About the Book
The Annual Editions series is designed to provide convenient, inexpensive access to a wide range of current articles from some of the most respected magazines, newspapers, and journals published today. Annual Editions are updated on a regular basis through a continuous monitoring of over 300 periodical sources. The articles selected are authored by prominent scholars, researchers, and commentators writing for a general audience. Each Annual Editions volume has a number of features designed to make them especially valuable for classroom use: an annotated Table of Contents, a Topic Guide, an annotated listing of supporting websites, Learning Outcomes and a brief overview for each unit, and Critical Thinking questions at the end of each article. Select individual Annual Editions articles to enhance your course, or access and select the entire ExpressBook for an easy, pre-built teaching resource. An online Instructor's Resource Guide with testing material is available for each Annual Editions volume. Using Annual Editions in the Classroom is also an excellent instructor resource.
Table of Contents:
UNIT: Ecophagy-A Planet in Distress: The Natural Resources-Human Consumption Nexus People and the Planet: Executive Summary, Royal Society Policy Center, 2012 The Royal Society Policy Center's 2012 report contends that global human population is experiencing rapid and widespread changes and is coupled with "unprecedented levels of consumption." The Society argues that this condition presents profound challenges to human and planetary well-being and offers recommendations to avoid the most harmful impacts. Putting People in the Map: Anthropogenic Biomes of the World, Erle C. Ellis and Navin Ramankutty, Frontiers in Ecology and Environment, 2008 Most of the terrestrial biosphere has been altered by humans and impacted global patterns of biodiversity and ecosystem processes. The authors map "anthropogenic biomes" derived from empirical analysis of global population, land use, and land cover. Such mapping can help us better understand the human/environment relationship. The Issue: Natural Resources, What Are They? World Resource Forum, 2012 In this brief survey, the World Resource Forum reviews the current state of our natural resources. It first defines what natural resources are and then provides both text and graphic descriptions of global patterns of resource use, resource extraction, resource efficiency, and scenarios of future resource extraction. Too Many People, Too Much Consumption, Paul R. Ehrlich and Anne H. Ehrlich, Yale Environment 360, 2013 The authors argue that unless we can bring population growth and its increasing per capita consumption rates under control, life on the planet will become increasingly untenable. However, the author cautions tackling the issues of overconsumption are tough to analyze. New Consumers: The Influence of Affluence on the Environment, Norman Myers and Jennifer Kent, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), 2003 More than 1 billion new consumers in 17 developing and three transition countries will be joining the ranks of consumers in the rich countries. But the environmental consequences of this new affluence could be significant. The authors argue it will be in the best interest of not only these new consumer nations but the long-established affluent nations as well to find ways to restrict future potential environmental damage. UNIT: The Psychological Roots beneath Environmental Degradation: The Human Needs/Desires Factor Do We Consume Too Much? Mark Sagoff, The Atlantic, 1977 Author Mark Sagoff asked in 1997, "Do we consume too much?" Discourse about the future of our planet (in 1997) was dominated by people who believed an expanding world economy will use up our natural resources and others who saw no reasons to limit economic growth. The author concluded that "neither side has it right." The Gospel of Consumption: And the Better Future We Left Behind, Jeffrey Kaplan, Orion Magazine, 2008 According to author Jeffrey Kaplin, "If we want to save the earth, we must also save ourselves from ourselves." While our obsession with work (actually, overwork) contributed to productivity and material wealth in the past, we need time to maintain and nurture the human relationships necessary for sustaining a healthy planet. The Psychological Roots of Resource Over-Consumption, Nate Hagens, Postcarbon, 2011 Author Nate Hagens believes humans have an innate need for status and novelty in their lives. But the way we pursue these needs, Hagens argues, is not sustainable. The essay explores some of the underlying drivers of resource depletion and planetary consumption. Consumption and Consumerism, Anup Shah, Global Issues, 2011 The consumption gap was wider in 1995 than in 2005. But in 2005, the wealthiest 20 percent of the world still accounted for 76.6 percent of total private consumption; the poorest 20 percent, just 1.5 percent. The United Nations argues that in 2005, consumption was a leading cause of environmental degradation. Today, the consumption-poverty-inequality environmental nexus is accelerating. How Much Should a Person Consume? Ramachandra Guha, Global Dialogue, 2002 Guha argues, "There are ... more than 300 professional environmental historians in the United States ... and not one has seriously studied the global consequences of the consumer society ... American Way of Life." The essay examines the answer to the title's question and concludes there are vast inequalities of global consumption. Why Do We Over-Consume? Darek Gondor, Our World 2.0, 2009 In this brief essay blog, Darek Gordon asks, "Why do we over-consume?" He suggests our predisposition to needing more stuff goes back to our premodern roots. However, the abundance of the resources necessary to meet those needs continues to diminish while competition increases. The solution, the author argues, will lie in our cultural evolution. UNIT: Eating at the Whole Earth Cafe: The Daily Environmental Specials Food Scarcity 2013 World Hunger and Poverty Facts and Statistics, World Hunger Education Service, World Hunger, 2013 This report reviews the current global hunger and poverty conditions. It defines concepts and terms, provides numbers, offers causes, and states what progress has been made. Also addressed is the question: "Does the world produce enough food to feed everyone?" How to Feed 8 Billion People, Lester R. Brown, The Futurist, 2010 Noted environmentalist Lester R. Brown believes global demand for food and diminishing returns of the Green Revolution are leading to an impending food crisis. The author argues that to avoid the crisis, we need to better manage the factors that affect our food production systems: population, climate change, water, soils, and consumption behaviors. Climate Change: How a Warming World Is a Threat to Our Food Supplies, John Vidal, The Observer, 2013 The author reports that based on recent studies, the world needs to prepare for increasing political instability, environmental stress, and food insecurity issues as a warming world looms on the horizon. Could Food Shortages Bring Down Civilization? Lester R. Brown, Scientific American, 2009 Environmental leader Lester Brown believes that as environmental degradation worsens, food scarcity and higher food prices will push poor countries into chaos. The resulting failed states combined with water shortages, soil loss, and rising temperatures could threaten civilization. Water Shortage Understanding Water Scarcity: Definitions and Measurements, Chris White, Global Water Forum Discussion Paper 1217, 2012 This discussion paper examines the various ways water scarcity can be defined. The author notes that the ways "water scarcity" is defined can lead to misunderstandings and misleading answers to questions regarding regional water shortages. Such misunderstandings can potentially lead to ineffectual resolutions and policies. The World's Water Challenge, Erik R. Peterson and Rachel A. Posner, Current History, 2010 Some experts estimate that over the next 20 years, we may see as much as a 49 percent gap between global water demand and available resources. Growing demand, consumption, and climate change will contribute to increasing competition. Despite this situation, the authors see little effort aimed at establishing a value for this resource which could aid in managing its sustainability. Global Water Crisis: Too Little, Too Much, or Lack of a Plan? William Wheeler, Christian Science Monitor, 2012 Why do experts in science, economics and development warn of an impending global water crisis? According to the author, addressing the answer to that question is less about supply than it is about recognizing the real value of water, having access to it, using it efficiently, and planning for a changing future. The Big Melt, Brook Larmer, National Geographic, 2010 Earth's water is often described in environmental science in terms of the "interacting compartments" where it resides. One compartment is glaciers (accessed via melt water) that regions such as Asia depend on for agriculture and domestic use. Brook Larmer examines the glacial shrinkage in these areas and the potential for future conflict in the region. Biodiversity Loss Michael Pollan on the Links between Biodiversity and Health, Jack Hitt, Yale Environment 360, 2013 Author Michael Pollan has written several books about the relationship between people and nature, and in this interview shares his ideas about human health, biodiversity, and the food we eat. According to Pollan, "... the great evil of American agriculture is monoculture." The Human Factor, Elizabeth Kolbert, OnEarth Magazine, 2010 Elizabeth Kolbert interviewed renowned scientist E. O. Wilson for insights on our current situation as humans on earth. According to Wilson, we can fix problems such as energy, economy, war, and the political instability of nations. Our real problem-the loss of genetic and species diversity by the destruction of natural habitats-will be the challenge. The End of a Myth, Julia Whitty, OnEarth Magazine, 2012 The ocean is the largest wilderness on Earth. It is a biome composed of myriad ecosystems and staggering numbers of species. An ounce of sea water alone is home to as many as 30 billion microorganisms. But author Julia Whitty explains that what we once thought to be infinite and inexhaustible is not. Land Grabs Rich Countries Launch Great Land Grab to Safeguard Food Supply, Julian Borger, The Guardian, 2008 Wealthy countries are buying up agricultural land in developing countries to secure their long-term food supplies. The U.N. Food and Agricultural Organization is concerned that such land-buying activities could create a form of "neo-colonialism," with poor nations producing food for the rich at the expense of their own hungry people. Global Urbanization: Can Ecologists Identify a Sustainable Way Forward? Robert I. McDonald, Frontiers in Ecology and Environment, 2008 Harvard Graduate School of Design professor Robert McDonald discusses the connection between urban farms and ecosystem service generation and consumption. He also discusses how urban farming controls energy use and argues that urban growth must be addressed if we hope to achieve a sustainable biosphere. The New Land Rush, Terry J. Allen, Utne Reader, 2012 Agricultural land around the world that used to support local populations through subsistence farming is being scooped up by foreign investors. Land around the world, especially in the impoverished nations, is changing hands at a rate unseen since the colonial era. This new era of agricultural colonialism could spark new international instabilities. Development at the Urban Fringe and Beyond: Impacts on Agriculture and Rural Land, Ralph E. Heimlich and William D. Anderson, Economic Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Economic Report No. 803, 2001 The report examines urban development at the edges of cities and in rural areas, often referred to as "sprawl," and presents a summary of findings regarding the forces driving development and its impacts on agricultural and rural communities. The report also provides information on the means available to channel and control growth. Energy Fracking Backyard Battlefields: The Bloody Business of Fracking in Arkansas, J. Malcolm Garcia, Oxford American, 2012 Author Garcia explores the business of fracking at the personal level of the people of Arkansas who are suffering the hidden costs of what is being touted as a "safe, clean, green energy alternative." Some of the costs include contaminated drinking water, toxic gas, and human health problems. Fracking Ourselves to Death in Pennsylvania, Ellen Cantarow, Tom Dispatch, 2013 According to author Ellen Cantarow, a new generation of "downwinders" (victims of early atomic testing) is getting sick as the fracking industry pushes forward this new energy recovery technology. In this story, Pennsylvania farming communities are being turned into huge, open-air laboratories by energy companies with ordinary people serving as guinea pigs. The Whole Fracking Enchilada, Sandra Steingraber, Orion Magazine, 2010 Until a few years ago, much of the natural gas trapped underground was considered unrecoverable. But the business of fracking has changed all that. Investors are now viewing shale gas as a paradigm-shifting innovation. But according to the author, what we are really doing is literally shattering the bedrock of our nation and pumping it full of carcinogens in order to bring methane out of the earth. And nowhere is fracking proceeding more manically than Appalachia. UNIT Earth Economics: Calculating Environmental Values Mark Tercek: Valuing Nature, Todd Reubold, Ensia, 2013 The author interviews Mark Tercek, CEO of the Nature Conservancy, about his new book, Nature's Fortune: How Business and Society Thrive by Investing in Nature. Tercek's book argues that environmental organizations need to elevate their game and focus on getting business and government to recognize the value of investing in nature (natural capital) in our pursuit for sustainability. What Is a Tree Worth? Jill Jonnes, The Wilson Quarterly, 2011 Until recently, many practical-minded Americans, and most politicians, saw little value in trees beyond board feet and such intangibles as aesthetics. However, urban forestry science is shedding more light on the ecosystem services and economy benefits trees provide-especially in the urban setting. The Efficiency Dilemma, David Owen, The New Yorker, 2010 Jevons' Paradox: Increasing energy efficiency = increasing productivity of energy = reducing implicit price = more return for money = increased demand. Author David Owen discusses the growing "energy efficiency dilemma." Our efforts to improve energy efficiency may negate any environmental gains. Can squeezing more consumption from less fuel carry an environmental cost? Economic Report into Biodiversity Crisis Reveals Price of Consuming the Planet, Juliette Jowit, The Guardian, 2010 This brief report reveals that species loss around the world could cost the earth food shortages, floods, and expensive cleanup costs. The U.N. biodiversity report states that in every corner of the globe, the evidence of biodiversity change is impossible to ignore. Global action is necessary to prevent further destruction of nature. UNIT: Sustainability and Planetary Consumption: Can We Have Our Green Eggs and Ham and Eat It Too? The New Population Bomb: The Four Megatrends That Will Change the World, Jack A. Goldstone, Foreign Affairs, 2010 The author believes four population mega trends will have significant political and economic consequences across the globe. However, the impacts will vary between places and peoples and most likely result in variable environmental consequences. Policymakers must reconsider the old three-world economies paradigm and look at a new one based on changing demographics. Theses on Sustainability: A Primer, Eric Zencey, Orion Magazine, 2010 Eric Zencey presents his "thesis" on sustainability. He opens and builds his 18-point discourse on what he believes is a term called sustainability that has become so widely used that it may be becoming meaningless. The term has been applied to all manners of activities in order to give these activities the gloss of moral imperative, the cachet of environmental enlightenment. Collaborative Consumption: Shifting the Consumer Mindset, Rachel Botsman and Roo Rogers, Mother Earth News, 2010 In this excerpt from the book, What's Mine is Yours: The Rise of Collaborative Consumption, Rachel Botsman and Roo Rogers use examples of real entrepreneurial and revolutionaries around the world to show how social technologies and economic/environmental imperatives are moving us to a new realm of consumerism marked by sustainability and shared access. Consuming Passions: Everything That Can Be Done to Bring the Age of Heroic Consumption to Its Close Should Be Done, Jeremy Seabrook, The Guardian, 2008 In this article, the author argues that the greatest threat to global stability comes not from the poor, but from the rich. But it is not the excessive materialism associated with wealth that threatens the earth. Rather, it is a distorted kind of mysticism that believes we can consume the earth and still avoid the consequences of our ravenous appetites. Saving the Planet: A Tale of Two Strategies, Roger Martin and Alison Kemper, Harvard Business Review, 2012 In this article, the authors argue that the two competing philosophies for saving the environment-restraint/responsibility or human ingenuity-need to be both applied. Business represents both sources of environmental degradation as well as resolutions for remediating that damage and so clearly have a major role to play in resolving sustainability challenges.
