Environmentally Significant Consumption: Research Directions - Softcover

Atwood

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0309055989 ISBN 13: 9780309055987

Publisher: Natl Academy Pr, 1997

Synopsis

There has been much polemic about affluence, consumption, and the global environment. For some observers, "consumption" is at the root of global environmental threats: wealthy individuals and societies use far too much of the earth's resource base and should scale back their appetites to preserve the environment for future generations and allow a decent life for the rest of the world. Other observers see affluence as the way to escape environmental threats: economic development increases public pressure for environmental protection and makes capital available for environmentally benign technologies. The arguments are fed by conflicting beliefs, values, hopes, and fears--but surprisingly little scientific analysis. This book demonstrates that the relationship of consumption to the environment needs careful analysis by environmental and social scientists and conveys some of the excitement of treating the issue scientifically. It poses the key empirical questions: Which kinds of consumption are environmentally significant? Which actors are responsible for that consumption? What forces cause or explain environmentally significant consumption? How can it be changed? The book presents studies that open up important issues for empirical study: Are there any signs of saturation in the demand for travel in wealthy countries? What is the relationship between environmental consumption and human well-being? To what extent do people in developing countries emulate American consumption styles? The book also suggests broad strategies that scientists and research sponsors can use to better inform future debates about the environment, development, and consumption.

About this title

Synopsis:

At the request of the US Environmental Protection Agency, the Academy's Committee on the Human Dimensions of Global Change gathered a number of researchers to help define the problem of consumption that affects the environment and suggest directions and procedures for finding out more about it, its impact, and what might alter it. The 12 studies, p

About the Author:

Paul C. Stern, Thomas Dietz, Vernon W. Ruttan, Robert H. Socolow, and James L. Sweeney, Editors; Committee on the Human Dimensions of Global Change, National Research Council

About this edition

• Publisher: Natl Academy Pr
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0309055989
• ISBN 13: 9780309055987
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 143