Some major developments witnessed during the 20th century have greatly impacted human beings as well as the planet Earth—the only known planet to support life. Incalculable harm is being caused to natural habitats, eco-systems and environment by unprecedented growth in population resulting in great rise in consumption; rapid increase in urbanization and industrialisation; dramatic changes in global economic environment; and reckless use of mineral and forest resources, etc.
It is ironical that some of the achievements of the 20th century themselves pose the challenges for the present 21st century. As of 2008, the world population has reached 6.66 billion. According to data from the CIA’s World Fact Book (2007), world human population increase by 211,090 people every day. With 6.66 billion people inhabiting this earth, and the global economy over the next 25 years could expand from $35 trillion in 2005 to $72 trillion in 2030 (World Bank). Such high pace of human and economic activity is putting pressure on global life support systems.
There is a paramount need to create widespread consciousness of the environment. It must permeate all ages and all sections of society. The environmental problems call for more than scientific and technological solutions. They require the re-establishment of environmental ethics and values practiced in traditional societies.
The book contains articles by erudite scholars and environmentalists who have deeply analysed various issues related to environmental degradation and made valuable suggestions to deal with pertinent problems. They have laid emphasis on sustainable development which has become the catchword in the domain of intellectual activism and accentuates the notion that economic growth should proceed only in so far as natural resources are recycled rather than depleted, biodiversity is maintained, and clean air, potable water and fertile lands are protected.
The book will be highly beneficial for students, researchers in the field of environment, policymakers, executives and industrialists. It will create awareness among the readers about the need to adopt sustainable practices, protect natural habitats and preserve biodiversity.

K.R. Gupta has published over a dozen books and more than hundred papers in leading journals published in India and abroad. He has edited multi-volume Encyclopaedia of Environment which includes so far published volumes entitled Environment: Problems and Policies; Environment: Global Warming and Environmental Legislation in India. More volumes are in press.
Klaus Bosselmann has been teaching in the areas of environmental law, international law, comparative law and jurisprudence. He is particularly interested in the ethics of sustainability in climate change, biodiversity and global governance. Klaus has been the Director of New Zealand Centre for Environmental Law since 1999. He currently serves as Co-chair of the Ethics Specialist Group of The World Conservation Union (IUCN). He has authored/edited 15 books and several articles.
Prasenjit Maiti is a political sociologist. He taught in the Department of Political Science at the University of Burdwan before joining the development sector. He was on the secondment as a Doctoral Fellow at the Institute of Federalism of the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. He also served as an evaluation consultant to TERI while working on the National Green Corps Project.

• Publisher: Atlantic Publishers & Distributors (P) Ltd
• Publisher Imprint:
• Publication Date: June 26, 2008
• Pages: 256
• ISBN13: 9788126908486
• Item Weight: 450 grams
• Original Price: 550.0 INR
• Edition: N/A
• Binding: Hardcover