Gaia's Wager: Environmental Movements and the Challenge of SustainabilityRowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2001 - 255 pages Can environmentalism evolve into a powerful social movement that transforms human practices in ways that are ecologically sustainable? Gary C. Bryner contends that it is in our self-interest as a species to ensure that environmental movements coalesce in the service of sustainability. From the very first Earth Day to the setting of Agenda 21 for the new millennium, this book traces the actors, the issues, and the institutions involved in moving environmentalism from a loose collection of fuzzy groups and goals to a new global force for change. Will the next phase of environmental action resemble the WTO protests in Seattle, the UN Kyoto Protocols, or a Think Tank inside the Washington Beltway? Gaia's Wager shows that movements play an important role between political parties and interest groups on the domestic scene and the unruly forces of globalization internationally. Only social movements can catalyze a response to the global environmental threat that has a chance of both capturing imaginations and institutionalizing progress toward environmental sustainability. Above all, Gaia's Wager bets on the confluence of big ideas and social action to yield a more hopeful environmental future. |
From inside the book
Results 1-3 of 75
Page 5
... increase has slowed slightly : in 1996 , it grew by 80 million , an increase of 1.4 percent . The rate of popula- tion growth has gradually declined since its peak of 2.2 percent in 1963 . Some 98 percent of the growth occurs in the ...
... increase has slowed slightly : in 1996 , it grew by 80 million , an increase of 1.4 percent . The rate of popula- tion growth has gradually declined since its peak of 2.2 percent in 1963 . Some 98 percent of the growth occurs in the ...
Page 6
... increasing at less than 1 percent a year in the 1990s , compared with a 2.1 percent yearly increase throughout the 1980s.26 Per - capita soybean production peaked in 1994 and then fell slightly ; one troublesome sign is that China has ...
... increasing at less than 1 percent a year in the 1990s , compared with a 2.1 percent yearly increase throughout the 1980s.26 Per - capita soybean production peaked in 1994 and then fell slightly ; one troublesome sign is that China has ...
Page 7
... increased levels of local and re- gional air pollution and global greenhouse gases . Other major environmental threats that will likely increase are degradation of coastal habitats and destruction of old - growth forests.37 Many believe ...
... increased levels of local and re- gional air pollution and global greenhouse gases . Other major environmental threats that will likely increase are degradation of coastal habitats and destruction of old - growth forests.37 Many believe ...
Contents
Assessing Environmental Politics | 1 |
Environmentalism in the United States | 31 |
A Comparative Perspective | 67 |
Copyright | |
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Other editions - View all
Gaia's Wager: Environmental Movements and the Challenge of Sustainability Gary C. Bryner Limited preview - 2001 |
Gaia's Wager: Environmental Movements and the Challenge of Sustainability Gary C. Bryner No preview available - 2001 |
Common terms and phrases
actions activity agencies Agenda 21 agreements American Amory Lovins argue Assessment biodiversity Bryner carbon challenge climate change Clinton commitment Congress conservation consumption costs critical debate developing countries Earth Summit ecological sustainability economic growth ecosystems effective efforts emissions trading ensure envi environmental groups environmental issues environmental laws environmental movement environmental politics environmental problems environmental protection environmental quality environmentalists example fund future gases GHG emissions global environmental Global Warming goals grass-roots Green Parties Green Politics greenhouse gas greenhouse gas emissions Greenpeace human idea of sustainable impact implementation increase industry interest interest-group politics International Environmental Kyoto Protocol levels major ment mental million natural resources NGOs nomic organizations participation percent pollution poverty production programs public policies reduce emissions regulation regulatory response role ronmental social movement sources support for environmental sustainable development tainability technologies tion trade United University Press values vironmental Washington World Bank World Resources Institute York