Environment, development, and sustainability - Gordon Wilson

As the human population continues to place increasing demands on the planet we inhabit we face the biggest challenge of our time: how can we exploit the natural resources that we need - whether it be for water, food, or energy - in a way that preserves the environment, is equitable and doesn't compromise the long-term future of the planet and its biodiversity?Environment, Development, and Sustainability represents an examination of three integrated issues that form the main ongoing challenge of this century. Featuring a range of perspectives and case studies from North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australasia, the book reflects the multiple ways in which environment, development and sustainability are intertwined everywhere - in rich and poor countries, and those in between.Contributions from both practitioners and academics, bringing experiences as technologists, engineers, natural scientists and social scientists, expand further the many perspectives on the challenge. The book celebrates this diversity, using it positively as a resource for a more holistic learning approach to environment, development and sustainability.Environment, Development, and Sustainability is written as a student textbook where individual chapters can be stand-alone, or where, helped by a linking narrative, the book can be read as a whole. Its accessible style, however, makes it suitable for a broader audience, including practitioners, activists and citizens who simply wish to know more.Online Resource CentreFor registered adopters:Figures from the book available to downloadFor students:Library of web links cited in the bookFlashcard glossary

Gordon Wilson is a Senior Lecturer in Technology and Development at the Open University, where he is Director of the inter-faculty Environment, Development and International Studies Programme. His research interests are in collective knowledge construction and the role of scientists, technologists, and other professional agents in development practice. He has undertaken research in Zimbabwe, Uganda, and Algeria. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education
Academy.

Pamela Furniss is a Senior Lecturer in Environmental Systems at the Open University. She has many years experience of writing teaching materials for the university on a wide range of environmental subjects, principally in the areas of water resource management. She was Course Team Chair for the production of Environmental decision making: a systems approach (T863).

Richard Kimbowa works for Uganda Coalition for Sustainable Development (UCSD), a local membership advocacy NGO. He is an alumnus of the OU's M.Sc Development Mangement Programme (2003-2006). He is professionally interested in civil society as mechanisms and institutions to secure sustainable development.

This will be a valuable textbook in the area of Environment, Development and Sustainability. The book has a clearly thought through overall structure. The introduction nicely sets the scene [and] the second section introduces some excellent global scale case studies which will be extremely useful in teaching.
Dr Andrea Jackson, University of Leeds

Through its use of a wide range of case studies from around the world, and its emphasis on practical action, this excellent book brings the big issues signified in its title down to earth. This is surely the best introduction yet to the relationships between the physical environment, development and the urgent need for more sustainable living.


Professor Noel Castree, University of Manchester

Very well thought out, with a logical structure and comprehensive coverage of the subject area, and particularly good use of case studies... A real strength is the consideration of the subject in the context of 'developed', 'developing' and 'less-developed' countries, each of which has different challenges and potential solutions.
Dr John S.Rieuwerts, University of Plymouth