Global environmental change : understanding the human dimensions / Paul C. Stern, Oran R. Young, and Daniel Druckman, editors ; Committee on the Human Dimensions of Global Change, Commission on the Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, National Research Council.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Stern, Paul C., 1944-

Young, Oran R.

Druckman, Daniel, 1939-

National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on the Human Dimensions of Global Change.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Nature--Effect of human beings on.

Nature.

Human ecology--Research.

Human ecology.

Global environmental change.

Environmental protection--Research.

Environmental protection.

Environmental policy.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (ix, 308 pages) : illustrations

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, DC : National Academy Press, 1992.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Global environmental change often seems to be the most carefully examined issue of our time. Yet understanding the human side--human causes of and responses to environmental change--has not yet received sustained attention. Global Environmental Change offers a strategy for combining the efforts of natural and social scientists to better understand how our actions influence global change and how global change influences us. The volume is accessible to the nonscientist and provides a wide range of examples and case studies. It explores how the attitudes and actions of individuals, governments, and organizations intertwine to leave their mark on the health of the planet. The book focuses on establishing a framework for this new field of study, identifying problems that must be overcome if we are to deepen our understanding of the human dimensions of global change, presenting conclusions and recommendations.

Contents:

GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE

Copyright

Preface

Contents

Summary

HUMAN CAUSES OF GLOBAL CHANGE

HUMAN CONSEQUENCES OF GLOBAL CHANGE

PROBLEMS OF THEORY AND METHOD

DATA NEEDS

HUMAN RESOURCES AND ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A NATIONAL RESEARCH PROGRAM

1 Prologue

THREE GLOBAL CHANGES

GREENHOUSE GASES AND CLIMATE CHANGE

CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS AND THE STRATOSPHERIC OZONE LAYER

AMAZONIAN DEFORESTATION AND THE LOSS OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

IMPLICATIONS

ORGANIZATION OF THE BOOK

2 Global Change and Social Science

GLOBAL CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS

TRENDS IN GLOBAL CHANGE

CHARACTERISTICS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS

ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS AND HUMAN SYSTEMS

QUESTIONS FOR NATURAL SCIENCE, QUESTIONS FOR SOCIAL SCIENCE

CONTRIBUTIONS FROM SOCIAL SCIENCE

KNOWLEDGE BASE OF ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIAL SCIENCE

SETTING PRIORITIES FOR SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH

CONCLUSION

3 Human Causes of Global Change

IDENTIFYING THE MAJOR PROXIMATE CAUSES

A TREE-STRUCTURED ACCOUNTING SYSTEM

LIMITATIONS OF TREE-STRUCTURED ACCOUNTING

EXPLAINING THE PROXIMATE CAUSES: THREE CASES

THE AMERICAN REFRIGERATION INDUSTRY

COAL COMBUSTION IN CHINA

Causes of Present Coal Burning

Determinants of Future Coal Burning

FOREST CLEARING IN THE AMAZON BASIN

Causes of Deforestation

Alternative Futures for Amazonia

EXPLAINING THE PROXIMATE CAUSES: SOCIAL DRIVING FORCES

POPULATION GROWTH

Research Needs

ECONOMIC GROWTH

TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE

POLITICAL-ECONOMIC INSTITUTIONS

ATTITUDES AND BELIEFS

CONCLUSIONS

THE PROXIMATE CAUSES

SOCIAL DRIVING FORCES

IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH

NOTES

4 Human Consequences and Responses

UNDERSTANDING HUMAN CONSEQUENCES.

SOME DIMENSIONS OF HUMAN RESPONSE

Responses to Experienced Versus Anticipated Change

Deliberate Responses Versus Actions with Incidental Effects

Coordinated Versus Uncoordinated Responses

Interventions at Different Points in the Process

THE PIVOTAL ROLE OF CONFLICT

A Current Controversy: To Mitigate or Not to Mitigate?

Implications of Conflict About Human Response

HUMAN RESPONSE: THREE CASES

INTERNATIONAL REGULATION OF OZONE-DEPLETING GASES

THE U.S. ENERGY CONSERVATION ACHIEVEMENTS OF 1973-1985

Preexisting Trends

Uncoordinated Responses to Recent Events

Policy Responses and Implementation

Implications for Future Climate Change

THE HUMAN CONSEQUENCES OF REGIONAL DROUGHT IN THE SAHEL

Different Droughts, Different Responses

Relationship of Policy to Indigenous Response Systems

SEVEN HUMAN SYSTEMS

INDIVIDUAL PERCEPTION, JUDGMENT, AND ACTION

Individual Judgment and Choice

Aggregated Individual Responses

Individuals as Social and Political Actors

MARKETS

SOCIOCULTURAL SYSTEMS

Indigenous Sociocultural Systems of Adaptation to Environment

Social Bonds and Responses to Environmental Change

ORGANIZED RESPONSES OUTSIDE GOVERNMENT

Communities

Social Movements

Corporations and Trade and Industry Associations

NATIONAL POLICY

National Differences in Environmental Policy

The Environmental Decision-Making Process

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

GLOBAL SOCIAL CHANGE

THE KNOWLEDGE BASE FOR HUMAN RESPONSES IS INHERENTLY VALUE LADEN

HUMAN RESPONSES MUST BE ASSESSED AGAINST A CHANGING BASELINE

HUMAN RESPONSE CAN INVOLVE INTERVENTION ANYWHERE IN THE CYCLE OFCAUSATION

HUMAN RESPONSES AFFECT THE DRIVING FORCES OF GLOBAL CHANGE

5 Problems of Theory and Method

INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION.

WHY GLOBAL CHANGE RESEARCH NEEDS SOCIAL SCIENCE

WHY RESEARCH ON THE HUMAN DIMENSIONS OF GLOBAL CHANGE NEEDS NATURALSCIENCE

INTERDISCIPLINARY COMMUNICATION IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES

PROBLEMS OF THEORY CONSTRUCTION

IDENTIFYING KEY RELATIONSHIPS AND INTERDEPENDENCIES

UNDERSTANDING NONLINEARITIES

UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL IRREVERSIBILITY

DEVELOPING APPROPRIATE ANALYSES FOR THE TIME SCALE OF DECADES TOCENTURIES

ANALYZING THE SPATIAL SCALES OF HUMAN ACTIVITY

DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM OF REFLEXIVITY

SELECTING APPROPRIATE METHODS

METHODS FOR IMPROVING UNDERSTANDING

METHODS FOR INFORMING CHOICE

Social Impact Assessment Methodology

Methods for Valuation

The Appropriate Uses of Research

INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION IS ESSENTIAL

NEW THEORETICAL TOOLS ARE REQUIRED

METHODOLOGICAL PLURALISM IS THE MOST APPROPRIATE STRATEGY

POST HOC ANALYSES ARE ESSENTIAL FOR EVALUATING HUMAN RESPONSES

6 Data Needs

THREE HYPOTHETICAL RESEARCH PROJECTS

CAUSES OF GLOBAL WARMING: A CROSS-NATIONAL STUDY

Dependent variables

Independent variables

HUMAN CONSEQUENCES OF DEPLETION OF STRATOSPHERIC OZONE

ECONOMIC AND NONECONOMIC FORCES CAUSING LOSS OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

DATA AVAILABILITY

WHAT IS AVAILABLE

AN INFORMATION NETWORK

COSTS OF DATA

QUALITY AND INTERPRETABILITY OF DATA

PROBLEMS OF RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY

RESEARCH ON MEASUREMENT PROBLEMS

DATA COLLECTION NEEDS

ANALYTICAL DATA AND ACCOUNTING

SAMPLING NATIONS

INTENSIVE LOCAL DATA COLLECTION

7 Human Resources And Organizational Structures

INSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURES

NATIONAL CENTERS FOR RESEARCH

TRAINING

INSTITUTIONALIZING COOPERATIVE RESEARCH.

ORGANIZATION BARRIERS TO RESEARCH IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

8 A National Research Program On The Human Dimensions Of Global Change

OVERARCHING ISSUES

RESEARCH PRIORITIES

HUMAN RESOURCES AND ORGANIZATION

FUNDING

References

Index.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references (p. 257-292) and index.

ISBN:

9786610203741

9781280203749

1280203749

9780309583428

030958342X

9780585158761

0585158762

OCLC:

43477386