One Earth, One Future

Written for nonscientists, this book helps individuals understand the basic science behind changes in the global environment and the resulting policy implications that the population of the entire planet must face. It also presents practical examinations of economic, security, and development questions.

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Written for nonscientists, One Earth, One Future can help individuals understand the basic science behind changes in the global environment and the resulting policy implications that the population of the entire planet must face.


The volume describes the earth as a unified system—exploring the interactions between the atmosphere, land, and water and the snowballing impact that human activity is having on the system—and presents perspectives on policies and programs that can both develop and protect our natural resources.


One Earth, One Future discusses why such seemingly diverse issues as historical climate change, species diversity, and sea-level rise are part of a single picture—and how human activity is the critical element in that picture.


The book concludes with practical examinations of economic, security, and development questions, with a view toward achieving improvements in quality of life without further environmental degradation.


One Earth, One Future is must reading for anyone interested in the interrelationship of environmental matters and public policy issues.

Table of Contents


Front Matter
1. Introduction
The Earth as a System
2. A New Science of the Earth
3. Lessons from the Geologic Past
4. System Interactions: Atmosphere, Oceans, Land, and Humans
5. Humanity: An Agent of Global Environmental Change
The Faces of Global Eniornmental Change
6. Global Warming
7. Food, Water, and Changing Climate
8. Coastlines and Rising Seas
9. The Ozone Layer and Ultraviolet Radiation
10. Vanishing Forests and Vanishing Species
11. Lakes, Forests, and Acid Deposition
Afterword
Appendixes
A. Selected Reading
B. Forum on Global Change and Our Common Future: Agenda and Speakers
C. Committee on Global Change and Oversight Committee Members
D. Letter on Global Environmental Change to President-Elect George Bush from the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine
Index