Principles of Environmental Sciences

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xvii

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2. Stating the Problem

   1. Environmental Sciences, Sustainability, and Quality

      • Jan J. Boersema

      Pages 3-14

   2. Biogeochemical Cycles

      • Lucas Reijnders

      Pages 15-17

   3. Reconstructing Environmental Changes over the Last 3 Million Years

      • A. M. Mannion

      Pages 19-24

   4. Environmental History: Object of Study and Methodology

      • Petra J. E. M. van Dam, S. Wybren Verstegen

      Pages 25-31

   5. Human Environmental History Since the Origin of Agriculture

      • Clive Ponting

      Pages 33-47

   6. Recent Developments and Trends

      • Lucas Reijnders, Jan Bakkes, Klaas van Egmond

      Pages 49-72

3. Principles and Methods

   1. General Principles

      • Craig Dilworth

      Pages 75-83

   2. Specific Principles

      • Lucas Reijnders

      Pages 85-96

   3. Social Science and Environmental Behaviour

      • Linda Steg, Charles Vlek

      Pages 97-141

   4. The Natural Environment

      • Piet H. Nienhuis

      Pages 143-176

   5. Analytical Tools for the Environment-Economy Interaction

      • Paul Ekins

      Pages 177-205

   6. Analysis of Physical Interactions Between the Economy and the Environment

      • Helias A. Udo de Haes, Reinout Heijungs

      Pages 207-237

   7. Environmental Policy Instruments

      • Gjalt Huppes, Udo E. Simonis

      Pages 239-280

   8. Environmental Institutions and Learning: Perspectives from the Policy Sciences

      • Matthijs Hisschemöller, Jan Eberg, Anita Engels, Konrad von Moltke

      Pages 281-303

   9. Technology for Environmental Problems

      • Karel Mulder

      Pages 305-333

   10. Integration

       • Jan J. Boersema

       Pages 335-343

   11. Environmental Modelling

       • H. J. M. (Bert) de Vries

       Pages 345-373

   12. An Illustration of the LCA Technique

       • Reinout Heijungs

       Pages 375-383

   13. Integrated Assessment

       • Jean-Paul Hettelingh, Bert J. M. de Vries, Leen Hordijk

       Pages 385-420

International experts provide a comprehensive picture of the principles, concepts and methods that are applicable to problems originating from the interaction between the living/non-living environment and mankind. Both the analysis of such problems and the way solutions to environmental problems may work in specific societal contexts are addressed. Disciplinary approaches are discussed but there is a focus on multi- and interdisciplinary methods. A large number of practical examples and case studies are presented. There is special emphasis on modelling and integrated assessment. This book is different because it stresses the societal, cultural and historical dimensions of environmental problems. The main objective is to improve the ability to analyse and conceptualise environmental problems in context and to make readers aware of the value and scope of different methods. Ideal as a course text for students, this book will also be of interest to researchers and consultants in the environmental sciences.

• Climate Change
• Climate change policy
• Environmental history
• Environmental policy
• Environmental principles
• Environmental technologies
• Integrated environmental models
• Sustainable development
• development
• life-cycle assessment (LCA)

From the reviews: "Principles of Environmental Sciences is a departure from the typical environmental sciences book because it builds on the foundation of a good environmental sciences course … . Editors Boersema and Reijnders address several global issues by defining the problem, reviewing methodologies for analysis, and exploring solutions and options. … This excellent work provides material … to an environmental sciences course for majors at the upper-undergraduate or graduate level. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Academic audiences, upper-division undergraduates and above." (D. Ostergren, Choice, Vol. 46 (11), 2009)

• Institute for Environmental Studies, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

  Jan J. Boersema

• IBED/EDCO, University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

  Lucas Reijnders

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