Our Environment: A Canadian Perspective

Description

This fully revised and updated fifth edition of Our Environment engages students and encourages them to critically evaluate potential solutions to environmental problems we now face. The authors outline specific environmental issues and provide the scientific underpinning required to enable students to understand the complexities at the root of these issues. The authors provide many examples of policy success to help students see that environmental concerns are not insurmountable, and that a sustainable future is something that can be attained. Sometimes issues are resolved relatively quickly - removal of phosphorus from various detergents or replacements for chlorofluorocarbons for example. Other issues such as acid rain can take a decade or more to address. Highly complex issues - loss of global biodiversity or global environmental change - remain unresolved. The text acknowledges that important in moving these issues forward has and will continue to be both environmental professionals and a critically informed public. Team up with Draper and Zimmerman's fifth edition of Our Environment and inspire your students to create a successful future for our environment. Cover Brief Contents Contents About the Authors Preface Part 1: Our Environment Chapter 1: Environmental Change Why It Matters 1-1 The Anthropocene 1-2 Accelerating Rate of Environmental Change 1-3 Exploring Sustainable Development 1-4 Pathways to a Sustainable Future Chapter Questions Chapter 2: Human Relationships with Nature Why It Matters 2-1 Critical Thinking 2-2 World Views 2-3 Environmental Decision Making 2-4 Population Growth and Environmental Impact 2-5 Assessing Human Impacts on the Environment Chapter Debate Chapter Questions Chapter 3: Science and Environment Why It Matters 3-1 Knowledge Systems: Multiple Ways of Knowing 3-2 How Science Works 3-3 Alternatives to Reductionist Science 3-4 Earth System Science 3-5 How Research Becomes Knowledge 3-6 Misunderstandings about Science Chapter Debate Chapter Questions Chapter 4: Our Planet Why It Matters 4-1 Matter and Energy: Basic Building Blocks of Nature 4-2 Formation of Earth 4-3 Earth's Major Components 4-4 The Biosphere: A Complex System 4-5 Environmental Systems 4-6 Humans in Ecosystems Chapter Debate Chapter Questions Chapter 5: Canada Why It Matters 5-1 Canada's Climate 5-2 Canada's Geology 5-3 Canadian Geography 5-4 Canada's Boundaries 5-5 Indigenous Peoples of Canada 5-6 Governance Chapter Debate Chapter Questions Part 2: Ecological Resources Chapter 6: Managing Ecological Resources Why It Matters 6-1 Development of Resource Management 6-2 Environmental Assessment 6-3 Ecosystem Management 6-4 Co-management 6-5 Stewardship 6-6 Assessing Ecological Resources 6-7 Placing an Economic Value on Nature Chapter Debate Chapter Questions Chapter 7: Biodiversity Why It Matters 7-1 International Assessment of Biodiversity 7-2 Scientific Approaches to Understanding Biodiversity 7-3 Patterns of Biodiversity across Space and Time 7-4 The Importance of Biodiversity 7-5 Canada's Biodiversity 7-6 Human Activities and Impacts on Biodiversity 7-7 Species at Risk 7-8 International Strategies to Protect Biodiversity 7-9 Canadian Law, Policy, and Practice 7-10 Future Challenges and Opportunities Chapter Debate Chapter Questions Chapter 8: Agroecosystems Why It Matters 8-1 Importance of Agriculture 8-2 Canada's Agricultural Land Base 8-3 Canada's Agricultural Production 8-4 Agricultural Activities and Their Effects 8-5 Responses to Environmental Impacts 8-6 Future Challenges Chapter Debate Chapter Questions Chapter 9: Fresh Water Why It Matters 9-1 Canada's Freshwater Environments 9-2 Freshwater Systems 9-3 The Freshwater Fishery 9-4 Earth's Water Resources 9-5 Other Important Water Issues 9-6 Making a Difference Locally 9-7 Future Challenges Chapter Debate Chapter Questions Chapter 10: Oceans and Fisheries Why It Matters 10-1 Canada's Marine Environments 10-2 Harvesting the Oceans 10-3 Future Challenges Chapter Debate Chapter Questions Chapter 11: Forests and Forestry Why It Matters 11-1 The Earth's Forests 11-2 Harvesting Canadian Forests 11-3 Environmental and Social Sustainability of Forest Ecosystems 11-4 Future Challenges Chapter Debate Chapter Questions Part 3: Commonly Held and Legacy Resources: The Overview Chapter 12: Atmosphere and Climate Why It Matters 12-1 Earth's Natural Climate System 12-2 Climate Change 12-3 Climate Change Impacts 12-4 Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation 12-5 Stratospheric Ozone (O3) 12-6 Tropospheric Air Contaminants 12-7 Challenges and Opportunities Chapter Debate Chapter Questions Chapter 13: Energy Why It Matters 13-1 Energy Supply and Demand in Canada 13-2 Energy Resources and Environmental Impacts 13-3 Responses to Environmental Impacts 13-4 Our Energy Future Chapter Debate Chapter Questions Chapter 14: Minerals and Mining Why It Matters 14-1 Mineral Resource Exploitation 14-2 Mineral Resources in Canada 14-3 Environmental Impacts of Mining 14-4 Responses to Environmental Impacts 14-5 Future Challenges Chapter Debate Chapter Questions Part 4: Getting to Tomorrow: The Overview Chapter 15: Waste Why It Matters 15-1 Canada's Waste Stream 15-2 Global Context of Waste Chapter Debate Chapter Questions Chapter 16: Environmental Hazards and Human Health Why It Matters 16-1 Ways of Thinking about Health 16-2 Social Determinants of Human Health 16-3 Types of Disease 16-4 Chemical Threats to Our Health 16-5 Risk Perception Chapter Debate Chapter Questions Chapter 17: Cities Why It Matters 17-1 An Urbanizing Globe 17-2 Urban Environmental Conditions and Trends Chapter Debate Chapter Questions Chapter 18: The Way Forward Why It Matters 18-1 Toward Sustainable Communities 18-2 If Not Business as Usual, What? 18-3 Reconceptualizing Environmental Challenges 18-4 Taking Action: Canadian Models of Sustainability Chapter Debate Chapter Questions Glossary Index