Very Short Introductions : Brilliant Sharp Inspiring The growing concern about global
environmental change and human impacts on the planet has led to the emergence of a broad field
of study on the 'sustainability' of human societies. The term's common usage can be traced back
to the advent of the Earth Summit in 1992 when 'sustainable development' was broadly embraced
by the international community as an ostensibly win-win proposition for economic development
social inclusion and ecological conservation. Yet both the natural science underpinnings and
the social implications of a quest for sustainability have been diffuse. There is a need for a
coherent synthesis which draws out key themes from both natural and social analysis of the
concept. This Very Short Introduction begins by introducing the concept of sustainability and
how it has developed. The central chapters consider four key concepts crucial to
sustainability: a) material and energy flows in consumption and production b) technological
interventions for a sustainable society c) tipping points and resilience in natural and
social systems and d) renewability and circularity in the economy. In the concluding chapter
Saleem H. Ali explores political means of managing anthropogenic change for a more sustainable
society. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press
contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the
perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts analysis
perspective new ideas and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly
readable.
