Encyclopedia Of Global Environmental Change Social And Economic Dimensions Of Global Environmental Change

Volume Five of the Encyclopedia is devoted to the social, political, economic, and spiritual - and thereby human dimensions of global environmental change. It highlights the profound shifts in human thinking and awareness that are required to "wrap our minds" around the advent of globalization, and our increasing ability to affect natural systems, sometimes to our own benefit. Because of the complex weave of interaction between humanity and the environment, this volume contains many essays and articles that are more in the realm of probes than fixed descriptions of their topics. Powerful words and powerful ideas, metaphors, myths, beliefs, images and arte-facts - these are all "vehicles" for the creation and shaping of meaning among human beings. Topics covered include the great political and economic theories, the most influential views of nature from Plato to Rachel Carson, and the historic and literary seedbeds for the rise of environmental thought and practice in our time. Of particular importance are the introductory essays from leading figures in the field, and special efforts have been made throughout to give space to alternative voices and ideas. Dialogue and diversity are essential to human development, and a reader will be stimulated by this volume towards his or her own thoughtful response to the increasing responsibility for the future of the Earth that has come upon us in our time.

THE DEFINITIVE RESOURCE The Encyclopedia of Global Environmental Change is the first major reference work in this multi-disciplinary field, and presents... * Outstanding authorship and high quality editing * Comprehensive coverage with over 3,800 pages in 5 volumes * Over 500 articles, 100 biographies, 150 definitions and 100 acronyms * Extensive bibliographies with up-to-date references ABOUT THE ENCYCLOPEDIA The Wiley Encyclopedia of Global Environmental Change has been published to meet the need for a comprehensive integrated reference in this burgeoning field. It consists of five volumes of inter-related material: Volume 1: The Earth System: Physical and Chemical Dimensions of Global Environmental Change Volume 2: The Earth System: Biological and Ecological Dimensions of Global Environmental Change Volume 3: Causes and Consequences of Global Environmental Change Volume 4: Responding to Global Environmental Change Volume 5: Social and Economic Dimensions of Global Environmental Change * Each volume contains articles of between 1,000 and 10,000 words on major topics * Articles contain an abstract written for the non-specialist, followed by the main text which provides greater detail for the specialist * Biographies of distinguished environmental scientists discuss their contributions to a better understanding of global environmental change * Definitions of international terms and descriptions of acronyms of international and regional programs and agencies provide a quick reference source for the environmental scientist and student * Presents a thematic approach and includes theory, empirical studies and applications emphasising the inter-relationship between various disciplines and systems

Global environmental change often seems to be the most carefully examined issue of our time. Yet understanding the human sideâ€"human causes of and responses to environmental changeâ€"has not yet received sustained attention. Global Environmental Change offers a strategy for combining the efforts of natural and social scientists to better understand how our actions influence global change and how global change influences us. The volume is accessible to the nonscientist and provides a wide range of examples and case studies. It explores how the attitudes and actions of individuals, governments, and organizations intertwine to leave their mark on the health of the planet. The book focuses on establishing a framework for this new field of study, identifying problems that must be overcome if we are to deepen our understanding of the human dimensions of global change, presenting conclusions and recommendations.

The Encyclopedia of Global Environmental Change is the first major reference work in this multi-disciplinary field, and presents outstanding authorship and high quality editing. Comprehensive coverage with over 3,800 pages in 5 volumes. Over 500 articles, 100 biographies, 150 definitions, and 100 acronyms. Extensive bibliographies with up-to-date references. The Wiley Encyclopedia of Global Environmental Change has been published to meet the need for a comprehensive integrated reference in this burgeoning field. Each volume contains articles of between 1,000 and 10,000 words on major topics. Articles contain an abstract written for the non-specialist, followed by the main text, which provides greater detail for the specialist Biographies of distinguished environmental scientists discuss their contributions to a better understanding of global environmental change. Definitions of international terms and descriptions of acronyms of international and regional programs and agencies provide a quick reference source for the environmental scientist and student. Presents a thematic approach and includes theory, empirical studies, and applications emphasising the inter-relationship between various disciplines and systems--From the publisher's description.

This publication is extracted from a much larger report, Global Environmental Change: Research Pathways for the Next Decade, which addresses the full range of the scientific issues concerning global environmental change and offers guidance to the scientific effort on these issues in the United States. This volume consists of Chapter 7 of that report, "Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change," which was written for the report by the Committee on the Human Dimensions of Global Change of the National Research Council (NRC). It provides findings and conclusions on the key scientific questions in human dimensions research, the lessons that have been learned over the past decade, and the research imperatives for global change research funded from the United States.

Accessibly written by a team of international authors, the Encyclopedia of Environmental Change provides a gateway to the complex facts, concepts, techniques, methodology and philosophy of environmental change. This three-volume set illustrates and examines topics within this dynamic and rapidly changing interdisciplinary field. The encyclopedia includes all of the following aspects of environmental change: Diverse evidence of environmental change, including climate change and changes on land and in the oceans Underlying natural and anthropogenic causes and mechanisms Wide-ranging local, regional and global impacts from the polar regions to the tropics Responses of geo-ecosystems and human-environmental systems in the face of past, present and future environmental change Approaches, methodologies and techniques used for reconstructing, dating, monitoring, modelling, projecting and predicting change Social, economic and political dimensions of environmental issues, environmental conservation and management and environmental policy Over 4,000 entries explore the following key themes and more: Conservation Demographic change Environmental management Environmental policy Environmental security Food security Glaciation Green Revolution Human impact on environment Industrialization Landuse change Military impacts on environment Mining and mining impacts Nuclear energy Pollution Renewable resources Solar energy Sustainability Tourism Trade Water resources Water security Wildlife conservation The comprehensive coverage of terminology includes layers of entries ranging from one-line definitions to short essays, making this an invaluable companion for any student of physical geography, environmental geography or environmental sciences.