The Overburdened Planet

The primary objective of this book is to explain the science, engineering and politics behind the environmental challenges that face the planet, its ecosystems and its populations, particularly in the light of a growing population, urbanisation and wealth divide. It is intended for anyone who wants a deep dive into the science behind climate change without getting lost in the jargon and emotional rhetoric that is frequently associated with coverage of these issues. Using accessible language the book provides a non-polemical narrative of the key challenges. Illustrated with examples from around the world, links to relevant websites and suitable colour images, it provides a narrative that starts with the global geopolitical pressures on the environment and climate, ranging from colonisation and conflict to exploitation of finite resources and environmental degradation. A core chapter explores the myriad of impacts that global warming and climate change are having on the planet and explains the science behind the Assessment Reports produced by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, followed by a review of the sources of greenhouse gases, the pressures on finite resources and the methods that have been developed for expressing ecological and carbon footprints. The remaining chapters look in more detail at the contributions that buildings, construction, transport, infrastructure, industry, food and agriculture make to climate change and environmental degradation, whilst examining some of the solutions to mitigating these impacts. The final chapter offers some ideas for a ‘different way of living’, including alternatives to the historical obsession with growth.