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Environmental Literacy in Science and Society From Knowledge to Decisions Roland W. Scholz Book DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511921520 Online ISBN: 9780511921520 Hardback ISBN: 9780521192712 Paperback ISBN: 9780521183338
Chapter International praise for Environmental Literacy in Science and Society pp. xv-xvi Chapter DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511921520.001 Cambridge University Press
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International praise
an outstanding in-depth analysis and splendid review of the field but he goes far beyond it. He also presents a strategic framework to address the many challenges we 21st-century humans are facing in our interactions with the environment. Moreover he convincingly shows the preconditions for using a framework for effective and feasible strategic decision making and action. It requires a good integrated knowledge of disciplines like biology, psychology, sociology, economics and industrial ecology as well as a genuine understanding of the transdisciplinary processes that characterize humanenvironment systems. In conclusion, Scholzs book is both a sparkling sourcebook and an advanced textbook for sustainability science. It is also the first successful attempt to produce a convincing theory of coupled human-environment systems. And finally, it presents a strategic framework for environmental decision making and action based on that theory. Ton Schoot Uiterkamp, Professor of Environmental Sciences, Center for Energy and Environmental Studies, University of Groningen, The Netherlands Collective environmental and social problems constitute the dark side of increasing wealth for growing
human populations. Roland Scholz strongly pleads for broad, multi- and interdisciplinary thinking about humanenvironment interactions. In the authors view, human and environmental systems cannot be separated. Rather, their interaction should be the central topic of our visions, methodologies and strategies. For natural scientists and technologists this requires a basic familiarity with how human individuals and societies function. For behavioral and social scientists it demands a solid appreciation of specific environmental problem domains. By consequence, actual policy-making should rest upon integrative teamwork. Scholzs book provides for an inspiring boost to our own environmental literacy, what it is and how it historically developed. Its a fruitful basis for extensive student courses. And it may well serve as a reference book for scientists, policy-makers and other key actors who want to improve and reflect on sustainable transitions. Charles Vlek, Professor of Environmental Psychology and Decision Research, Department of Behavioural and Social Sciences. University of Groningen, The Netherlands
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Downloaded from Cambridge Books Online by IP 128.214.2.137 on Sun Dec 02 23:24:41 WET 2012. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511921520.001 Cambridge Books Online Cambridge University Press, 2012