Description
Environmental writer Lynas draws on the work of a group of international scientists affiliated with the Stockholm Resilience Center, who have described, in exact numerical terms, which systems of the earth are being most affected by human activities and the limits of these human activities in terms of damage to the earth. The author gives recommendations on how we should manage the planet in nine areas: biodiversity, climate change, nitrogen, land use, freshwater, toxics, aerosols, ocean acidification, and the ozone layer. He looks at social, economic, and political aspects as well as scientific aspects. Surprisingly, the author argues that nuclear power, genetic engineering, and geoengineering are not as harmful for the planet as the continued use of fossil fuels. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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We humans are the God species, both the creators and destroyers of life on this planet. As we enter a new geological era - the Anthropocene - our collective power now overwhelms and dominates the major forces of nature. But from the water cycle to the circulation of nitrogen and carbon through the entire Earth system, we are coming dangerously close to destroying the planetary life-support systems that sustain us. In this controversial new book, Royal Society Science Books Prize winner Mark Lynas shows us how we must use our new mastery over nature to save the planet from ourselves. Taking forward the work of a brilliant new group of Earth-system scientists who have mapped out our real 'planetary boundaries', Lynas draws up a radical manifesto calling for the increased use of environmentally-friendly technologies like genetic engi- neering and nuclear power as part of a global effort to use humanity's best tools to protect and nurture the biosphere. Ecological limits are real, but economic limits are not, Lynas contends. We can and must feed a richer population of nine billion people in decades to come, whilst also respecting the nine planetary boundaries - from biodiversity to ocean acidification - now identified and quantified by scientists. Ripping up years of environmental orthodoxy, he reveals how the prescriptions of the current green movement are likely to hin- der as much as help our vitally-needed effort to use science and technology to play God and save the planet.
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