All life on earth is interdependent and depends on its environment to survive. When part of an ecosystem is destroyed or damaged it has a knock on effect on the plants, animals and people who form part of it. Human impact on environments and wildlife is causing environmental problems such as pollution, energy consumption, deforestation and climate change. If these issues are not addressed then it could spell disaster for the Earth. Sustainable development - meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs - offers a viable solution to environmental problems. Using examples from around the world, this book will show how sustainable development can help us to work with environments and not against them. It also suggests some choices the reader can make to ensure a sustainable future. 'Databank' boxes give key facts, 'Opinion' panels highlight quotes from well-known speakers on the subject. There are also weblinks with useful website addresses which link to sites with more information about a particular topic.
We use energy every day; from powering our vehicles and factories to heating and lighting our homes, schools and offices. These needs are met mainly by stores of energy, such as coal and oil, which were built up over millions of years. Today, we are using these stores very rapidly, much faster than they can be replaced or renewed. These sources of energy are also very polluting and are known to contribute to global warming. This book considers examples from across the world that show there are alternative, sustainable ways to provide energy, without damaging the environment. These alternatives are known as sustainable energy, or renewable sources, and their use is growing rapidly as people become aware of the dangers of ignoring the energy problem. It also suggests some choices the reader can make to ensure a sustainable future. 'Databank' boxes give key facts, 'Opinion' panels highlight quotes from well-known speakers on the subject. There are also weblinks with useful website addresses which link to sites with more information about a particular topic.
The proportion of the world's population living in urban areas is expected to exceed 60 per cent by 2030. Urbanization creates problems such as pollution, overcrowding, congestion and large amounts of waste, which need to be addressed. In the face of such growth, there is an urgent need to consider how urbanization can be better managed to improve its sustainability. The challenge is to meet the everyday needs and hopes of urban people without harming the environment or living conditions of other people, both now and in the future. It is this idea of conserving resources for the benefit of future generations that is the principle behind sustainable development. This book also shows how the reader can play an active part in ensuring a more sustainable future. 'Databank' boxes give key facts, 'Opinion' panels highlight quotes from well-known speakers on the subject. There are also weblinks with useful website addresses which link to sites with more information about a particular topic.
Everyone in the world produces waste of some form or another in their daily lives, from personal and household waste to emissions into the air as a result of motorized travel. The effects of this waste vary from pollution in rivers to the much more serious threat of global climate change. Unfortunately, the amount of waste being produced by everyone in the world is getting greater every year, and failure to deal with it could threaten the Earth's ability to support life in the future. If we and the Earth are to survive, we must deal with the problems caused by waste as well as reducing the amount of waste we produce in the first place. Such management is called sustainable - and this book explains how the world must change and evolve in the future. It also suggests some choices the reader can make to their waste management to ensure a sustainable future. 'Databank' boxes give key facts, 'Opinion' panels highlight quotes from well-known speakers on the subject. There are also weblinks with useful website addresses which link to sites with more information about a particular topic.
All life on earth is interdependent and depends on its environment to survive. When part of an ecosystem is destroyed or damaged it has a knock on effect on the plants, animals and people who form part of it. Human impact on environments and wildlife is causing environmental problems such as pollution, energy consumption, deforestation and climate change. If these issues are not addressed then it could spell disaster for the Earth. Sustainable development - meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs - offers a viable solution to environmental problems. Using examples from around the world, this book will show how sustainable development can help us to work with environments and not against them. It also suggests some choices the reader can make to ensure a sustainable future. 'Databank' boxes give key facts, 'Opinion' panels highlight quotes from well-known speakers on the subject. There are also weblinks with useful website addresses which link to sites with more information about a particular topic.
We all need food to survive but many of us give relatively little thought to where our food actually comes from. The world's population is expanding, placing even greater pressure on the land, which leads to problems such as erosion, pollution and loss of important habitats and wildlife. Farming methods must change to deal with these problems. This book considers examples from across the world that show there are alternative, sustainable ways to provide food for everyone, without further harming the environment. By exploring the idea of sustainable food and farming, this book shows how readers can also play an active part in ensuring a more sustainable future. 'Databank' boxes give key facts, 'Opinion' panels highlight quotes from well-known speakers on the subject. There are also weblinks with useful website addresses which link to sites with more information about a particular topic.
We use energy every day; from powering our vehicles and factories to heating and lighting our homes, schools and offices. These needs are met mainly by stores of energy, such as coal and oil, which were built up over millions of years. Today, we are using these stores very rapidly, much faster than they can be replaced or renewed. These sources of energy are also very polluting and are known to contribute to global warming. This book considers examples from across the world that show there are alternative, sustainable ways to provide energy, without damaging the environment. These alternatives are known as sustainable energy, or renewable sources, and their use is growing rapidly as people become aware of the dangers of ignoring the energy problem. It also suggests some choices the reader can make to ensure a sustainable future. 'Databank' boxes give key facts, 'Opinion' panels highlight quotes from well-known speakers on the subject. There are also weblinks with useful website addresses which link to sites with more information about a particular topic.
Everyone in the world uses some form of transport almost every day of their lives. We move around for work, school, leisure and pleasure, and forms of transport range from walking and animals to high-speed planes and trains. However, transport is one of the greatest causes of damage to our planet. Carbon-dioxide emissions contribute to climate change, and transport congestion, injuries and deaths affect millions of people every year. This book explains how transport must change and evolve in the future. Many countries and individuals are now choosing to create more sustainable transport: that is, transport that does not cause harm to others or to the environment, both now and in the future. It looks at current developments in transport design and use that could make it more sustainable. It also suggests some choices the reader can make on a local scale to ensure a more sustainable world. 'Databank' boxes give key facts, 'Opinion' panels highlight quotes from well-known speakers on the subject. There are also weblinks with useful website addresses which link to sites with more information about a particular topic.
We all need food to survive but many of us give relatively little thought to where our food actually comes from. The world's population is expanding, placing even greater pressure on the land, which leads to problems such as erosion, pollution and loss of important habitats and wildlife. Farming methods must change to deal with these problems. This book considers examples from across the world that show there are alternative, sustainable ways to provide food for everyone, without further harming the environment. By exploring the idea of sustainable food and farming this book shows how readers can also play an active part in ensuring a more sustainable future. 'Databank' boxes give key facts, 'Opinion' panels highlight quotes from well-known speakers on the subject. There are also weblinks with useful website addresses which link to sites with more information about a particular topic.
The proportion of the world's population living in urban areas is expected to exceed 60 per cent by 2030. Urbanization creates problems such as pollution, overcrowding, congestion and large amounts of waste, which need to be addressed. In the face of such growth there is an urgent need to consider how urbanization can be better managed to improve its sustainability. The challenge is to meet the everyday needs and hopes of urban people without harming the environment or living conditions of other people, both now and in the future. It is this idea of conserving resources for the benefit of future generations that is the principle behind sustainable development. This book also shows how the reader can play an active part in ensuring a more sustainable future. 'Databank' boxes give key facts, 'Opinion' panels highlight quotes from well-known speakers on the subject. There are also weblinks with useful website addresses which link to sites with more information about a particular topic.
Discusses the growing problem of waste disposal around the world, the initiatives being taken to recycle, and the conservation efforts being made to reduce waste.