Frances Harris 
Global Environmental Issues 

Global Environmental Issues, second edition builds on the
popularity of the first edition, viewing global environmental
problems as complex issues with a network of causes, influenced by
a range of actors with differing priorities. The book recognises
that science underpins much of what happens in society and
therefore it is important to be able to interpret the environmental
and social consequences of scientific developments. In addition to
discussing the main biophysical causes, the book illustrates how
socio-economic and political factors determine why and how people
use land, resources and technology, and how this in turn affects
natural resource management.

This edition includes new chapters on the politics of science,
International environmental regulation and treaties, environmental
issues in a globalised world and natural resource management.

Global Environmental Issues, second edition is essential
reading for upper level undergraduates and Masters students within
departments of Environmental Science and Geography.

* Includes case studies from around the world to provide a real
life context for the issues tackled in each chapter

* Considers both the results of human actions and natural
environmental change in order to provide balanced, in-depth
debate

* Includes coverage of contemporary ‘hot topics’ such as
biodiversity, globalization and sustainable development

* Chapters authored by experts in the field

* Includes new chapters on The politics of science, International
environmental regulation and treaties , Environmental issues in a
globalised world and Natural Resource Management

* Expanded sections include negotiating multilateral
environmental agreements, GM crops, biofuels and marine and
freshwater resources

Table of Content

Contributors ix

Acknowledgements xi

Part One Introduction 1

1 Human-Environment Interactions 3

Frances Harris

Part Two Negotiating Environmental Science 19

2 From Science to Policy 21

Frances Harris

3 Confronting a Multitude of Multilateral Environmental
Agreements 39

Anilla Cherian

Part Three The Changing Surface of the Earth 63

4 Grappling with the Global Climate Challenge 65

Anilla Cherian

5 Understanding and Adapting to Sea-Level Rise 87

Patrick D. Nunn

6 Conserving Biodiversity and Natural Resources 105

Frances Harris

Part Four Meeting Our Needs 131

7 Food Production and Supply 133

Guy M. Robinson and Frances Harris

8 Meeting Society’s Demand for Energy 167

Nick Petford

Part Five Coping with Our Impact 201

9 Sustainable Urbanisation 203

Kenneth Lynch

10 Coping with Pollution: Dealing with Waste 237

Ros Taylor

Part Six Conclusion 275

11 Sustainable Development: Negotiating the Future 277

Frances Harris

List of Abbreviations and Acronyms 295

References 301

Index 333

About the author

Frances Harris is the editor of Global Environmental Issues, 2nd Edition, published by Wiley.