ABSTRACT

Sustainability Principles and Practice gives an accessible and comprehensive overview of the interdisciplinary field of sustainability. The focus is on furnishing solutions and equipping the student with both conceptual understanding and technical skills for the workplace. Each chapter explores one aspect of the field, first introducing relevant theory and presenting issues, then supplying tools for working toward solutions. Elements of sustainability are examined piece by piece, and wide coverage ranges over ecosystems, social equity, environmental justice, food, energy, product life cycles, cities, and more. Techniques for management and measurement as well as case studies from around the world are provided.

Chapters include further reading, discussion questions, and problems to foster quantitative thinking. The book is supported by a companion website with key website links, detailed reading lists, glossary, and additional case studies, together with numerous projects, research problems, and group activities, all of which focus on real-world problem solving of sustainability issues.

The textbook is designed to be used by undergraduate college and university students in sustainability degree programs and other programs in which sustainability is taught.

part |2 pages

Part I Context

chapter 1|7 pages

What is Sustainability?

chapter 2|12 pages

A Brief History of Sustainability

chapter 3|19 pages

The Biosphere

chapter 4|18 pages

The Human Sphere

chapter 5|12 pages

Putting Sustainability into Practice

part |2 pages

Part II Issues and Solutions

chapter 6|21 pages

Climate

chapter 7|20 pages

Water

chapter 8|21 pages

Ecosystems and Habitat

chapter 9|23 pages

Pollution

chapter 10|25 pages

Energy

chapter 11|25 pages

Green Buildings and Sites

chapter 12|15 pages

Livable Cities

chapter 13|26 pages

Food

chapter 14|19 pages

Products

chapter 15|17 pages

Waste and Recycling

part |2 pages

Part III Becoming an Agent for Change

chapter 16|14 pages

Working in an Organization

chapter 18|13 pages

Working as Agents for Change