Global environmental issues

Kemp's study looks at the worldwide environmental problems that affect human society, problems we would be foolish to overlook. It examines both the social and the natural sides of these issues, with climate change, the thinning of the ozone layer, acidic precipitation and prolonged dry spells as its central examples. The approach is integrative, and the discussion stays accessible without sacrificing depth.

A recurring focus is the climate system, which the author treats as the thread linking every one of these problems. The book stresses that the issues are interconnected, that they often share the same origins, and that a single set of remedies might address several at once. Socio-economic, cultural and political influences receive equal attention, so the reader sees both the hazards and the potential benefits of human activity that alters the environment.

The central questions are how the present situation arose and whether it can still be reversed or has already gone too far. This edition has been thoroughly revised and extended, with fuller coverage throughout and a new section on atmospheric modelling. A glossary is included, and each chapter closes with suggested readings for those who want to pursue particular topics further.

Written for students of geography, environmental studies and related courses that favour an environmental perspective, the text is designed to be read across disciplines.