Our Environment: A Canadian Perspective

Cover
Brief Contents
Contents
About the Authors
Preface
Part 1: Our Environment
	Chapter 1: Environmental Change
		Why It Matters
		1-1 The Anthropocene
		1-2 Accelerating Rate of Environmental Change
		1-3 Exploring Sustainable Development
		1-4 Pathways to a Sustainable Future
		Chapter Questions
	Chapter 2: Human Relationships with Nature
		Why It Matters
		2-1 Critical Thinking
		2-2 World Views
		2-3 Environmental Decision Making
		2-4 Population Growth and Environmental Impact
		2-5 Assessing Human Impacts on the Environment
		Chapter Debate
		Chapter Questions
	Chapter 3: Science and Environment
		Why It Matters
		3-1 Knowledge Systems: Multiple Ways of Knowing
		3-2 How Science Works
		3-3 Alternatives to Reductionist Science
		3-4 Earth System Science
		3-5 How Research Becomes Knowledge
		3-6 Misunderstandings about Science
		Chapter Debate
		Chapter Questions
	Chapter 4: Our Planet
		Why It Matters
		4-1 Matter and Energy: Basic Building Blocks of Nature
		4-2 Formation of Earth
		4-3 Earth\'s Major Components
		4-4 The Biosphere: A Complex System
		4-5 Environmental Systems
		4-6 Humans in Ecosystems
		Chapter Debate
		Chapter Questions
	Chapter 5: Canada
		Why It Matters
		5-1 Canada\'s Climate
		5-2 Canada\'s Geology
		5-3 Canadian Geography
		5-4 Canada\'s Boundaries
		5-5 Indigenous Peoples of Canada
		5-6 Governance
		Chapter Debate
		Chapter Questions
Part 2: Ecological Resources
	Chapter 6: Managing Ecological Resources
		Why It Matters
		6-1 Development of Resource Management
		6-2 Environmental Assessment
		6-3 Ecosystem Management
		6-4 Co-management
		6-5 Stewardship
		6-6 Assessing Ecological Resources
		6-7 Placing an Economic Value on Nature
		Chapter Debate
		Chapter Questions
	Chapter 7: Biodiversity
		Why It Matters
		7-1 International Assessment of Biodiversity
		7-2 Scientific Approaches to Understanding Biodiversity
		7-3 Patterns of Biodiversity across Space and Time
		7-4 The Importance of Biodiversity
		7-5 Canada\'s Biodiversity
		7-6 Human Activities and Impacts on Biodiversity
		7-7 Species at Risk
		7-8 International Strategies to Protect Biodiversity
		7-9 Canadian Law, Policy, and Practice
		7-10 Future Challenges and Opportunities
		Chapter Debate
		Chapter Questions
	Chapter 8: Agroecosystems
		Why It Matters
		8-1 Importance of Agriculture
		8-2 Canada\'s Agricultural Land Base
		8-3 Canada\'s Agricultural Production
		8-4 Agricultural Activities and Their Effects
		8-5 Responses to Environmental Impacts
		8-6 Future Challenges
		Chapter Debate
		Chapter Questions
	Chapter 9: Fresh Water
		Why It Matters
		9-1 Canada\'s Freshwater Environments
		9-2 Freshwater Systems
		9-3 The Freshwater Fishery
		9-4 Earth\'s Water Resources
		9-5 Other Important Water Issues
		9-6 Making a Difference Locally
		9-7 Future Challenges
		Chapter Debate
		Chapter Questions
	Chapter 10: Oceans and Fisheries
		Why It Matters
		10-1 Canada\'s Marine Environments
		10-2 Harvesting the Oceans
		10-3 Future Challenges
		Chapter Debate
		Chapter Questions
	Chapter 11: Forests and Forestry
		Why It Matters
		11-1 The Earth\'s Forests
		11-2 Harvesting Canadian Forests
		11-3 Environmental and Social Sustainability of Forest Ecosystems
		11-4 Future Challenges
		Chapter Debate
		Chapter Questions
Part 3: Commonly Held and Legacy Resources: The Overview
	Chapter 12: Atmosphere and Climate
		Why It Matters
		12-1 Earth\'s Natural Climate System
		12-2 Climate Change
		12-3 Climate Change Impacts
		12-4 Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
		12-5 Stratospheric Ozone (O3)
		12-6 Tropospheric Air Contaminants
		12-7 Challenges and Opportunities
		Chapter Debate
		Chapter Questions
	Chapter 13: Energy
		Why It Matters
		13-1 Energy Supply and Demand in Canada
		13-2 Energy Resources and Environmental Impacts
		13-3 Responses to Environmental Impacts
		13-4 Our Energy Future
		Chapter Debate
		Chapter Questions
	Chapter 14: Minerals and Mining
		Why It Matters
		14-1 Mineral Resource Exploitation
		14-2 Mineral Resources in Canada
		14-3 Environmental Impacts of Mining
		14-4 Responses to Environmental Impacts
		14-5 Future Challenges
		Chapter Debate
		Chapter Questions
Part 4: Getting to Tomorrow: The Overview
	Chapter 15: Waste
		Why It Matters
		15-1 Canada\'s Waste Stream
		15-2 Global Context of Waste
		Chapter Debate
		Chapter Questions
	Chapter 16: Environmental Hazards and Human Health
		Why It Matters
		16-1 Ways of Thinking about Health
		16-2 Social Determinants of Human Health
		16-3 Types of Disease
		16-4 Chemical Threats to Our Health
		16-5 Risk Perception
		Chapter Debate
		Chapter Questions
	Chapter 17: Cities
		Why It Matters
		17-1 An Urbanizing Globe
		17-2 Urban Environmental Conditions and Trends
		Chapter Debate
		Chapter Questions
	Chapter 18: The Way Forward
		Why It Matters
		18-1 Toward Sustainable Communities
		18-2 If Not Business as Usual, What?
		18-3 Reconceptualizing Environmental Challenges
		18-4 Taking Action: Canadian Models of Sustainability
		Chapter Debate
		Chapter Questions
Glossary
Index