Natural Capital and Human Economic Survival, Second Edition


Book Description

Most people love nature and consider themselves environmentalists, but nature isn't just pretty and lovable, it is indispensable to our survival and economic activity. That is the most compelling reason for environmental protection. The conventional economic wisdom views land (natural capital) as a small part of the economy, along with capital, labor, technology and so on. The authors argue that this is backwards: that the economy nests within the environment (land) and not the other way around. The authors give a brief history of the origins of conventional economic wisdom and critique it from a the standpoint of ecological economics. They explain what natural capital -our life support system - is and does, and describe the severe strains that have been put on it. They conclude with some policy options, such as green taxes and suggestions for personal action that would conserve natural capital and thus make conserve resources for present and future generations. Natural Capital and Human Economic Survival is written for environmentalists, environmental studies majors and anyone concerned about the flaws of mainstream economics - how it has led us into unsustainable ways of living - and who would like to learn about alternatives that are more sustainable.




Natural Capital and Human Economic Survival, Second Edition


Book Description

Most people love nature and consider themselves environmentalists, but nature isn't just pretty and lovable, it is indispensable to our survival and economic activity. That is the most compelling reason for environmental protection. The conventional economic wisdom views land (natural capital) as a small part of the economy, along with capital, labor, technology and so on. The authors argue that this is backwards: that the economy nests within the environment (land) and not the other way around. The authors give a brief history of the origins of conventional economic wisdom and critique it from a the standpoint of ecological economics. They explain what natural capital -our life support system - is and does, and describe the severe strains that have been put on it. They conclude with some policy options, such as green taxes and suggestions for personal action that would conserve natural capital and thus make conserve resources for present and future generations. Natural Capital and Human Economic Survival is written for environmentalists, environmental studies majors and anyone concerned about the flaws of mainstream economics - how it has led us into unsustainable ways of living - and who would like to learn about alternatives that are more sustainable.







Natural Capital and Human Economic Survival, Second Edition


Book Description

Most people love nature and consider themselves environmentalists, but nature isn't just pretty and lovable, it is indispensable to our survival and economic activity. That is the most compelling reason for environmental protection. The conventional economic wisdom views land (natural capital) as a small part of the economy, along with capital, labor, technology and so on. The authors argue that this is backwards: that the economy nests within the environment (land) and not the other way around. The authors give a brief history of the origins of conventional economic wisdom and critique it from a the standpoint of ecological economics. They explain what natural capital -our life support system - is and does, and describe the severe strains that have been put on it. They conclude with some policy options, such as green taxes and suggestions for personal action that would conserve natural capital and thus make conserve resources for present and future generations. Natural Capital and Human Economic Survival is written for environmentalists, environmental studies majors and anyone concerned about the flaws of mainstream economics - how it has led us into unsustainable ways of living - and who would like to learn about alternatives that are more sustainable.




An Introduction to Ecological Economics


Book Description

From Empty-World Economics to Full-World EconomicsEcological economics explores new ways of thinking about how we manage our lives and our planet to achieve a sustainable, equitable, and prosperous future. Ecological economics extends and integrates the study and management of both "nature's household" and "humankind's household"-An Introduction to




Fundamentals of Ecotoxicology, Second Edition


Book Description

Completely revised and updated, Fundamentals of Ecotoxicology, Second Edition presents a treatment of ecotoxicology ranging from molecular to global perspectives. The authors focus first on lower levels of organization and then extend their discussion to include landscape, regional, and biospheric topics, imparting a perspective as broad as the the problems facing practicing professionals. See what's new in this edition: A comprehensive chapter on the nature, transport, and fate of major classes of contaminants in terrestrial, freshwater, and marine systems Side bars containing vignettes by leaders in the field let you benefit from the experience of diverse practitioners in the field An appendix covering European environmental regulations The authors detail key contaminants of concern, explore their fate and cycling in the biosphere, and discuss bioaccumulation and the effects of contaminants at increasing levels of ecological organization. They cover regulatory aspects of the field in separate chapters that address the technical issues of risk assessment and discuss key U.S. and European legislation in the appendices. Complete with study questions, a detailed glossary, and vignettes by various experts exploring special topics in ecotoxicology, Fundamentals of Ecotoxicology, Second Edition is an ideal introductory textbook for both undergraduate- and graduate-level courses, as well as a valuable reference for professionals.




Global Political Economy and the Wealth of Nations


Book Description

This comprehensive collection documents the major processes, performance, institutions, problems and policies associated with global political economy. For the first time in a single volume, the authors present a detailed analysis of the changing distribution and production of wealth throughout the world, different measures of performance, the glob




Toward Sustainable Development


Book Description

By now, most people in the ecological and environmental fields have heard of sustainable development, but how many know how we go about getting there, and if we are achieving it? By synthesizing the many disparate elements of the field of Ecological Economics, Toward Sustainable Development: An Ecological Economics Approach combines analysis, theory, and empiricism to answer the whats, whys, and hows of moving towards sustainable development. Since the ecological economics approach to sustainable development is still a relatively new paradigm, its long-term success rests heavily on the formalized establishment of the most basic and fundamental principles. This volume discusses the formation of these principles and their implementation in the real world. Lawn establishes the ground-rules by showing that development need not be achieved at the expense of ecological sustainability. He presents the tools, guidelines, and conceptual framework necessary to move toward sustainable development. Filled with figures, tables, and illustrations, Toward Sustainable Development: An Ecological Economics Approach systematically develops a conceptual framework from which to design workable policies. The author shows that development and ecological sustainability don't have to be trade-offs but can be complimentary and outlines a range of economic and non-economic indicators to measure performance.




Privileged Goods


Book Description

What are the obstacles in the way of effectively solving the environmental crises of our time? What can we do to overcome them? These may be two of the most important questions heading into the 21st century. Organized human societies have the ability to completely change the world. While we have excelled at building, destroying and rebuilding, we h




Fundamentals of Ecotoxicology


Book Description

Each year ecotoxicological problems become increasingly complex and encompass broader spatial and temporal scales. Our practical understanding must evolve accordingly to maintain an acceptable quality of life. Fully revised and expanded to reflect new developments, the third edition of Fundamentals of Ecotoxicology provides a broad overview of the