• ISBN13: 9788126921591
• Binding: Hardcover
• Subject: Earth-Science/Environment
• Publisher: Atlantic Publishers & Distributors (P) Ltd
• Publisher Imprint: Atlantic
• Publication Date: May 20, 2016
• Pages: 408
• Original Price: INR 995.0
• Language: English
• Edition: N/A
• Item Weight: 570 grams
• BISAC Subject(s): Earth Sciences / General

Post-Rio Earth Summit (1992), the debate on environment has moved beyond just science and scientific concerns. Today our understanding of environment has certainly become more scientific as well as more humane. We have come to accept that the environment and society should be seen in integrity and not separate from each other. The ‘Doomsday syndrome’ of 1970s has been rejected. The science, society and politics have come closer for better understanding of the environment as well as to hammer out policy-decisions to ensure inclusive sustainable growth in a more equitable and more dignified world. The rectification or improvisation of the environment has become tied with welfare of humanity. New philosophical paradigms have redefined the man-man and man-nature relations in a subtle way. The more we study the environment, the more complex it becomes. But that has not come in the way of taking concrete steps. Growing sensitiveness has forced us to eco-restructure our energy base and social behavior. The pattern of the climate-change negotiations and actions taken in this regard show that we are moving on the path of sustainability, albeit little slow. The book attempts to encapsulate several dimensions of contemporary discussion on environment in five chapters dealing with separate yet interconnected themes. These five themes are: biodiversity; global warming; sustainable development; eco-summits; and environmentalisms. It presents a holistic picture of the debate on environment in the backdrop of developments in scientific knowledge as well as changing social, political, geo-political, economic, and technological realities. The book is written with global perspective in mind so far as the issues are concerned. But at the same time these issues have been contextualized in the larger debate on varying perceptions in different regions, especially the developed and developing countries. The needs, aspirations and challenges of the poor and small island countries have also been integrated in the discussion.

Ashutosh Kumar (b. 1970): After completing bachelor in history from Delhi University, he moved to Centre for Historical Studies in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) to pursue further studies. He submitted his M.Phil. dissertation, entitled “Merchants, Companies, and Mughal Officials at Surat in the 17th Century” in 2001. The scholarly acumen of certain history professors such as Bipan Chandra, K.N. Panikkar, Muzaffar Alam, Harbans Mukhia, Neeladri Bhattacharya, Madhavan K. Palat and Shireen Ratnagar has made deep impression on him. An encounter with Perry Anderson in an Indo-French seminar in JNU in 2004 pushed him to close other career options and stay on history. He is a curious observer and an avid reader. He has developed wide range of interests through extensive readings. His special areas of interests are political economy of Mughal India, historiography, environment, gender, and Sanskrit literature. He started teaching career in 2003. He currently works as assistant professor in the department of history in Deshbandhu College, University of Delhi. This is his first book.

• Foreword
• Preface
• Acknowledgements
• Introduction
• The Context
• About the Text
• On Emerging Concerns
• 1. Biodiversity
• Situating the Issue: The Global Scenario
• Biodiversity: Different Concepts
• Why Conserve Biodiversity?
• Factors of Biodiversity Disturbance
• Important Measures of Biodiversity Conservation
• Limitations of Our Conservation Approaches
• References
• 2. Global Warming
• Situating the Issue: The Concern
• The Climatic Changes: A Dynamic Process
• Time Lag: The Real Cause of Fear
• The Scientific Base
• Anthropogenic or Natural?
• The Mechanism
• Uncertainties: Scientific, Technological, Social, Political
• The Consensus
• Global Warming Drivers
• Consequences
• References
• 3. Sustainable Development
• Situating the Issue: Idea, Meaning, Scope
• Defining the Concept
• Symptoms of Un-sustainability
• Three schools of Thought: Eco-centric, Techno-centric and Middle-path
• Achieving Sustainable Development: The Real Challenges
• Achieving Sustainable Development: Mitigation and Adaptation Measures
• References
• 4. Negotiating Climate Change: Science, Politics and Stakeholders
• Situating the issue: The Background
• Towards the Stockholm: Turning the Wheel
• The Stockholm Conference: Divided Concerns, The Preamble, 26 Principles, Critic and Dissent after the Conference, Organizational Structure/Agencies, 3-Tier Action Plan: Assessment, Management, Supportive Measures
• Towards the Rio: New Complexities and New Challenges
• The Rio ‘Earth’ Summit: Complexities, Realpolitik, Hope
• The Declaration, Agenda 21, Statement of Principles on Forests
• The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
• Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress or Supplementary Protocol
• Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-Sharing
• Global Strategy for Plant Conservation
• Aichi Biodiversity Targets
• CBD COP 11
• CBD COP 12 and Pyeongchang Roadmap Agreement for 2020.
• UNFCC Importants COP Meets: Kyoto Summit and Kyoto Protocol
• COP 13-Bali Roadmap
• COP 15-Copenhagen Accord
• COP 16-Cancun Agreements
• COP 17-Durban Platform and Kyoto II
• COP 18-Doha Gateway
• COP 19-Warsaw Sustainable Innovation Forum and Green Climate Fund (GCF)
• COP 20-Lima Call for Climate Action
• COP 21-Towards a Legally Binding the Paris Agreement
• Johannesburg Summit (Rio+10, 2002): WEHAB, Millennium Development Goals, Critical Appraisal
• Rio+20 and Sustainable Development Goals
• References
• 5. North-South Environmentalisms and the Chipko Movement
• Situating the Issues: The Concerns
• Western Environmentalism: Different Phases
• New Paradigms: ‘Limits to Growth’, ‘Doomsday’ theorists and its Critics
• Green Politics.
• Western and Eastern Environmentalisms: Key Differences
• Conceptualising the Environmental Movements of India
• The Chipko Movement: Course of the Movement
• On Question of Ideological Shift
• On Question of Chipko being a Feminist Movement
• References
• Appendix
• Bibliography
• Index