Introduction Chapter 1. How serious is the global environmental crisis? Chapter preface Climate change is a serious problem / Current Events Climate change is not a catastrophe / Kevin Berger Increasing air pollution is creating atmospheric brown clouds / United Nations Environment Programme The health of the world s oceans is rapidly declining / Pew Environmental Group The world is facing a global water crisis / Maude Barlow Overpopulation is the central environmental crisis facing the world. Chapter 2. Is global warming is a real threat? Chapter overview / Robert S. Boyd. Yes: global warming is a real threat : Global warming is the greatest threat humans have ever faced / Bill McKibben Global warming could lead to world poverty and war / Brad Knickerbocker It may already be too late to save the planet from global warming / Michael McCarthy. No: Global warming is not a real threat: Global warming is not a crisis / Philip Stott There is no scientific consensus on global warming / Wes Vernon The United Nations climate reports are full of errors / Christopher Monckton Global warming is a myth / Walter Starck. Chapter 3. Is biodiversity loss a major concern? Chapter overview / Anup Shah. Yes: Biodiversity loss is a major concern: Biocide is a bigger threat than global warming / Rebecca Sato Human health depends on plant and animal diversity / United Nations Development Programme Marine biodiversity is at great risk / Nancy Knowlton. No: Biodiversity loss is not a major concern: Biodiversity loss has been greatly exaggerated / Sustainable Development Network Some species should be allowed to become extinct / Murray Whyte Species preservation must be balanced with competing human needs. Chapter 4. What steps are necessary to better protect the environment? Chapter preface The new U.S. president must undo the George W. Bush administration s environmental policies / Emily Brazelon and Paul Sabin The world must curtail greenhouse emissions even faster than previously thought / Robin McKie Biodiversity hotspots must be protected / E.O. Wilson Market incentives can solve environmental problems / Fred Krupp The market cannot solve the environmental crisis / Tony Iltis The economy must be reshaped to save the earth / New Scientist The current economic crisis provides opportunities to create a sustainable global economy / Jonathan Lash.
