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Sustaining the Earth

By G. Tyler Miller, Scott Spoolman

11th Edition © 2015
Discipline:Environmental Science
Course:Environmental Science
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SUSTAINING THE EARTH provides the basic scientific tools for understanding and thinking critically about the environmental problems we face. About half the price of other environmental science texts, this 14-chapter, one-color core book offers an integrated approach that emphasizes how environmental and resource problems and solutions are related. The new edition of SUSTAINING THE EARTH is fully updated with the latest statistics and reports of important scientific studies. New Connections boxes show surprising but important connections between environmental problems and aspects of daily life. In addition, new Thinking About boxes help students apply the concepts of the book to their own lives.

Sustainability is the integrating theme of this current and thought-provoking book. The concept-centered approach transforms complex environmental topics and issues into key concepts that students will understand and remember. By framing the concepts with goals for more sustainable lifestyles and human communities, students see how promising the future can be.

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AboutTable of contentsResourcesPricing & formatsRelated products

About this product

SUSTAINING THE EARTH provides the basic scientific tools for understanding and thinking critically about the environmental problems we face. About half the price of other environmental science texts, this 14-chapter, one-color core book offers an integrated approach that emphasizes how environmental and resource problems and solutions are related. The new edition of SUSTAINING THE EARTH is fully updated with the latest statistics and reports of important scientific studies. New Connections boxes show surprising but important connections between environmental problems and aspects of daily life. In addition, new Thinking About boxes help students apply the concepts of the book to their own lives.

Sustainability is the integrating theme of this current and thought-provoking book. The concept-centered approach transforms complex environmental topics and issues into key concepts that students will understand and remember. By framing the concepts with goals for more sustainable lifestyles and human communities, students see how promising the future can be.

Case Studies in every chapter provide an in-depth look at specific environmental problems and their possible solutions.

CENTRAL THEME OF SUSTAINABILITY: Three clearly explained principles of sustainability (solar energy, chemical cycling, and biodiversity) are integrated throughout every chapter and take students through the practical steps they can take toward more sustainable lifestyles. Icons highlight sustainability throughout the text.

CONCEPT-CENTERED APPROACH: To help students focus on the main ideas, each major chapter section is built around one to two key concepts which state the most important take-away messages of each chapter.

PERSONAL RELEVANCE: “What Can You Do?” boxes describe how students can make a difference and “How Would You Vote?” questions give them an opportunity to think critically about issues. “Solutions” subsections present proven and possible solutions for students to explore and “Individuals Matter” boxes describe what various concerned citizens and scientists have done to help work toward sustainability.

Table of contents

Chapters

Cover Page
Title Page
Copyright Page
About the Cover Photo
Preface
Acknowledgments
Cumulative Reviewers
About the Authors
Learning Skills
Humans and Sustainability: An Overview
Science, Ecological Principles, and Sustainability
Sustaining Biodiversity
Sustaining Natural Resources
Sustaining Environmental Quality
Sustaining Human Societies
Appendix. Measurement Units
Show more

Humans and Sustainability: An Overview

1. Environmental Problems, Their Causes, and Sustainability
Preview this section ↗
1–1. What Are Some Principles of Sustainability? ↗
Environmental Science Is a Study of Connections in Nature ↗
Three Scientific Principles of Sustainability ↗
Sustainability Has Certain Key Components ↗
Other Principles of Sustainability Come from the Social Sciences ↗
Some Resources Are Renewable and Some Are Not ↗
Countries Differ in Their Resource Use and Environmental Impact ↗
1–2. How Are Our Ecological Footprints Affecting the Earth? ↗
We Are Living Unsustainably ↗
Pollution Comes from a Number of Sources ↗
The Tragedy of the Commons: Degrading Commonly Shared Renewable Resources ↗
Ecological Footprints: Our Environmental Impacts ↗
Cultural Changes Can Grow or Shrink Our Ecological Footprints ↗
1–3. Why Do We Have Environmental Problems? ↗
Experts Have Identified Five Basic Causes of Environmental Problems ↗
The Human Population Is Growing Exponentially at a Rapid Rate ↗
Affluence Has Harmful and Beneficial Environmental Effects ↗
Poverty Has Harmful Environmental and Health Effects ↗
Market Prices of Goods and Services Do Not Include Environmental Costs ↗
We Are Increasingly Isolated from Nature ↗
People Have Different Views about Environmental Problems and Their Solutions ↗
1–4. What Is an Environmentally Sustainable Society? ↗
Environmentally Sustainable Societies Protect Natural Capital and Live Off Its Income ↗
Individuals Matter ↗
Review ↗
Critical Thinking ↗
Doing Environmental Science ↗

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