Kirjahaku

Ecological economics is a new cross-disciplinary approach to understanding and managing the ecology and economics of our world for sustainability, on local, regional, and global scales. Representing work from scholars around the globe, the thirty-two chapters in this volume cover the basic world view of ecological economics; accounting, modeling, and analysis of ecological economic systems; institutional change and case studies.Part I focuses on defining the basic world view of ecological economics, and how and why it differs from conventional approaches. This section includes the historical precedents for ecological economics; discussions of the root cause of the problems facing humanity; insights into the problems of sustainability, discounting, and valuation; and ways to deal with the uncertainty inherent in ecological economics. Part II focuses on accounting, modeling, and analysis of ecological economic systems. Methods fro incorporating natural capital and services national income accounting are given along with an elaborate modeling system for regional analysis. An analysis of resource scarcity rounds out this segment. Part III explores institutional changes necessary to achieve sustainability and presents case studies of ecological engineering in the U.S. and China, the Baltic Sea region, agro-industrial ecosystems, Brazil, and the management of moist tropical forests.

Outlines an interdisciplinary approach to the understanding and management of the ecology and sustainable economics on local, regional and global scales. The topics discussed include the modelling of ecological economics systems and the institutional changes required.

This book takes a compelling approach to describing what is needed to create the kind of future that most people on Earth really want. Our global society is hopelessly addicted to a particular vision of the world and a future that has become both unsustainable and undesirable. Addicted to Growth frames our current predicament as a societal addiction to a ‘growth at all costs’ economic paradigm. While economic growth has produced many benefits, its side effects are now producing existential problems that are rapidly getting worse. Robert Costanza considers lessons from what works at the individual level to overcome addictions and applies them to a societal scale. Costanza recognises that the first step to recovery is recognising the addiction and that it is leading to disaster; however, simply pointing out the dire consequences of our societal addiction is only the first step and can be counterproductive by itself in motivating change. The key next step is creating a truly shared vision of the kind of world we all want, and the book explores creative ways to implement this societal therapy. The final step is using that shared vision to motivate the changes needed to achieve it, including adaptive transformations of our economic systems, property rights regimes, and governance institutions. An exciting contribution from a key thinker in the field, this book will be a valuable resource to students and scholars of public policy and sustainability studies, and anyone interested in understanding and overcoming our societal addiction to growth.

This book takes a compelling approach to describing what is needed to create the kind of future that most people on Earth really want. Our global society is hopelessly addicted to a particular vision of the world and a future that has become both unsustainable and undesirable. Addicted to Growth frames our current predicament as a societal addiction to a ‘growth at all costs’ economic paradigm. While economic growth has produced many benefits, its side effects are now producing existential problems that are rapidly getting worse. Robert Costanza considers lessons from what works at the individual level to overcome addictions and applies them to a societal scale. Costanza recognises that the first step to recovery is recognising the addiction and that it is leading to disaster; however, simply pointing out the dire consequences of our societal addiction is only the first step and can be counterproductive by itself in motivating change. The key next step is creating a truly shared vision of the kind of world we all want, and the book explores creative ways to implement this societal therapy. The final step is using that shared vision to motivate the changes needed to achieve it, including adaptive transformations of our economic systems, property rights regimes, and governance institutions. An exciting contribution from a key thinker in the field, this book will be a valuable resource to students and scholars of public policy and sustainability studies, and anyone interested in understanding and overcoming our societal addiction to growth.

Frontiers in Ecological Economics presents some of Robert Costanza's most important work on understanding ecological and economic systems. A signal contribution of Costanza's work is that he transcends disciplinary boundaries by collaborating closely with other specialists and thereby constructs an integrated analysis of the interaction between humans and the rest of the natural world.The book is divided into four parts; part one discusses the creation of an ecological economics, the second part considers material and energy flows in ecological and economic systems, part three surveys dynamic ecological and economic systems modelling and analysis and the final part explores the role of institutions and incentives in environmental protection. Main themes and issues include: environmental sustainability, managing environmental systems, energy and economic valuation in environmental systems and a concern for both the necessity and limitations of modelling ecological economic systems.The book improves access to Robert Costanza's work which has made a fundamental contribution to the development of ecological economics.

From Empty-World Economics to Full-World EconomicsEcological economics explores new ways of thinking about how we manage our lives and our planet to achieve a sustainable, equitable, and prosperous future. Ecological economics extends and integrates the study and management of both "nature's household" and "humankind's household"—An Introduction to Ecological Economics, Second Edition, the first update and expansion of this classic text in 15 years, describes new approaches to achieving a sustainable and desirable human presence on Earth. Written by the top experts in the field, it addresses the necessity for an innovative approach to integrated environmental, social, and economic analysis and management, and describes policies aimed at achieving our shared goals. Demands a Departure from Business as UsualThe book begins with a description of prevailing interdependent environmental, economic, and social issues and their underlying causes, and offers guidance on designing policies and instruments capable of adequately coping with these problems. It documents the historical development of the disciplines of economics and ecology, and explores how they have evolved so differently from a shared conceptual base. Structured into four sections, it also presents various ideas and models in their proper chronological context, details the fundamental principles of ecological economics, and outlines prospects for the future. What’s New in the Second Edition:Includes several new pieces and updates in each sectionAdds a series of independently authored "boxes" to expand and update information in the current textAddresses the historical development of economics and ecology and the recent progress in integrating the study of humans and the rest of natureCovers the basic concepts and applications of ecological economics in language accessible to a broad audience An Introduction to Ecological Economics, Second Edition can be used in an introductory undergraduate or graduate course; requires no prior knowledge of mathematics, economics, or ecology; provides a unified understanding of natural and human-dominated ecosystems; and reintegrates the market economy within society and the rest of nature.

The most difficult questions of sustainability are not about technology; they are about values. Answers to such questions cannot be found by asking the "experts," but can only be resolved in the political arena. In The Local Politics of Global Sustainability, author Thomas Prugh, with Robert Costanza and Herman Daly, two ofthe leading thinkers in the field of ecological economics, explore the kind of politics that can help enable us to achieve a sustainable world of our choice, rather than one imposed by external forces.The authors begin by considering the biophysical and economic dimensions of the environmental crisis, and tracing the crisis in political discourse and our public lives to its roots. They then offer an in-depth examination of the elements of a re-energized political system that could lead to the development of more sustainable communities. Based on a type of self-governance that political scientist Benjamin Barber calls "strong democracy," the politics is one of engagement rather than consignment, empowering citizens by directly involving them in community decisionmaking. After describing how it should work, the authors provide examples of communities that are experimenting with various features of strong democratic systems.The Local Politics of Global Sustainability explains in engaging, accessible prose the crucial biophysical, economic, and social issues involved with achieving sustainability. It offers a readable exploration of the political implications of ecological economics and will be an essential work for anyone involved in that field, as well as for students and scholars in environmental politics and policy, and anyone concerned with the theory and practical applications of the concept of sustainable development.

We’ve encountered dumplings throughout our travels around the world and started asking the question: What actually is a dumpling? We decided to try to answer this with a unique combination of history, science, statistics and, of course, recipes. This is the definitive global guide and a scientifically ironic travel cookbook about dumplings for dumpling lovers (is there anyone who’s not?). We’ve created and analysed a dumpling database, including over 200 dumplings from 70 countries, each classified into six dimensions of dumplingness (dough, cooking method, flavour [savoury or sweet], stuffing, shape, and size). We analyse their similarities and differences, where they are from and how and why they came to be. We provide recipes for the best-known, unfamiliar, really interesting, and downright funky dumplings. We challenge the reader to decide for themselves what a dumpling is and to discover the amazing diversity of dumplings. Finally, we speculate on the future of dumplings. What new hybrids are on the horizon (or should be). If you love dumplings (and who doesn’t) you’ll love this book.

We’ve encountered dumplings throughout our travels around the world and started asking the question: What actually is a dumpling? We decided to try to answer this with a unique combination of history, science, statistics and, of course, recipes. This is the definitive global guide and a scientifically ironic travel cookbook about dumplings for dumpling lovers (is there anyone who’s not?). We’ve created and analysed a dumpling database, including over 200 dumplings from 70 countries, each classified into six dimensions of dumplingness (dough, cooking method, flavour [savoury or sweet], stuffing, shape, and size). We analyse their similarities and differences, where they are from and how and why they came to be. We provide recipes for the best-known, unfamiliar, really interesting, and downright funky dumplings. We challenge the reader to decide for themselves what a dumpling is and to discover the amazing diversity of dumplings. Finally, we speculate on the future of dumplings. What new hybrids are on the horizon (or should be). If you love dumplings (and who doesn’t) you’ll love this book.