Debating the Earth

This volume highlights the diversity of political responses to environmental issues by bringing together 40 readings in environmental politics. These cover various definitions of environmental crisis; its causes and effects; and responses to it in institutions, politics, policies, community organizing and lifestyle. They are organized in a way that emphasizes the differences and debates across the various schools of thought on environmental affairs. The key debates cover: the severity of environmental problems - how real are ecological limits?; reformist responses to environmental issues - can expert administrators or liberal democratic institutions respond effectively?; environment and economics - is there a clash between economic and environmental values? Can sustainable development reconcile them?; Green critiques - what sorts of radical changes are advocated by deep ecologists, socialist ecologists, ecofeminists, environmental justice activists and others?; and society, the State, and the environment - how can Green critiques be put into political practice in social movements and democratic structures?

The book offers a comprehensive introduction to environmental politics and should be a valuable text for all students of environmental politics and policy, and anyone with an interest in environmental issues.