19|3 pages

Ozone and CFCs

chapter 20|4 pages

Biocentrism

part II|74 pages

Concepts

chapter 21|4 pages

The Anthropocene

chapter 22|4 pages

Nature

chapter 23|4 pages

Gaia

chapter 24|4 pages

Biodiversity

chapter 25|4 pages

Conservation

chapter 26|4 pages

Charismatic megafauna

chapter 27|4 pages

The greenhouse effect

chapter 28|4 pages

Valuing the environment

chapter 29|3 pages

Sustainable development

chapter 30|5 pages

Development

chapter 31|3 pages

The four capitals

chapter 32|4 pages

Harmony

chapter 33|4 pages

Systems and systems thinking

chapter 34|4 pages

Frames and framing

chapter 35|4 pages

Resilience

chapter 36|4 pages

Complexity

chapter 37|4 pages

Globalisation

chapter 38|5 pages

Neoliberalism

part III|70 pages

Strategies

chapter 39|4 pages

Reducing global inequalities

chapter 40|4 pages

The Copenhagen Consensus

chapter 41|4 pages

Feeding 10 billion

chapter 42|4 pages

Living within limits

chapter 43|4 pages

Energy policy

chapter 44|4 pages

Carbon capture and storage

chapter 45|4 pages

Ecological footprints and handprints

chapter 46|4 pages

The circular economy

chapter 47|4 pages

The Earth Charter

chapter 48|4 pages

Brexit and environmental law

chapter 49|4 pages

Protected areas

chapter 50|4 pages

Recycling

chapter 51|3 pages

Transition towns

chapter 52|4 pages

Rewilding

chapter 53|4 pages

Biomimicry

chapter 54|5 pages

(Environmental) education

chapter 55|4 pages

The Montreal Protocol