Bibliograph

The skeptical environmentalist, measuring the real state of the world, Bjørn Lomborg

Type

Label

The skeptical environmentalist, measuring the real state of the world, Bjørn Lomborg

Language

eng

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

The skeptical environmentalist

Medium

electronic resource

Nature of contents

dictionaries

Oclc number

836848734

Responsibility statement

Bjørn Lomborg

Series statement

Cambridge Social Sciences eBooks

Sub title

measuring the real state of the world

Summary

The Skeptical Environmentalist challenges widely held beliefs that the environmental situation is getting worse and worse. The author, himself a former member of Greenpeace, is critical of the way in which many environmental organisations make selective and misleading use of the scientific evidence. Using the best available statistical information from internationally recognised research institutes, Bjørn Lomborg systematically examines a range of major environmental problems that feature prominently in headline news across the world. His arguments are presented in non-technical, accessible language and are carefully backed up by over 2500 footnotes allowing readers to check sources for themselves. Concluding that there are more reasons for optimism than pessimism, Bjørn Lomborg stresses the need for clear-headed prioritisation of resources to tackle real, not imagined problems. The Skeptical Environmentalist offers readers a non-partisan stocktaking exercise that serves as a useful corrective to the more alarmist accounts favoured by campaign groups and the media.--, Provided by publisher

Table Of Contents

PART I: THE LITANY: Things are getting better -- Why do we hear so much bad news? -- PART II: HUMAN WELFARE: Measuring human welfare -- Life expectancy and health -- Food and hunger -- Prosperity -- Conclusion to Part II; Unprecedented human prosperity -- PART III: CAN HUMAN PROSPERITY CONTINUE? : Are we living on borrowed time? -- Will we have enough food? -- Forests: are we losing them? -- Energy -- Non-energy resources -- Water -- Conclusion to part III; Continued prosperity -- PART IV: POLLUTION: DOES IT UNDERCUT HUMAN PROSPERITY? : Air pollution -- Acid rain and forest death -- Indoor air pollution -- Allergies and asthma -- Water pollution -- Waste: running out of space? -- Conclusion to part IV: The pollution burden has diminished -- PART V: TOMORROW'S PROBLEMS: Our chemical fears -- Biodiversity -- Global warming -- PART VI: THE REAL STATE OF THE WORLD: Predicament or progress?

Creator