Living in the Environment, Nineteenth Edition
By G. Tyler Miller and Scott E. Spoolman
Contents:
Preface for Instructors xix
Learning Skills xxvii
Humans and Sustainability: An Overview
1 The Environment and Sustainability 2
Key Questions 3
CORE CASE STUDY
Learning from the Earth 4
1.1 What Are Some Key Principles of Sustainability? 5
Individuals Matter Janine Benyus: Using Nature to Inspire Sustainable Design and Living 10
1.2 How Are Our Ecological Footprints Affecting the Earth? 10
1.3 What Causes Environmental Problems and Why Do They Persist? 15
CASE STUDY
The Rise of Environmental Conservation and Protection in the United States 20
Science Focus
Some Biomimicry Principles 21
1.4 What Is an Environmentally Sustainable Society? 23
Individuals Matter Tuy Sereivathana: Elephant Protector 24
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER
Learning from the Earth and
Sustainability 25
Chapter Review 25
Critical Thinking 26
Doing Environmental Science 27
Global Environment Watch Exercise 27
Ecological Footprint Analysis 27
Science, Ecological Principles, and Sustainability 2 Science, Matter, Energy, and Systems 28
Key Questions 29
CORE CASE STUDY
How Do Scientists Learn about Nature?
Experimenting with a Forest 30
2.1 What Do Scientists Do? 31
Individuals Matter Jane Goodall: Chimpanzee Researcher and Protector 32
Science Focus
Revisions in a Popular Scientific
Hypothesis 33
2.2 What Is Matter and What Happens When It Undergoes Change? 34
2.3 What Is Energy and What Happens When It Undergoes Change? 39
2.4 What Are Systems and How Do They Respond to Change? 43
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER
The Hubbard Brook Forest Experiment and Sustainability 45
Chapter Review 45
Critical Thinking 46
Doing Environmental Science 47
Global Environment Watch Exercise 47
Data Analysis 47
3 Ecosystems: What Are They and How Do They Work? 48
Key Questions 49
CORE CASE STUDY
Tropical Rain Forests Are Disappearing 50
3.1 How Does the Earth’s Life-Support System Work? 51
3.2 What Are the Major Components of an Ecosystem? 52
Science Focus
Many of the World’s Most Important Organisms Are Invisible to Us 55
3.3 What Happens to Energy in an Ecosystem? 59
3.4 What Happens to Matter in an Ecosystem? 62
Science Focus
Water’s Unique Properties 64
3.5 How Do Scientists Study Ecosystems? 68
Science Focus
Planetary Boundaries 69
Individuals Matter Thomas E. Lovejoy—Forest Researcher and Biodiversity Educator 70
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER
Tropical Rain Forests and Sustainability 71
Chapter Review 71
Critical Thinking 72
Doing Environmental Science 73
Global Environment Watch Exercise 73
Data Analysis 73
4 Biodiversity and Evolution 74
Key Questions 75
CORE CASE STUDY
Why Are Amphibians Vanishing? 76
4.1 What Are the Major Types of Life on Earth? 77
4.2 What Is Biodiversity and Why Is It Important? 79
Individuals Matter Edward O. Wilson: Champion of Biodiversity 81
4.3 What Roles Do Species Play in Ecosystems? 82
CASE STUDY
The American Alligator—A Keystone Species
That Almost Went Extinct 83
Science Focus
Causes of Amphibian Declines 84
4.4 How Does the Earth’s Life Change Over Time? 85
4.5 What Factors Affect Biodiversity? 89
Science Focus
Geological Processes Affect
Biodiversity 90
Science Focus
Synthetic Biology 92
CASE STUDY
The Threatened Monarch Butterfly 93
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER
Amphibians and Sustainability 95
Chapter Review 95
Critical Thinking 96
Doing Environmental Science 97
Global Environment Watch Exercise 97
Data Analysis 97
5 Species Interactions, Ecological Succession, and Population Control 98
Key Questions 99
CORE CASE STUDY
The Southern Sea Otter: A Species in
Recovery 100
5.1 How Do Species Interact? 101
Science Focus
Threats to Kelp Forests 103
5.2 How Do Communities and Ecosystems Respond to
Changing Environmental Conditions? 106
5.3 What Limits the Growth of Populations? 109
CASE STUDY
Exploding White-Tailed Deer Populations in the United States 112
Science Focus
The Future of California’s Southern Sea Otters 113
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER
Southern Sea Otters and Sustainability 115
Chapter Review 115
Critical Thinking 116
Doing Environmental Science 116
Global Environment Watch Exercise 117
Data Analysis 117
6 The Human Population 118
Key Questions 119
CORE CASE STUDY
Planet Earth: Population 7.3 Billion 120
6.1 How Many People Can the Earth Support? 121
Science Focus
How Long Can the Human Population
Keep Growing? 122
6.2 What Factors Influence the Size of the Human Population? 123
Science Focus Projecting Population Change 124
CASE STUDY
The U.S. Population—Third Largest
and Growing 124
6.3 How Does a Population’s Age Structure Affect Its Growth or Decline? 127
CASE STUDY The American Baby Boom 128
6.4 How Can We Slow Human Population Growth? 130
CASE STUDY
Population Growth in India 132
CASE STUDY
Slowing Population Growth in China 133
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER
World Population Growth and Sustainability 135
Chapter Review 135
Critical Thinking 136
Doing Environmental Science 137
Global Environment Watch Exercise 137
Data Analysis 137
7 Climate and Biodiversity 138
Key Questions 139
CORE CASE STUDY African Savanna 140
7.1 What Factors Influence Weather? 141
7.2 What Factors Influence Climate? 144
7.3 How Does Climate Affect the Nature and Location of Biomes? 148
Science Focus
Staying Alive in the Desert 152
Science Focus
Revisiting the Savanna: Elephants as a
Keystone Species 155
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER
Tropical African Savanna and Sustainability 163
Chapter Review 163
Critical Thinking 164
Doing Environmental Science 165
Global Environment Watch Exercise 165
Data Analysis 165
8 Aquatic Biodiversity 166
Key Questions 167
CORE CASE STUDY Why Should We Care about
Coral Reefs? 168
8.1 What Is the General Nature of Aquatic Systems? 169
8.2 Why Are Marine Aquatic Systems Important? 170
CASE STUDY Revisiting Coral Reefs—Amazing Centers
of Biodiversity 173
Science Focus
We Are Still Learning about the Ocean’s
Biodiversity 176
8.3 How Have Human Activities Affected Marine
Ecosystems? 176
CASE STUDY
The Chesapeake Bay—An Estuary in Trouble 177
Individuals Matter Enric Sala: Working to Protect Ocean Ecosystems 178
8.4 Why Are Freshwater Ecosystems Important? 179
8.5 How Have Human Activities Affected Freshwater Ecosystems? 184
CASE STUDY
River Deltas and Coastal Wetlands—Vital Components of Natural Capital Now in Jeopardy 185
Individuals Matter Alexandra Cousteau: Environmental Advocate, Filmmaker, and National Geographic Explorer 186
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER
Coral Reefs and Sustainability 187
Chapter Review 187
Critical Thinking 188
Doing Environmental Science 189
Global Environment Watch Exercise 189
Data Analysis 189
Sustaining Biodiversity
9 Sustaining Biodiversity: Saving Species and Ecosystem Services 190
Key Questions 191
CORE CASE STUDY
Where Have All the Honeybees Gone? 192
9.1 What Role Do Humans Play in the Loss of Species and Ecosystem Services? 193
Science Focus Estimating Extinction Rates 194
9.2 Why Should We Try to Sustain Wild Species and the
Ecosystem Services They Provide? 196
9.3 How Do Humans Accelerate Species Extinction and
Degradation of Ecosystem Services? 198
CASE STUDY
The Kudzu Vine and Kudzu Bugs 200
CASE STUDY
Wild Boar Invasions 202
Science Focus Honeybee Losses: A Search for Causes 206
CASE STUDY
A Disturbing message from the Birds 208
Individuals Matter Juliana Machado Ferreira: Conservation
Biologist and National Geographic Explorer 209
Individuals Matter Çag˘an Hakkı Sekerciog˘lu: Protector of Birds and National Geographic Explorer 210
9.4 How Can We Sustain Wild Species and the Ecosystem Services They Provide? 211
CASE STUDY
The U.S. Endangered Species Act 211
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER
Honeybees and
Sustainability 217
Chapter Review 217
Critical Thinking 218
Doing Environmental Science 218
Global Environment Watch Exercise 219
Data Analysis 219
10 Sustaining Biodiversity: Saving Ecosystems and Ecosystem Services 220
Key Questions 221
CORE CASE STUDY
Costa Rica—A Global Conservation
Leader 222
10.1 What Are the Major Threats to Forest
Ecosystems? 223
Science Focus
Putting a Price Tag on Nature’s
Ecosystem Services 224
CASE STUDY
Many Cleared Forests in the United States
Have Grown Back 228
10.2 How Can We Manage and Sustain Forests? 231
Science Focus
Certifying Sustainably Grown Timber and Products Such as the Paper Used in This Book 232
CASE STUDY
Deforestation and the Fuelwood Crisis 234
Individuals Matter Florence Reed—Preserving Tropical Forests and Overcoming Poverty 236
10.3 How Can We Manage and Sustain Grasslands? 237
10.4 How Can we Sustain Terrestrial Biodiversity and
Ecosystem Services? 238
Science Focus
Holistic Range Management: Learning from Nature 239
CASE STUDY
Stresses on U.S. Public Parks 241
CASE STUDY
Identifying and Protecting Biodiversity in Costa Rica 242
Science Focus
Reintroducing the Gray Wolf to Yellowstone National Park 243
CASE STUDY
Madagascar: An Endangered Biodiversity Hotspot 244
Individuals Matter Gretchen Daily—Shining a Light on Ecosystem Services 247
CASE STUDY
Ecological Restoration of a Tropical Dry
Forest in Costa Rica 247
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER
Sustaining Costa Rica’s Biodiversity 249
Chapter Review 249
Critical Thinking 250
Doing Environmental Science 251
Global Environment Watch Exercise 251
Ecological Footprint Analysis 251
11 Sustaining Aquatic Biodiversity and Ecosystem
Services 252
Key Questions 253
CORE CASE STUDY
The Great Jellyfish Invasion 254
11.1 What Are the Major Threats to Aquatic Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services? 255
Science Focus
Ocean Acidification: The Other CO2 Problem 257
Science Focus
How Invasive Carp Have Muddied Some Waters 259
CASE STUDY Why Should We Protect Sharks? 263
CASE STUDY Protecting Whales: A Success Story . . . So Far 265
Science Focus
Why Are Jellyfish Populations Increasing? 267
11.2 How Can We Protect and Sustain Marine Biodiversity? 267
Individuals Matter Sylvia Earle—Advocate for the Oceans 270
11.3 How Should We Manage and Sustain Marine Fisheries? 271
11.4 How Should We Protect and Sustain Wetlands? 272
CASE STUDY
Can We Restore the Florida Everglades? 273
11.5 How Should We Protect and Sustain Freshwater Lakes, Rivers, and Fisheries? 275
CASE STUDY
Can the Great Lakes Survive Repeated Invasions by Alien Species? 275
11.6 What Should Be Our Priorities for Sustaining
Aquatic Biodiversity? 278
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER
Invading Jellyfish and Aquatic
Sustainability 279
Chapter Review 279
Critical Thinking 280
Doing Environmental Science 280
Global Environment Watch Exercise 281
Ecological Footprint Analysis 281
Sustaining Natural Resources
12 Food Production and the Environment 282
Key Questions 283
CORE CASE STUDY Growing Power—An Urban Food
Oasis 284
12.1 Why Is Good Nutrition Important? 285
12.2 How Is Food Produced? 287
CASE STUDY Industrialized Food Production in the United
States 290
12.3 What Are the Environmental Effects of Industrialized
Food Production? 294
12.4 How Can We Protect Crops from Pests More Sustainably? 303
CASE STUDY Ecological Surprises: The Law of Unintended Consequences 306
12.5 How Can We Produce Food More Sustainably? 308
Science Focus
Hydroponics: Growing Crops Without Soil 310
Individuals Matter David Tilman—Polyculture Researcher 314
Science Focus
Perennial Polyculture and the Land Institute 315
12.6 How Can We Improve Food Security? 316
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER Growing Power and
Sustainability 318
Chapter Review 319
Critical Thinking 320
Doing Environmental Science 320
Global Environment Watch Exercise 320
Ecological Footprint Analysis 321
13 Water Resources 322
Key Questions 323
CORE CASE STUDY
The Colorado River Story 324
13.1 Will We Have Enough Usable Water? 325
CASE STUDY
Freshwater Resources in the United States 328
Science Focus
Using Satellites to Monitor Groundwater Supplies 331
13.2 Is Groundwater a Sustainable Resource? 331
CASE STUDY
Overpumping the Ogallala Aquifer 333
13.3 How Can We Increase Freshwater Supplies? 335
CASE STUDY
How Dams Can Kill an Estuary 337
13.4 Can Water Transfers Expand Water Supplies? 338
Science Focus
The Search for Better Desalination Technology 339
CASE STUDY
The Aral Sea Disaster: An Example of
Unintended Consequences 341
13.5 How Can We Use Freshwater More Sustainably? 342
Individuals Matter Jennifer Burney: Environmental Scientist
and National Geographic Explorer 344
CASE STUDY
How Californians Are Dealing with Water Woes 346
13.6 How Can We Reduce the Threat of Flooding? 348
CASE STUDY
Living Dangerously on Floodplains in Bangladesh 349
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER
The Colorado River and Sustainability 351
Chapter Review 352
Critical Thinking 353
Doing Environmental Science 354
Global Environment Watch Exercise 354
Ecological Footprint Analysis 354
14 Geology and Mineral Resources 356
Key Questions 357
CORE CASE STUDY
The Real Cost of Gold 358
14.1 What Are the Earth’s Major Geological Processes
and What Are Mineral Resources? 359
14.2 How Long Might Supplies of Nonrenewable Mineral
Resources Last? 361
CASE STUDY
The Crucial Importance of Rare Earth Metals 362
14.3 What Are the Environmental Effects of Using
Nonrenewable Mineral Resources? 365
14.4 How Can We Use Mineral Resources More
Sustainably? 369
CASE STUDY
Graphene and Phosphorene: New Revolutionary Materials 369
Science Focus The Nanotechnology Revolution 370
Individuals Matter Yu-Guo Guo: Designer of Nanotechnology
Batteries and National Geographic Explorer 371
14.5 What Are the Earth’s Major Geological Hazards? 372
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER The Real Cost of Gold and Sustainability 377
Chapter Review 378
Critical Thinking 378
Doing Environmental Science 379
Global Environment Watch Exercise 379
Data Analysis 379
15 Nonrenewable Energy 380
Key Questions 381
CORE CASE STUDY Using Hydrofracking to Produce Oil
and Natural Gas 382
15.1 What Types of Energy Resources Do We Use? 383
15.2 What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of
Using Oil? 385
CASE STUDY Oil Production and Consumption in the
United States 387
15.3 What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of
Using Natural Gas? 389
Science Focus
Environmental Effects of Natural Gas
Production and Fracking in the United States 390
15.4 What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of
Using Coal? 391
Individuals Matter Maria Gunnoe: Fighting to Save
Mountains 393
15.5 What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of
Using Nuclear Power? 395
CASE STUDY The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant
Accident in Japan 401
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER Fracking, Nonrenewable Energy,
and Sustainability 403
Chapter Review 403
Critical Thinking 404
Doing Environmental Science 405
Global Environment Watch Exercise 405
Data Analysis 405
16 Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy 406
Key Questions 407
CORE CASE STUDY Saving Energy and Money and
Reducing Our Environmental Impact 408
16.1 Why Do We Need a New Energy Transition? 409
CASE STUDY Germany Is a Renewable Energy
Superpower 410
16.2 Why Is Improving Energy Efficiency and Reducing
Energy Waste an Important Energy Resource? 410
Science Focus
The Search for Better Batteries 414
16.3 What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of
Using Solar Energy? 418
16.4 What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of
Using Wind Power? 423
Science Focus
Making Wind Turbines Safer for Birds and Bats 426
16.5 What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of
Using Geothermal Energy? 426
Individuals Matter Andrés Ruzo—Geothermal Energy Sleuth
and National Geographic Explorer 429
16.6 What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of
Using Biomass as an Energy Source? 429
16.7 What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of
Using Hydropower? 431
16.8 What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of
Using Hydrogen as an Energy Source? 433
16.9 How Can We Make the Transition To a More
Sustainable Energy Future? 434
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER Saving Energy and Money and
Reducing Our Environmental Impact 436
Chapter Review 436
Critical Thinking 437
Doing Environmental Science 438
Global Environment Watch Exercise 438
Data Analysis 439
Sustaining Environmental Quality
17 Environmental Hazards and Human Health 440
Key Questions 441
CORE CASE STUDY Mercury’s Toxic Effects 442
17.1 What Major Health Hazards Do We Face? 443
17.2 How Do Biological Hazards Threaten Human
Health? 443
CASE STUDY
The Global Threat from Tuberculosis 444
Science Focus
Genetic Resistance to Antibiotics 445
Individuals Matter Hayat Sindi: Health Science
Entrepreneur 446
CASE STUDY
The Global HIV/AIDS Epidemic 448
Science Focus
Ecological Medicine: Tracking Infectious Diseases from Animals to Humans 449
CASE STUDY Malaria—The Spread of a Deadly
Parasite 449
17.3 How Do Chemical Hazards Threaten Human Health? 45
CASE STUDY
PCBs Are Everywhere—A Legacy from the Past 452
Science Focus
The Controversy Over BPA 456
17.4 How Can We Evaluate Risks from Chemical
Hazards? 456
CASE STUDY Protecting Children from Toxic
Chemicals 457
CASE STUDY Pollution Prevention Pays 461
17.5 How Do We Perceive and Avoid Risks? 462
CASE STUDY Cigarettes and E-Cigarettes 463
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER Mercury’s Toxic Effects and
Sustainability 467
Chapter Review 467
Critical Thinking 468
Doing Environmental Science 469
Global Environment Watch Exercise 469
Data Analysis 469
18 Air Pollution and Ozone Depletion 470
Key Questions 471
CORE CASE STUDY Los Angeles Air Pollution 472
18.1 What Is the Nature of the Atmosphere? 473
18.2 What Are the Major Outdoor Air Pollution
Problems? 474
Science Focus
The Atmospheric Brown Clouds 475
CASE STUDY Lead Is a Highly Toxic Pollutant 478
Science Focus
Detecting Air Pollutants and Monitoring
Air Quality 479
18.3 What Is Acid Deposition and Why Is It a
Problem? 482
18.4 What Are the Major Indoor Air Pollution
Problems? 486
CASE STUDY Radioactive Radon Gas 488
18.5 What Are the Health Effects of Air Pollution? 489
18.6 How Should We Deal with Air Pollution? 490
CASE STUDY Revisiting Air Pollution in Los Angeles 494
18.7 How Have We Depleted Ozone in the Stratosphere
and What Can We Do About It? 496
Individuals Matter Sherwood Rowland and Mario Molina—A
Scientific Story of Expertise, Courage, and Persistence 498
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER Los Angeles Air Pollution and
Sustainability 499
Chapter Review 500
Critical Thinking 500
Doing Environmental Science 501
Global Environment Watch Exercise 501
Data Analysis 501
19 Climate Change 502
Key Questions 503
CORE CASE STUDY Melting Ice in Greenland 504
19.1 How Is the Earth’s Climate Changing? 505
Science Focus
The Study of Climate Change in the
Distant Past 506
19.2 Why Is the Earth’s Climate Changing? 508
Science Focus
Using Models to Project Future Changes
in Atmospheric Temperatures 512
19.3 What Are the Likely Effects of a Warmer
Atmosphere? 515
Individuals Matter James Balog: Watching Glaciers Melt 517
CASE STUDY Alaska—Bellwether of Climate Change 522
19.4 How Can We Slow Climate Change? 524
Science Focus
Is Capturing and Storing CO2 a Viable Solution? 526
19.5 How Can We Adapt to Climate Change? 533
CASE STUDY The Netherlands—Living with the Water 534
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER Melting Ice in Greenland and
Sustainability 536
Chapter Review 537
Critical Thinking 538
Doing Environmental Science 538
Global Environment Watch Exercise 538
Ecological Footprint Analysis 538
20 Water Pollution 540
Key Questions 541
CORE CASE STUDY The Gulf of Mexico’s Annual Dead
Zone 542
20.1 What Are the Causes and Effects of Water
Pollution? 543
Science Focus
Testing Water for Pollutants 546
20.2 What Are the Major Water Pollution Problems in
Streams and Lakes? 546
CASE STUDY Pollution in the Great Lakes 549
20.3 What Are the Major Groundwater Pollution
Problems? 551
CASE STUDY Arsenic in Drinking Water 553
CASE STUDY Is Bottled Water a Good Option? 554
SCIeNCe FoCuS Converting Dirty Water to Drinking
Water 555
CASE STUDY Lead in Drinking Water 556
20.4 What Are the Major Ocean Pollution Problems? 557
CASE STUDY Ocean Garbage Patches: There Is No Away 559
CASE STUDY The BP Deepwater Horizon Oil-Rig Spill 560
20.5 How Can We Deal with Water Pollution? 562
CASE STUDY Reducing Water Pollution in the United
States 563
Science Focus
Treating Sewage by Learning from
Nature 567
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER Dead Zones and
Sustainability 569
Chapter Review 569
Critical Thinking 570
Doing Environmental Science 570
Global Environment Watch Exercise 571
Data Analysis 571
21 Solid and Hazardous Waste 572
Key Questions 573
CORE CASE STUDY Cradle-to-Cradle Design 574
21.1 What Environmental Problems Are Related to Solid
and Hazardous Wastes? 575
CASE STUDY Solid Waste in the United States 576
Science Focus
Garbology and Tracking Trash 577
CASE STUDY E-Waste—An Exploding Hazardous Waste Problem 578
21.2 How Should We Deal with Solid Waste? 578
21.3 Why Are Refusing, Reducing, Reusing, and
Recycling So Important? 580
Individuals Matter William McDonough 581
Individuals Matter Mike Biddle’s Contribution to Plastics Recycling 585
Science Focus
Bioplastics 586
21.4 What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of
Burning or Burying Solid Waste? 586
21.5 How Should We Deal with Hazardous Waste? 589
CASE STUDY Recycling E-waste 589
CASE STUDY Hazardous Waste Regulation in the
United States 592
21.6 How Can Society Shift to a Low-Waste
Economy? 594
CASE STUDY Industrial Ecosystems: Copying Nature 596
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER The Cradle-to-Cradle Approach
and Sustainability 598
Chapter Review 599
Critical Thinking 600
Doing Environmental Science 600
Global Environment Watch Exercise 600
Ecological Footprint Analysis 601
22 Urbanization and Sustainability 602
Key Questions 603
CORE CASE STUDY Portland, Oregon: Urban Sustainability in Action 604
22.1 What Are the Major Population Trends in Urban Areas? 605
CASE STUDY Urbanization in the United States 606
22.2 What Are the Major Urban Resource and
Environmental Problems? 609
CASE STUDY Mexico City 613
22.3 How Does Transportation Affect Urban
Environmental Impacts? 614
22.4 How Important Is Urban Land-Use Planning? 618
22.5 How Can Cities Become More Sustainable and Livable? 620
Science Focus
Sustainable Community Development—A Key to Global Sustainability 621
CASE STUDY The Eco-City Concept in Curitiba, Brazil 622
Individuals Matter Peggy M. Shepherd: Fighting for
Environmental Justice in Urban America 623
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER Portland, Oregon, and
Sustainability 625
Chapter Review 625
Critical Thinking 626
Doing Environmental Science 626
Global Environment Watch Exercise 627
Ecological Footprint Analysis 627
Sustaining Human Societies
23 Economics, Environment, and Sustainability 628
Key Questions 629
CORE CASE STUDY Germany: Using Economics to Spur a
Shift to Renewable Energy 630
23.1 How Are Economic Systems Related to the
Biosphere? 631
23.2 How Can We Estimate the Values of Natural
Capital, Pollution Control, and Resource Use? 634
23.3 How Can We Use Economic Tools to Deal with
Environmental Problems? 637
Individuals Matter Paul Hawken: Businessman and
Environmental Champion 639
23.4 How Can Reducing Poverty Help Us to Deal with
Environmental Problems? 644
CASE STUDY
Microlending 645
23.5 How Can We Make the Transition to More
Environmentally Sustainable Economies? 646
Individuals Matter Ray Anderson: Sustainable Business
Visionary 649
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER
Germany’s Transition and
Sustainability 650
Chapter Review 651
Critical Thinking 652
Doing Environmental Science 652
Global Environment Watch Exercise 652
Data Analysis 653
24 Politics, Environment, and Sustainability 654
Key Questions 655
CORE CASE STUDY
The Greening of American Campuses 656
24.1 What Is the Role of Government in Making the
Transition to More Sustainable Societies? 657
24.2 How Is Environmental Policy Made? 660
Science Focus
Science and Politics—Principles and Procedures 662
Individuals Matter Xiuhtezcatl Roske-Martinez 663
24.3 What Is the Role of Environmental Law in Dealing with Environmental Problems? 664
CASE STUDY
U.S. Environmental Laws 665
24.4 What Are the Major Roles of Environmental
Groups? 667
CASE STUDY
The Natural Resources Defense Council 668
Individuals Matter Butterfly in a Redwood Tree 669
CASE STUDY
The Environmental Transformation of
Chattanooga, Tennessee 670
24.5 How Can We Improve Global Environmental Security? 671
24.6 How Can We Implement More Sustainable and Just
Environmental Policies? 674
CASE STUDY
The Netherlands—A Model for a National Green Plan 674
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER
Greening College Campuses and
Sustainability 676
Chapter Review 677
Critical Thinking 678
Doing Environmental Science 678
Global Environment Watch Exercise 678
Data Analysis 679
25 Environmental Worldviews, Ethics,
and Sustainability 680
Key Questions 681
CORE CASE STUDY
The United States, China, and Sustainability 682
25.1 What Are Some Major Environmental Worldviews? 683
Science Focus Biosphere 2—A Lesson in Humility 685
CASE STUDY
Managing Public Lands in the United
States—A Clash of Worldviews 686
25.2 What Is the Role of Education in Living More Sustainably? 688
Individuals Matter Juan Martinez—Reconnecting People with Nature 690
Individuals Matter Aldo Leopold 691
25.3 How Can We Live More Sustainably? 692
Individuals Matter Lester R. Brown: Champion of
Sustainability 695
TYING IT ALL TOGETHER
The United States, China,
and Sustainability 697
Chapter Review 697
Critical Thinking 698
Doing Environmental Science 699
Global Environment Watch Exercise 699
Ecological Footprint Analysis 699
Supplements
1 Measurement Units and Unit Conversions S1
2 Reading Graphs and Maps S3
3 Some Basic Chemistry S6
4 Maps and Map Analysis S14
5 Environmental Data and Data Analysis S40
6 Geologic and Biological Time Scale S46
Glossary G1
Index I1