This book explores the complex relationship human have with the environment. It is one of both responsibility—including the sustainable or unsustainable management of natural resources—and emotion, such as the elation gleaned from a beautiful landscape as well as the devastation experienced from a natural disaster.

• Documents human modification of the Eearth on topics such asthrough deforestation, land use change, agricultural soil degradation, water pollution, waste generation, and the ultimate impact: climate change.

• Describes policies at national and global scales that have exacerbated environmental degradation (such as subsidies to fossil fuels) or acted to reduce such harm (such as pollution control regulations).

• Explains how richer and poorer nations are affected by and able to mitigate environmental degradation.

• Describes the interrelationships among people and the environment at various geographic scales: (individuals, communities, national policies, global initiatives); and alsoas well as the influence of public policies and community organizations such as (non-profit groups).

• Suggests how individuals can make better decisions and have a positive impact on future environmental conditions.