Earth Sciences, Geography & Environment Books

Book SynopsisFood does much more than fuel our bodies. Food helps us express care, create culture, and connect. But while food today might feed some of us, the growing, producing, packaging, and distributing is also killing us. Trying to ‘feed the world’ is accelerating the collapse of environmental, economic, and social structures. The current “solutions” aren’t working. By blending research, insights from diverse thinkers, and lived experience, food systems educator Nicole Civita and story justice activist Michelle Auerbach make sense of sustenance. They demonstrate that our lives depend on the relationships we make with and through food, and make the case for a much-needed cultural shift in the way we approach food.

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Book SynopsisOn 1 September 1909, American explorer Frederick Cook caused one of the biggest sensations in exploration history when, after a year with no word from him, news arrived that he had not only survived his Arctic expedition but had become the first person to ever reach the North Pole.Cook was instantly transformed into one of the heroes of the age. With his boat due to arrive in Copenhagen a few days later, journalists from across Europe scrambled to get there in time to meet him.One of them was Philip Gibbs, an obscure British reporter whose chance encounter in a Copenhagen café led to an exclusive interview with Cook before he reached land. But the interview left Gibbs doubting the explorer’s story, and so he decided to gamble his career and credibility by making it clear he thought Cook was lying. And so began a frantic few days when Cook was showered with accolades while Gibbs tried to prove his claim was a fraud.The Explorer and the Journalist is the extraordinary story of a high-stakes confrontation from which only one of Gibbs and Cook would emerge with their reputation intact.Trade Review*“Excellent” - * British Journalism Review ** * British Journalism Review **“Richard Evans writes in a factual but addictive manner that reels you in” - *Nimrod journal ** * Nimrod journal *“Gripping” - Daily Express * Daily Express *

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Book SynopsisGeorge Monbiot is one of the most vocal, and eloquent, critics of the current consensus. How Did We Get into this Mess?, based on his powerful journalism, assesses the state we are now in: the devastation of the natural world, the crisis of inequality, the corporate takeover of nature, our obsessions with growth and profit and the decline of the political debate over what to do.While his diagnosis of the problems in front of us is clear-sighted and reasonable, he also develops solutions to challenge the politics of fear. How do we stand up to the powerful when they seem to have all the weapons? What can we do to prepare our children for an uncertain future? Controversial, clear but always rigorously argued, How Did We Get into this Mess? makes a persuasive case for change in our everyday lives, our politics and economics, the ways we treat each other and the natural world.Trade ReviewA dazzling command of science and relentless faith in people ... I never miss reading him. -- Naomi KleinWhat most impresses in Monbiot's clever, elegant writing is the way he strives to think beyond protest towards realistic, representative solutions to the problems of world politics and trade * The Times *George Monbiot is always original - both in the intelligence of his opinions and the depth and rigour of his research. -- Brian EnoHis passion for social and ecological justice is undimmed by twenty-first-century cynicism. His desire for knowledge across the widest gamut of subjects (scientific, historical, political and cultural) enables him to reach places which are foreign territory to many of us * Herald *A writer of eloquence and passion. * Observer *How Did We Get into this Mess? does an excellent job of articulating the cultural dearth of our times and suggesting ways to counteract its causes and expressions, whilst resisting defeatism...[Monbiot] leaves his reader with a sense of hope, empowered to help build a better future * Marx & Philosophy *

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Book SynopsisBritain was once the leading economy in Europe; it is now the most unequal. In Shattered Nation, leading geographer and author of Inequality and the 1% shows that we are growing further and further apart. Visiting sites across the British Isles and exploring the social fissures that have emerged, Danny Dorling exposes a new geography of inequality. Middle England has been hit hard by the cost-of-living crisis, and even people doing comparatively well are struggling to stay afloat. Once affluent suburbs are now unproductive places where opportunity has been replaced by food banks. Before COVID, life expectancy had dropped as a result of poverty for the first time since the 1930s.Fifty years ago the UK led the world in child health; today, twenty-two of the twenty-seven EU countries have better mortality rates for newborns. No other European country has such miserly unemployment benefits; university fees so high; housing so unaffordable; or a government economically so far to the right. In the spirit of the 1942 Beveridge Report, Dorling identifies the five giants of twenty-first-century poverty that need to be conquered: Hunger, Precarity, Waste, Exploitation, and Fear. He offers powerful insights into how we got here and what we must do in order to save Britain from becoming a failed state.Trade ReviewDorling chooses facts over fiction, data over spin, reality over nostalgia in this sweeping overview of a badly fractured and weakened Britain. His carefully evidenced text documents the rapid 'Americanisation' of the British economy, the obscene rise in inequality and the savaging of Britain's much admired public services. Above all, he draws attention to the economic, political and social fissures enfeebling a nation that only forty years ago was well regulated, fairer and vibrant -- Ann Pettifor, author of The Case for the Green New DealThis book shows just how complicit mainstream politicians have been in Britain's economic and moral decline, particularly when the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats launched their inexcusable 'austerity' policy in 2010. The book shows just how apt today is William Beveridge's aphorism of 1942 that 'it is a time for revolutions,not for patching -- Guy Standing, author of The Corruption of CapitalismBrimming with lesser-known facts and compelling stories, Dorling's latest book affirms the growing unease many of us have been feeling as public services languish and living standards decline. Shattered Nation presents an essential but devastating picture of a country stretched to breaking point. With characteristic care, clarity, and insight, Dorling dissects Britain's geography of inequality, breaking down the crisis into a set of intertwined failings whose details will enrage and empower readers. A powerful and humane offering that shows us how the mess was made and urges us to lose no time in demanding something better. -- Arianne Shahvisi, author of Arguing for a Better World: How to Talk About the Issues That Divide UsThe self-deception that we are a nation of fairness and justice is systematically exploded by a calm and persistent use of factual observations of the lives of people, spread between the super rich and the increasingly poor and socially left behind, in all parts of the country ... To read this could be depressing and disempowering, but that is not the intention. It is up to us, all of us, to be prepared to argue for a society that really does care for all -- Jeremy Corbyn, MPSobering, shocking and brilliantly incisive. A snap-shot of a divided nation and a powerful antidote to nostalgic fantasies. -- David Olusoga, author of Black and BritishShattered Nation comes at a critical point in time ... captur[ing] the picture of a nation that feels hopelessly broken. -- Yiannis Baboulias * New Humanist *Excellent ... [Shattered Nation] gives clear and detailed analyses of the various ways in which greed, globalism, and a self-perpetuating cycle of growing inequality and destruction of our social matrix has shattered our nation. -- Tim Barton * Hastings Independent *Excellent ... [Shattered Nation] provides a masterful critique of just why this country is in the shattered state it is. -- Paul Donovan * Morning Star *Dorling convincingly demonstrates that the UK is a failing state. -- Larry Patriquin * LSE Review of Books *A devastating critique of how the UK got into the state it is today -- Paul Donovan * Guardian-Series *Fascinating ... Dorling expertly demonstrates how successive administrations devoted to profit, not people, constantly adopted policies to favour the rich regardless of human consequences which inevitably made the poor poorer. -- Mo Stewart, author of Cash Not Care: the planned demolition of the UK welfare stateWide ranging, entertaining, excoriating ... packed with facts and statistics that often astonish ... a depressing but essential read -- Stewart Wood * Literary Review *[Dorling] assembles a wealth of evidence to show how the current trajectory in the UK is one of increasing inequality ... [and] has created a resource for all those involved in movements in the UK striving for social justice and for an end to hunger, precarity, waste, exploitation and fear. -- Graham Kirkwood * Counterfire *Table of ContentsPart I. Borders1. The Roundabout2. Growing DividesPart II. Giants3. Hunger4. Precarity5. Waste6. Exploitation7. FearPart III. Mountains8. A Failing State9. Conclusion

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Book Synopsis"We need to tell you something Lily!" they buzzed. "It's about the wildflowers ..."Lily Katinka thinks she is the most beautiful flower in Dudley's garden. But she's rather worried because Dudley has allowed the end of the lawn to grow wild, and it seems so untidy! Adding to her dismay, the 'ugly weeds and scruffy grasses' are getting a lot of attention from the bees and the butterflies. What is so special about the bottom of the garden? Lily Katinka has to find out ... Perfect for children and families who love a heartwarming and beautifully illustrated story about the hidden world of wildflowers in the garden. This edition features an author's note filled with surprising details about bees - for example, did you know that honey bees make a special food out of pollen called bee bread? A beautiful book inside and out 'An important lesson that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes and it's not just looks that take centre stage' ~ Kraftireader 'A beautiful story about a Lily who thinks she's the most important plant in the garden ... engaging and memorable' ~ Goodreads reviewerTrade Review"Wow! Two of my favourite subjects - saving pollinators and flowers - in a book so well written and so unassuming that it surely must appeal to everyone ... The book's language is engaging and memorable, it's educational without preaching or being forceful. Its humour is subtle and the story is easy to read. The artwork is gorgeous, truly beautiful. They are reminiscent of some of the artwork from Edith Holden's "The Country Diary Of An Edwardian Woman" - all floaty poppies, cornflowers and greenery. I absolutely loved them." ~ Goodreads reviewer "What first attracted me to At the Bottom of Dudley's Garden was the theme around the storyline which is the importance of bee friendly plants and flowers in the garden to encourage pollination. The words the author uses are child friendly and warmly introduce children to an important ecological issue that is a vital cog in the wheel of life. The beautiful, stunning illustrations by artist Anna Platts are just so pretty and so idyllic. I found myself dreaming of a garden like Dudley's. At the Bottom of Dudley's Garden is a picture book that would be enjoyed by all and could be the start of a project in a school classroom or at home to create your own bee friendly areas with Humphrey Comfrey, Chloe Clover and Pippa Poppy. It is also an important lesson that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes and it's not just looks that take centre stage." ~ Kraftireader - book blogger "A simple, well illustrated childrens story with a real message." ~ Amazon UK

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Book SynopsisAyla and her marine biologist mum live on a beautiful tropical island, surrounded by a coral reef. One morning, Ayla notices that many of the fish have disappeared, and the once vibrant corals have turned pale. Is it too late to save the reef? This stunningly illustrated picture book captures the beauty and magic of the coral reef, and the important role it plays in the ocean's eco-system. From the impact global warming has on reefs to the amazing things marine biologists are doing to protect it, readers will love learning about this fascinating topic. Clara Anganuzzi's gentle text and breathtaking artwork looks at the complex topic of global warming in an eye-opening but positive way, showing us that we have time to reverse the damage which has been caused. Also available: Strong, Dear Earth

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Book SynopsisAn affectionate but meticulously researched history of one of the most beautiful and best-loved corners of England – Crosthwaite Parish, nestling deep within the mountains and valleys of the Lake District. 'A unique contribution to English history' Hunter Davies 'A delightful, refreshingly written book, attentive to social detail and telling the only story that matters – history' Simon Jenkins 'A wonderful book' Margaret Drabble 'A completely fresh perspective on the Lakes and Lake Poets... I hugely enjoyed it' Andrew Marr Bounded by the peaks of Scafell, Skiddaw and Helvellyn, and embracing such well-known landmarks as Borrowdale, Derwentwater and Keswick, it lies within the heart of the Lake Poets' landscape and its rugged terrain excites passion in all those who know it. The Parish also boasts a remarkable history. Its 90 square miles were governed, from medieval times, by eighteen annually chosen 'customary tenants'; ancestors of the people who later prompted Wordsworth's portrayal of the area as 'a perfect Republic of Shepherds and agriculturalists'. His fellow poet Robert Southey lived within the Parish for forty years, was an active parishioner and rests in St Kentigern's churchyard. Here he is given his rightful position as a Lake Poet. In the nineteenth century, the Victorian state killed off the old parish system, sweeping away the egalitarian rule of the Eighteen Men. But a degree of redemption was at hand. Canon Rawnsley, vicar of Crosthwaite from 1883, pledged to defend the Lake District for future generations. So the Parish was at the heart of the creation of the National Trust and blazed a trail for a wider movement to preserve the English landscape. Writing with a historian's rigour and bearing aloft the banner of the Lake District statesmen, Philippa Harrison has produced a magisterial and fascinating record of a parish with a unique social, cultural and aesthetic resonance in English history.Trade ReviewHas there ever been a parish history so well researched, so filled with history and literature, campaigns and causes, and so fascinating? No chance. This is a unique contribution to English history -- Hunter Davies, author of LakelandStimulating, wide-ranging and full of interest -- Angus J L Winchester, Emeritus Professor of History, Lancaster UniversityA delightful, refreshingly written book, attentive to social detail and telling the only story that matters – history -- Simon Jenkins, Chairman of the National Trust 2008-2014A completely fresh perspective on the Lakes and Lake Poets... I hugely enjoyed it' -- Andrew MarrI love Mountain Republic. Both intimate and authoritative, it is a wonderful book -- Margaret DrabbleThis remarkable chronicle introduces the reader to Christian missionaries, Anglo-Saxon and Norse invaders, Scottish royals, local gentry, the 'Eighteen Men', Romantic poets, a succession of clergy with widely and sometimes wildly diverse convictions, and the local people who shaped the land in which they were rooted as the land shaped them. With a rare combination of finely detailed erudition and engaging, elegant, page-turning prose, Philippa Harrison charts the evolution of the Lake District. Anyone who reads her narrative will be richly rewarded -- Dr John Inge, Bishop of WorcesterPhilippa's perspective as both a local and a historian provides a fascinating take * This England *[An] affectionate scholarship grounded in the Lake District parish of Crosthwaite... [An] appropriately monumental book' * Church Times *At its heart this is a history of the farming communities of the region [...] with the ability to appeal to all those attracted to the region and not just the Lake district. A very difficult book to put down, sparking interest at each turn of the page -- Chris Craghill, Cumbria Local History FederationThere must have been thousands of books written about the Lake District, but if you thought that there could be nothing left to say about it, then think again; this fascinating social history of Crosthwaite parish stopped even this Cumbrian reader and writer in her tracks... It already looks destined for a place in the Lake District literary canon -- Sue Allan, Cumbria LifeA remarkable book with great merit... A well-written work which provides a valuable chronicle of the interplay over centuries between local management and national and regional controlling institutions, which is relevant to so many local parishes and townships -- Dr Derek Denman, Wanderer, L&DFLHSAn amazing achievement. I learned such a lot from it, from the history, from the industry, from agriculture, social history, land-ownership, museums, the economy, and then whole substories which I just found fascinating: the history of the churches in the 1830s, the sewage... Tthe mass trespass on 'Skiddaw's cub' which I knew nothing about. At times it was as though our collection was being brought alive by the portraits of some often-mentioned names, and I particularly want to thank Philippa for changing and opening my eyes about Robert Southey -- Jeff Cowton, Curator and Head of Learning, Wordsworth Grasmere, The Lake Poets: Hill Farming, Mountaineering and PoliticsA big-hearted-embrace of a book, and there are riches in it for all readers ... Philippa Harrison is a gifted narrator, Mountain Republic is a great read and a treasure trove of anecdote and fact for regional historians -- Terry McCormick, Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society NewsThis authoritative and well-researched history is very accessible, very enjoyable and full of fascinating details... A joy to read from beginning to end * The Local Historian *

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Book Synopsis'A work of sheer brilliance, beauty and bravery' Andrew Sean Greer, author of Less'Masterly... Her essays have a clarity and prescience that imply a sort of distant, retrospective view, like postcards sent from the near future' New York TimesWe stare at our phones. We keep multiple tabs open. Our chats and conversations are full of the phrase "Did you see?" The feeling that we're living in the worst of times seems to be intensifying, alongside a desire to know precisely how bad things have gotten.Poet and essayist Elisa Gabbert's The Unreality of Memory consists of a series of lyrical and deeply researched meditations on what our culture of catastrophe has done to public discourse and our own inner lives. In these tender and prophetic essays, she focuses in on our daily preoccupation and favorite pasttime: desperate distraction from disaster by way of a desperate obsession with the disastrous.Moving from public trauma to personal tragedy, from the Titanic and Chernobyl to illness and loss, The Unreality of Memory alternately rips away the facade of our fascination with destruction and gently identifies itself with the age of rubbernecking. A balm, not a burr, Gabbert's essays are a hauntingly perceptive analysis of the anxiety intrinsic in our new, digital ways of being, and also a means of reconciling ourselves to this new world.'One of those joyful books that send you to your notebook every page or so, desperate not to lose either the thought the author has deftly placed in your mind or the title of a work she has now compelled you to read.' Paris ReviewTrade ReviewA work of sheer brilliance, beauty and bravery. * Andrew Sean Greer, author of Less *Moves fluidly from disaster to dislocation to political upheaval, offering a kind of literary road map to our tumultuous era. * Kirkus, starred review *With poetic precision, The Unreality of Memory lays bare the truth, beauty, and pain of living in our era. Examining disasters both manmade and natural, Gabbert's essays perform a beautiful autopsy of our fears, showing us what it means to exist in a time of eternal apocalypse. Breathtaking in its scope and thought and captivating prose, Unreality is a necessary and vital handbook for anyone experiencing the existential dread of everyday modern life. * Lyz Lenz, author of Belabored *Wildly fun and casually brilliant, this book will make you feel happier while you're reading it and smarter once you finish. * Sandra Newman, author of The Heavens *Amid impending disasters too vast even to be perceived, what can we do-cognitively, morally, and practically? Gabbert, a tenacious researcher and a ruthless self-examiner, probes this ultimate abstraction in her essays, goes past wordless dread and comes up with enough reasoned consideration to lead us through. Do you feel-and how can you not-as if your emotional endurance is exhausted by horrors already well underway? Then you should read this book. * Sarah Manguso, author of 300 Arguments *Elisa Gabbert is one of my favorite writers, but how I wish her new book wasn't so timely! I mean this as the highest praise: I had to go lie down in between essays. * Austin Kleon, bestselling author of Steal Like an Artist *Whatever the chosen topic, Gabbert's essays manage to be by turns poetic, philosophical, and exhaustively researched. This is a superb collection. * Publishers Weekly *Elisa Gabbert's essays are always worth reading ... Not necessarily uplifting, but personally, I find reading the meditations of a brilliant writer, particularly meditations about the dread I can't shake, both soothing and invigorating. * Lit Hub *Elisa Gabbert's The Unreality of Memory is one of those joyful books that send you to your notebook every page or so, desperate not to lose either the thought the author has deftly placed in your mind or the title of a work she has now compelled you to read. The essays encompass sickness and trauma, anesthesia and memory, politics and political apathy, but owing to the force of Gabbert's attention, the book remains determinedly cohesive. Written before COVID-19 altered all our lives so irretrievably, it is also a work of uncanny prescience. * Paris Review *[A] searing essay collection that takes place at the intersection of devastation, technology, and memory. In shattering essays, Gabbert explores if and how and why certain threats register more than others, and how even seemingly immutable facts are subject to spin from our imprecise recollections. * Vulture *The true mark of a timeless book is that it feels timely no matter when you read it; Elisa Gabbert's new essay collection - full of provocative, prescient meditations about politics and illness and memory and identity- has just that kind of exquisite urgency. Gabbert looks at both the past and present to contemplate and probe at what may become our future. Unafraid to explore the darkest reaches of our minds and behaviors, Gabbert still offers a glimmer of hope amid all the anxiety and terror of our age. After all, if there's writing like this to keep us company, maybe things aren't so bad after all? * Refinery 29 *Absolutely stunning... a book for our times. * BookPage *Masterly... Her essays have a clarity and prescience that imply a sort of distant, retrospective view, like postcards sent from the near future * New York Times *The worst thing about neverending eschatological dread is how lonely it makes you feel. This book by Elisa Gabbert is like having a calm, brilliant, clear-eyed companion to talk you through your end-times horror. (I needed it.) * Lauren Groff, via Twitter *Poet and essayist Elisa Gabbert's voice is calm, playfully engaging and clear - a voice for our anxious, wired times, if ever there was one. This second book of nonfiction functions as a field guide to digital anxiety, its subjects ranging from computer-animated recreations of the sinking of the Titanic to "mirror delusions" and a history of psychosomatic disorders. Each diligently researched essay seems to evolve organically and if she doomscrolls her way down a rabbit hole, you know it will lead somewhere not just pertinent, but poetic and philosophical too. * Observer *Table of Contents1: MAGNIFICENT DESOLATION 2: DOOMSDAY PATTERN 3: THREATS 4: BIG AND SLOW 5: THE GREAT MORTALITY 6: THE LITTLE ROOM (OR, THE UNREALITY OF MEMORY) 7: VANITY PROJECT 8: WITCHES AND WHIPLASH 9: SLEEP NO MORE 10: TRUE CRIME 11: I'M SO TIRED 12: IN OUR MIDST 13: EPILOGUE: THE UNREALITY OF TIME

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Book SynopsisFlatmates? Friends? Or something else entirely?Hazel and Alfie have just moved in together as flatmates. They've also just slept together, which was either a catastrophic mistake, or the best decision of their lives.Before they can decide, Hazel's sister Emily and her wife Daria arrive for a visit, setting in motion a chain of events that will reshape all of their relationships in unexpected ways.As the four of them wrestle with the challenges of modern life, they are bound together by heartache and hope in this warm, witty and devastatingly relatable story.Trade ReviewI adored this book - fresh, funny and thought provoking, I fell in love with the characters and did not want it to end.' * Sophie Cousens *Captures the intricacies of modern relationships with undeniable skill, heaps of humour and a style that fans of Sally Rooney will love. Captivating and addictively complex, this novel is full of an unshakable tension that is a delight to get entangled in. * Ashley Hickson-Lovence *A clever and insightful take on what love and family mean in the twenty-first century * Nicola Gill *Brook's enjoyable debut tackles the messiness of love and family... Heartfelt and entertaining * Publishers Weekly *A charming peek inside the messy world of modern dating, blending hard-hitting realities with frivolous fun * Booklist *Brook's ability to balance humor with explorations of heartbreak, anxiety, and betrayal is admirable....an entertaining tale from start to finish, with characters you'll miss right after finishing the epilogue. * Kirkus *

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Book SynopsisOriginally published in French in 1974, radical feminist Francoise d'Eaubonne surveyed women's status around the globe and argued that the stakes of feminist struggle was not about equality but about life and death-for humans and the planet. In this wide-ranging manifesto, d'Eaubonne first proposed a politics of ecofeminism, the idea that the patriarchal system's claim over women's bodies and the natural world destroys both, and that feminism and environmentalism must bring about a new 'mutation'-an overthrow of not just male power but the system of power itself. As d'Eaubonne prophesied, "the planet placed in the feminine will flourish for all."Never before published in English, and translated here by French feminist scholar Ruth Hottell, this edition includes an introduction from scholars of ecology and feminism situating d'Eaubonne's work within current feminist theory, environmental justice organizing, and anticolonial feminism.Trade ReviewStudents of feminism will savor this cogent presentation of a landmark text. * Publishers Weekly *An iconic text, one of the first to discuss ecofeminism and the inherent connections between women and nature ... with its urgent discussions of climate change and human rights, Feminism or Death is a perennial feminist text... potent and timeless. * Foreword Reviews *Table of ContentsPreface, by Carolyn MerchantIntroduction, by Myriam Bahaffou and Julie Gorecki (translated by Emma Ramadan) INTRODUCTION FEMINITUDE, OR RADICAL SUBJECTIVITY The Tragedy of Being a Woman Majority or Minority?Work and Prostitution Rape FROM REVOLUTION TO MUTATIONThe Stress of the Rat Regarding AbortionFor a Planetary Feminist Manifesto For a Planetary Feminist Manifesto (continued) For a Feminist Planetary Manifesto (end) Departure for a Long March THE TIME FOR ECOFEMINISM New Perspectives Ecology and Feminism Appendices A. How women do not control their destinyB. The New Feminine Mystique (Liberation) C. A Rose for Valerie D. A Tract for a "Feminist Front" E. To See Clearly (Combat for Man) Bibliography

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Book SynopsisThe question of ownership is the critical fault line of our times. During the pandemic this issue has only become more divisive. Since March 2020 we have witnessed the extraordinary growth of asset manager capitalism and the explosive concentration of wealth within the hands of the already super-rich. This new oligarchy controls every part of our social and economics lives.In the face of crisis, the authors warn that mere redistribution within current forms of ownership is not enough; our goal must be to go beyond the limits of the current system, dominated by private enclosure and unequal ownership. Only by reimagining how our economy is owned and by whom can we address the crises of our time - from the fallout of the pandemic to ecological collapse - at their roots.Building from this insight, the authors argue the systemic change we need hinges on a new era of democratic ownership: a reinvention of the firm as a vehicle for collective endeavour and meeting social needs. Against the new oligarchy of the platform giants, a digital commons that uses our data for collective good, not private profit. In place of environmental devastation, a new agenda of decommodification - of both nature and needs - with a Green New Deal and collective stewardship of the planet's natural wealth. Together, these proposals offer a road map to owning the future, and building a better world.Trade ReviewHowever queasily anxious it makes the political class, the question of who should own what in our economy still hangs in the air, unanswered. This pacy and accessible book unpacks the issues and offers solutions with a welcome dash of imagination and optimism. -- Aditya Chakrabortty, Senior Economics Commentator, The GuardianOwning the Future offers a vision for a future beyond capitalism. It will require nothing less than a radical democratization of ownership. An ambitious book that should inspire many to help workout the details of a much needed transition. -- Katharina Pistor, author of The Code of Capital: How the Law Creates Wealth and InequalityAmid a growing divide between those who own assets and those who don't, Owning the Future offers an essential guide to the shifting landscape of property, politics, and power today, from the enclosure of knowledge in vaccine IP to the outsized power of massive asset managers. Seamlessly blending social theory and case studies, Adrienne Buller and Mathew Lawrence lucidly diagnose the pathologies of private ownership across a range of sectors - housing, data, ecosystems - and make a powerful case for the necessity of public and democratic alternatives. -- Alyssa Battistoni, co-author of A Planet to WinA must-have guide for anyone interested in reimagining ownership in our age of compounding crises. Lawrence and Buller map out how we can escape from a world of escalating competition over dwindling assets towards a future where the inherent value of every person is recognised. Read this if you want to maintain any hope in a different vision of the twenty-first century. -- Kojo Koram, author of Uncommon WealthBuller and Lawrence imagine a world where corporates are democratized, the stock market loses its power, and the state invests in a common fund for citizens and makes real and substantial investments in decarbonization. This is no fever dream. It is a well-reasoned plan of action and far more possible than we think. -- Mark Blyth, author of Austerity: The History of a Dangerous IdeaYou will finish this gripping book equipped with the tools to rethink what property means, ready to reimagine and transform ownership so that we can effectively redistribute power, decommodify the provision of essential goods and services, and expand the meaning of the commons. A powerful exposé of how, together, we can own the future on an habitable planet. -- Isabelle Ferreras, author of Firms as Political EntitiesPraise for Planet on Fire * : *This clear and incisive book starts from the immensely important insight that we cannot understand climate breakdown outside of the capitalist social relations that produced it. Planet on Fire reminds us that climate breakdown is intimately linked to all the overlapping crises humanity faces - from the rise of the far right, to growing socioeconomic inequality, to the COVID-19 pandemic - and that ecosocialism is the only route to an equal and sustainable world. -- Grace BlakeleyEloquent, clear-sighted and erudite... an important analysis of the interlocking political and economic forces driving us towards ecological catastrophe, and a credible route-map towards an alternative -- Will DaviesOffers blueprints, rally-points for energies, and chronicles of useful pasts for a decarbonized future. In the end, the climate crisis, they remind us, is not about individual morality or scientific authority but power and politics. This is a handbook for the fights to come. -- Quinn SlobodianThe authors' vision of the path to climate justice is an antidote to disaster politics in so many ways, not least because it is both fair and unexpectedly luxurious. Each page is absolutely brimming with ideas as they meticulously take us through every important sector of the economy and reveal carefully thought through recommendations for reform. By focusing on power and who wields it they correctly identify the levers for change and who must now be empowered to push them. -- Michelle Meagher

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Book SynopsisIf you are keen to explore the six thousand miles of coastline that Scotland has to offer, then this is the perfect guide for you. Complete with maps and illustrations and covering walks ranging from gentle strolls, family friendly outings and full-scale hikes, this is the perfect handbook for any Scottish adventure!'An invaluable accessory to the boots and the backpack' -- Daily Record'This selection of day trips, including maps and useful information, is a welcome sight' -- Scottish Field'Superb book with some great walks in it - ideal for new and old hikers alike' -- ***** Reader review'Excellent and very informative' -- ***** Reader review'Brilliant - very impressed, nicely laid out and nice maps too' -- ***** Reader review**************************************************************************************Scotland and its islands encompass more than 10,000 miles of breath-taking coastline. The 100 routes outlined by Andrew Dempster in this essential guide take in the quaint fishing ports, long sun-bleached strands and vast golf links of the east coast; the grand Gothic cliffs, natural arches and storm-tossed sea-stacks that comprise much of the fractured edge of the Atlantic; the kaleidoscopic wildflower carpet of the Western Isles machair; the romantic castles and Clearance settlements of Skye; and myriad idyllic secluded beaches and awe-inspiring clifftop vantage points.This unique guide covers the whole spectrum, from short hour-long beach strolls to serious full-day hikes that require mountain gear and total commitment.Compiled in a user-friendly format, containing maps and illustrations throughout, 100 Classic Coastal Walks in Scotland provides a wealth of walking possibilities for anyone with an interest in outdoor pursuits, with many of the walks also suitable for children.Book that staycation now!Trade ReviewAn invaluable accessory to the boots and the backpack * Daily Record *This selection of day trips, including maps and useful information such as pubs to visit along the way, is a welcome sight * Scotish Field *A zealous guide to this impressive spread of coastal walks * Walk *A very special guide for those interested in the outdoors * Scotland Magazine *

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Book SynopsisEvery year, air pollution prematurely kills seven million people around the world, in rich countries and poor ones. It is strongly linked to strokes, heart attacks, many kinds of cancer, premature birth and dementia, among other ailments. In Choked, Beth Gardiner travels the world to meet the scientists who have transformed our understanding of pollution's effects on the human body, and to trace the economic forces and political decisions that have allowed it to remain at life-threatening levels. But she also focuses on real-world solutions, and on inspiring stories of people fighting for a healthier future. Compellingly written, and alive with the personalities of the people who study, breathe and fight bad air, Choked is a vital contribution on one of the most important - but too often ignored - issues of our time.

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Book SynopsisFarmland wildlife has been decimated by intensive crop growing using pesticides, grubbing up hedges, ploughing heathland and draining marshes, etc. With too many sheep grazing our moors, hills and mountains, a range of upland plants, invertebrates and birds has been diminished and the land converted to closely-grazed turf, perfect for heavy rain to cause catastrophic downstream floods. Once common farmland birds have declined by 54% since 1970 with farmland invertebrates declining by 40% in a few decades. Since the 1930s a staggering 97% of our once flower-rich meadows has been lost. Ploughing a New Furrow examines these stark figures and in the context of Brexit considers the unprecedented opportunity for wildlife once again to be nurtured by Britain's farmers alongside food production, reversing the enormous plant and animal losses our farmland has suffered. With its financial largesse, the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has encouraged farmers to destroy huge areas of wildlife habitat in Britain's lowlands and seriously damage large tracts of our uplands, depleting Britain's farmed land of much of its wildlife. With responsibility for farm policy to be transferred back to the UK, these enormous losses could be reversed and Britain's farms made wildlife-rich once more. This book is based to a significant extent on conversations with farmers and on the achievements and experiences of some farmers who have made good use of agri-environment payments to reinstate lost habitats and manage their remaining wildlife more sensitively. The author sets out the case for removing or capping subsidies, supporting organic and other more sustainable forms of agriculture and the conservation of soils and the rich life forms they hold. He proposes a set of policy changes and other measures that should be adopted by the Government post-Brexit to make the 70% of our land that farming occupies rich in wildlife again. Literally food for thought!Trade Review`the author has researched his subject admirably. …is an informative read about the myriad ways the policy decisions may impact on farm wildlife across the UK. …the author has made this often impenetrable subject approachable’. Plantlife -------------------- `…considers the unprecedented opportunity for wildlife once again to be nutured by Britain’s farmers alongside food production, reversing the enormous plant and animal losses our farmland has suffered’. Wildlife -------------------- `...a timely publication... ...an easy read with an added light in human touch that enhances the chapters... ...provides an informed perspective on the agriculture industry...' ECOS -------------------- `This is a must-read for agricultural and conservation students alike but it will also appeal to farmers, environmental practitioners and anyone that takes an interest in the health of the farmed landscape. The timing of this book has never been more poignant with the backdrop of Brexit. ...this publication serves as an ideal cue to review where we are at with each of these conservation challenges...' BTO - British Trust for Ornithology -------------------- `This is a balanced and informative book that is timely and relevant - a must read for anyone with an interest in farm wildlife issues and the future of farming in the UK'. Butterfly -------------------- `...must be one of the most thought-provoking with regards to farming in the UK and how farming practices and wildlife might coexist in the future. There is so much in this thought-provoking book you must read it...' Dumfries & Galloway Life -------------------- `Malcolm Smith's book comes at a critical time. Farming is on the cusp of a new era in light of Brexit... ...an intelligent and thorough walk through of the issues surrounding farming and wildlife. The subject matter is successfully brought to life through his narrative and it is clear that he is well-versed in the issues through actual experience...' Kate Priestman, Inside Ecology

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Book SynopsisA highly personal account of time spent in nature and the life-affirming benefits it brings. An introduction to the main habitats found in Galloway and its wildlife.

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Book SynopsisThe term rewilding has become part of the common vernacular and with it has come a lot of misunderstanding and even misuse. This is an informed insight into the challenges and possible solutions, showing what can be achieved by individuals.

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Book SynopsisThe permaculture classic that launched a new movement in edible, wildlife-friendly gardening! The Permaculture Garden shows you how to transform a yard or even the smallest space into a highly productive garden that works in harmony with nature. Learn how to: * Plan your garden layout for easy access and minimum labour * Save energy on unnecessary chores like digging and weeding with techniques like mulching and growing ground covers * Save money by using upcycled containers to create a beautiful space * Use successional cropping to produce year-round harvests and build healthy soil * Choose the best plants for different sites and enjoy the benefits of plant communities * Reduce your impact by saving energy and harvesting water * Discourage pests and diseases without using chemicals. Gardening expert and world-class permaculture teacher, Graham Bell, offers a wealth of practical advice including planning a garden from a bare plot, designing raised beds, creating ponds and streams, building terraces on slopes, constructing greenhouses and providing special areas for children or animals. Whether you are looking for just a few improvements or the beginnings of self-sufficiency, you can become a positive changemaker in your own back yard with this lively, practical guide.Trade ReviewThe Permaculture Garden is an excellent book about actually putting it all into practice in your back garden. It contains excellent species lists for useful plants for a wide range of situations. The first chapter is a kind of philosophical treatise on why to garden, and is littered with beautiful quotes from literature about the joy of gardening. This book is crammed with useful ideas. Rob Hopkins, Co-founder of the Transition Movement

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Book SynopsisThe challenging times we live in show us that there is no going back to 'normal' life, but how do we step forward? Looby Macnamara, international thought leader and teacher, introduces 'Cultural Emergence', a framework and toolkit that enables us to design the world we want to live in. It activates healing and revolutionises our approach to creating life-sustaining and regenerative cultures. Drawing upon the lineages of indigenous wisdom, permaculture design and systems thinking, Cultural Emergence is a profoundly effective toolkit for creating a new understanding of culture. It shows us how to: * Expand our thinking and possibilities * Better understand where problems come from and, by using radical reflection on the root causes, create successful healing strategies * Embody the learning and effectively embed the changes in our lives into new ways of interacting and being * Build our individual and collective resilience in turbulent times and support ourselves to proactively adjust to transitions - whether they are personal life changes or collective challenges such as climate change * Use the tools to create the conditions for emergence, informing the creation of cultures of care, connection, peace, health, effectiveness and trust. Cultural Emergence is visionary, practical, wise and simple to use. It is a message of hope with tools for empowerment. Filled with stories of people around the world who have benefited using this approach, it inspires us with possibilities. It is a timely, much-needed book that has the potential to be useful to everyone and enable deep and radical transformation.

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Book SynopsisWe are in the midst of a worldwide waste epidemic, where the average person in the UK throws away their own body weight in rubbish every seven weeks. The figure looks even worse at national level with the UK producing more than 100 million tonnes of waste every year. We all know the importance of reducing our environmental footprint, but the prospect of going green can seem daunting. Six Weeks to Zero Waste is both an accessible and aspirational programme to eliminate waste - and it goes beyond plastic. In this book, TV presenter turned eco blogger, Kate Arnell, will help you on your path to rubbish-free living, with the principles of the 5 Rs (refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle and rot). From cutting down on food waste and decluttering, to making homemade health and beauty products, you'll soon be on your way to a zero-waste lifestyle.

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Book SynopsisRivers and streams occupy a fundamental place within the British landscape. They are central and focal features of the natural landscape, helping to shape the very landforms of the country, as well as providing a range of habitats for flora and fauna. Few places in Britain are far from running water, and human society interacts with rivers in a wide range of ways. Most towns and cities grew up on riverbanks, and rivers play a vital role in economic, social and cultural life. They have provided power for industry; water for industrial use and human consumption; rivers have often been used for communication and the transport of goods; and they are sites of leisure and recreation. Most people are attracted to water; and rivers have featured prominently in literature and art over the centuries. Rivers can also pose threats, from flooding or pollution, and therefore have to be managed and regulated. Whereas there are many books which deal with specific aspects of rivers, "Rivers and the British Landscape" provides the first fully integrated analysis of British rivers exploring the physical formation of rivers; the characteristics of environments; analysis of the social, economic and cultural uses and associations of rivers; and examination of the problems of river management. These themes are explored through historical and contemporary examples, with case studies drawn from all parts of Britain. The book is lavishly illustrated and includes an appendix of key facts about British rivers. Written by experts on each aspect of British rivers, "Rivers and the British Landscape" is aimed at anyone with a general interest in rivers and the British landscape. The authors aim to highlight the holistic nature of river environments, and to explore the ways in which physical, economic, cultural and management characteristics interact to create the distinctive personalities of British rivers. It is hoped that material in this volume may help you to view your local river in a new light.

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Book SynopsisWe all use some form of transport almost every day of our lives. It is one of the most important factors in determining the economic wellbeing of a town or city. And it is also one of the major sources of environmental damage to our planet. Yet, Britain has never had a coherent transport policy. Transport ministers are regarded as insignificant compared with their colleagues in other ministries. Successive governments have failed to get to grips with the twin challenge of getting people around cheaply and safely while safeguarding the environment. In this entertaining polemic, Christian Wolmar, a former national newspaper journalist who has written about transport for over two decades, explains why politicians have never got to grips with the issue, sets out the problems this has caused and points to a few rational solutions.Trade Review'This book is an entertaining and knowledgeable explanation of why British transport policy is a mess. It's also a clarion call for change: for better public transport, for proper funding of cycle networks, and for a system of road pricing to make it all work. It should be required reading for any transport minister.' Stephen Joseph, Chief Executive, Campaign for Better Transport; 'Christian Wolmar's persuasive and detailed critique of decades of transport policy blunders in Britain should be essential - if grim - reading for every incoming minister at Whitehall's Cinderella department.' Jonathan Prynn, former Transport Correspondent for The Times and current Consumer Business Editor of The Evening Standard; 'This splendid book captures the intellectual bankruptcy of British transport policy with wit, good humour, sound evidence and powerful insight. Any nation that can keep building new roads with the stated intention of creating jobs or reducing congestion, when all the evidence shows that this is a forlorn hope, has lost the plot - and if there is a stage beyond losing the plot, Wolmar shows that this is HS2. Wolmar provides a rich and enjoyable analysis of the strange world of British transport policy and shows what we have to do to get it right. For that he should be congratulated.'John Whitelegg, Research Associate, Stockholm Environment Institute

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Book SynopsisWith this book is completed a trilogy of works begun in 2005 with This City Now: Glasgow and its Working Class Past, and continuing with Clydeside; Red Orange and Green in 2009. The three books have all had similar aims in trying to raise the profile of forgotten or neglected areas and aspects of Glasgow and its history, in a small way trying to boost the esteem in which such places are held by the people who live in there and by those who visit. Moving away slightly from the working class focus, this third instalment presents a broad view of Glasgow’s industrial, social and intellectual history. From public art to socialist memorials, and from factories to cultural hubs, Ian Mitchell takes the reader on a guided tour of Glasgow, outlining walking routes which encompass the city’s forgotten icons.

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Book SynopsisWhy, with absolutely no idea what Brexit actually meant, did the UK vote for Brexit?Why, rather than vote for the best-qualified candidate ever to stand as US President, did voters opt for a reality TV star with no political experience?In both cases, the winning side promised change and offered hope. They told a story voters longed to hear. And in the absence of greater, more unifying narratives, then true or not, voters plumped for the best story available.Once upon a time our society was rich in stories. They brought us together and helped us to understand the world and ourselves. We called them myths. Today, we have a myth gap – a vacuum that Alex Evans argues powerfully and persuasively is both dangerous and an opportunity. In this time of global crisis and transition– mass migration, inequality, resource scarcity, and climate change - It is stories, rather than facts and pie-charts,that will animate us and bring us together. It is by finding new myths, those that speak to us of renewal and restoration, that we will navigate our way to a better future. Drawing on his first-hand experience as a political adviser within British government and at the United Nations, and examining the history of climate change campaigning and recent contests such as Brexit and the US presidential election, Alex Evans explores: *how tomorrow’s activists are using narratives for change, * how modern stories have been used and abused, * where we might find the right myths that will take us forwardTrade ReviewVery short, very sharp -- Bruce Clark * Economist *Pertinent… Evans is an attractive and persuasive writer … his book will strike many chords’ -- Allan Massie * Scotsman *An important book about the need to bring inspiring narratives back to the heart of progressive politics ... This has traction because it has truth, literally as well as metaphorically. * New Scientist *A really fascinating contribution to answering the question: how do we find new myths to live by. -- Dr Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of CanterburyEveryone should read this. * Tim Smit *

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Book Synopsis15-minute city, noun: ‘a city that is designed so that everyone who lives there can reach everything they need within 15 minutes on foot or by bike’ Cities define the lives of all those who call them home: where they go, how they get there, how they spend their time. But what if we structured the way we live in our cities differently? What if we travelled differently? What if we could get back the time we would have spent commuting and make it our own? In this carefully researched and readily accessible book, Natalie Whittle interrogates the notion of the 15-minute city: its pros, its cons and its potential to revolutionise modern living. With global warming at crisis point and Covid-19 responses bringing a previously unimaginable decline in commuting, Whittle’s timely book serves as a call to reflect on the ‘hows’ and ‘whys’ of how we live our lives. Building her study around consideration of space and time, Whittle traverses both to collect models from ancient Athens to modern Paris and demonstrate how one idea could change our daily lives – and the world – for good.

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Book SynopsisA revolution on the roads is approaching. Is it time for drivers to Give Way? Guardian news correspondent, Peter Walker, takes us on a journey around the world, exploring the varying attitudes to cycling on our highways. Visit the shining examples of Amsterdam and Copenhagen, where cycling culture is an intrinsic part of the approach of politicians and officials. How have these cities made provision for cyclists and what are the extraordinary benefits?And then take to the less welcoming roads of Britain, USA and Australia, where cycling can still be a terrifying experience. What are the tragic mistakes being made when planning and developing cities, and how do these mistakes lead to aggression towards the cycling community?Millions of us find ourselves frustrated by the motor mentality and fighting for our rights to ride. This brilliant, shocking investigation will prepare you with all you need to know to confidently claim your place on the road.Trade ReviewPeter Walker has written the book I wanted to write. It should be compulsory reading for anyone in a decision making role. This might seem a sweeping statement but when you see the diverse and positive impact more cycling could have on our lives - cyclist or not - you’ll understand. * Chris Boardman *Stacked with stats and filled with stories, this book is as exhilarating as a clear stretch of highway. If we are at a turning point for cycling in big cities, this book is it. * Jeremy Vine *Where cycling is considered normal, and where it's done by 25 percent of more of the population, people are healthier, happier and richer, demonstrates Bike Nation. -- Carlton Reid * Bike Biz *Peter Walker may just have written the most convincing argument ever seen for 'how cycling can save the world’… Walker provides invaluable information on every discussion that you are likely to encounter when making the case for cycling… This book should be sufficient to convince rational people that we would all benefit from a society that is less centred on motor vehicles and more open to the benefits of cycling -- Richard Peploe * Road.cc *It’s the sort of book best read with a highlighter pen as there lots of different quotes, facts and interviews that you’ll want to refer back to again and again… If you’re involved in cycle campaigning, this book is an excellent introduction to new members of your group to help get them up to speed. It’s also a powerful read for transport planners, councillors, MPs, council officers and local influencers. Anyone with even a semi-open mind in making the town they live in work better for everyone (including drivers) will find this an illuminating read. I highly recommend this book * Girodilento *

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Book SynopsisA radical vision for a better future: an economy that works for us, rather than the other way around. As this major German bestseller reports, our world is at a tipping point, and we feel it every day. Costs are rising, the gap between the rich and poor is increasing, natural resources are depleted, and the effects of climate change are starting to take hold. We are under increasing social and environmental stress. But, as leading economist Maja Göpel argues here, there is another path forward. She invites us to imagine what we want our future to look like, and offers solutions that will help us to get there. It’s time to question our principles, set new goals, and re-evaluate our priorities. Time to rethink our world and find new ways of living that don’t drain our planet any further. We need a fair distribution of wealth, and a way to reconcile the social with the ecological. We need to work smarter, not harder. Critical, yet full of encouragement, Maja Göpel chooses surprising and enlightening examples to illustrate how we can leave behind our familiar ways of living to achieve a better future.Trade Review‘After so much fake information born of post-factual hoaxes, this level-headedly argued book by economist Maja Göpel for a reform of our economic system is an insanely soothing read … Maja Göpel’s pleasantly calmly written book helps to understand this new reality.’ -- Denis Scheck, ARD broadcasting service‘Maja Göpel’s book is a successful attempt to pack human history from the evolution of Homo sapiens to Greta Thunberg, economic theory from Adam Smith to Thomas Piketty, environmental research and system criticism into a concise space in an entertaining read — and she does it well.’ -- Jessica von Blazekovic * Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung *‘At some point, the central ideas of the English thought leaders were taken out of context and elevated to “supposed universal laws of economics”, according to Göpel’s thesis. Göpel’s invitation is to see through the laws of this “illusory world” and to question them. Like a patient teacher, she tries to steer readers from chapter to chapter: with repetitions (“You remember …”) and interposed questions (“How does that sound to you?”) as well as catchy examples by means of which the problems of the neoliberal world quickly become obvious. A big plus in this context is the renunciation of the flood of numbers that is seemingly unavoidable in such books.’ -- Robert Probst * Süddeutsche Zeitung *‘Her findings are precise, her book comes at the right time — a time when the consequences of climate change are just as unmistakable as the half-heartedness of politics. It is a forcefully presented plea for future-oriented thinking, “an invitation” that one wishes many would accept.’ -- Ralph Gerstenberg * Deutschlandfunk Kultur *‘A stirring blueprint for radical reforms to save the planet.’ -- Andreas Bocher, Emma magazine‘The book of the hour.’ * ARD *‘Göpel rigorously analyses traditional theories of economic growth, privatisation, consumption, and the infallibility of ‘the market’ … she is skilfully bringing together ideas from psychology, economics, philosophy, science and history to create a highly readable interdisciplinary summary of the crisis at hand … Göpel reminds us that awareness is one of the first steps, and the knowledge and belief that business as usual is not an option can be a powerful place to start.’ -- Kara Nicholson * Readings *‘[A]ccording to German political economist Maja Göpel, the days of “business as usual” are over. There is a new reality caught in the phrase “overshoot day” — when the demand for ecological resources and services exceeds what the earth can give. We’re already there and, among other things, progress and capitalism as we’ve known them need to be reconfigured to create a fairer, less exploitative society. This sounds like a dire read, but it’s strangely upbeat and, using often telling examples, Göpel calmly makes her dramatic point.’ -- Steven Carroll * The Sydney Morning Herald *‘[Rethinking Our World] is an easy read, challenges the standard economic models and has encouraging suggestions.’ -- Paul Costigan * City News *‘Göpel explains things well. She is lucid, succinct, and avoids strident polemic. And she enforces her argument with compelling narratives.’ -- Jane Goodall * The Conversation *

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Book SynopsisClassic to contemporary architecture and design in the New York City subway.

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Book SynopsisSea Sagas of the North interweaves prose chapters and alliterative sagas. Each chapter tells of travels across shores, seas and islands. This is the territory of sagas, the Norse and Anglo-Saxon gods of old, and the mythic era of Viking expansion by clinkered longships. It was when dragons protected people from themselves by hiding gold and silver hoards. There are shadows on the warming, northern seas. Long ago, refugees fled Doggerland when seas encroached. Now rising seas threaten the low-lying shores once again.Jules Pretty tells moving stories from Iceland, Norway?s Lofoten islands, Denmark, eastern England, Lindisfarne, Shetland, St Kilda and the Faroes. His touching tales weave a rich cultural tapestry from sagas, the heroic cliff rescues of deep-water fishermen by Icelanders, how Vikings and sheep left so few trees, the miraculous escape of Danish Jews to Sweden from Denmark in 1943, the rise of Abbess Hildr of Whitby, the enslaved Grimsby orphan boys and life on Doggerland itself. He asks how can we live wisely and well with nature and each other as the fire and flood of Ragnarok looms. Maps, glossary of Norse Gods, timeline, brief notes on walks connected with each chapter, stories, chapter notes and bibliography.

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Book Synopsis'Once, we were one form among many in the garden. We learned to hear the voices of the mountains, the rivers, the sky, of silence. The mice spoke, the trees spoke, the stars spoke, the deer and the fox spoke, the snake spoke - and from these words we made being. These words formed great cities and their machines ever clamouring, and we let the silence slip and the words of the whispering world fall away beyond the mirror of our making.' (From the Prologue.) --- These eighteen meditations, amplified by Jerry Shearing's striking illustrations, offer luminous words enlivened with the weight of much listening. Through these 'conversations', Peter Owen Jones offers a pathway to reconnect with nature. Just a few sentences a day will provide sustenance for the soul.Trade Review'I will carry this little book in my pocket... I will read the words on London buses and in Dartmoor woods. These across-species conversations are more than reverie, they are participation.' - Martin Shaw, author of Smoke Hole and Courting the Wild TwinTable of ContentsForeword by Martin Shaw - Prologue - The Khamsin Speaks of the Storm - The Windflower Speaks of Flux - The Fox Speaks of Exile - The Mayfly Speaks of Impermanence - The Mouse Speaks of Courage - The Olm speaks of Khthonios - The Bear Speaks of Carnage - The Robin Speaks of Death - The Heron Speaks of Sadness - The Daisy Speaks of Receiving - The Turtle Speaks of Communion - The Jasmine Flower Speaks of Enchantment - The Hawthorn Speaks of Aphrodisia - The Painted Lady Speaks of Reverie - The Starling Speaks of Dancing - The Oak Speaks of Sanctuary - The Moss Speaks of Intimacy - The Pond Speaks of Peace - Glossary

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Book SynopsisLonglisted for the 2022 Highland Book Prize From Jim Crumley, the "pre-eminent Scottish nature-writer” (Guardian), this landmark volume documents the extraordinary natural life of the Scottish Highlands and bears witness to the toll climate chaos is already taking on our wildlife, habitats and biodiversity – laying bare what is at stake for future generations. A display of head-turning autumn finery on Skye provokes Jim Crumley to contemplate both the glories of the season and how far the seasons themselves have shapeshifted since his early days observing his natural surroundings. After a lifetime immersed in Scotland's landscapes and enriched by occasional forays in other northern lands, Jim has amassed knowledge, insight and a bank of memorable imagery chronicling the wonder, tumult and spectacle of nature’s seasonal transformations. He has witnessed not only nature’s unparalleled beauty, but also how climate chaos and humankind has brought unwanted drama to wildlife and widespread destruction of ecosystems and habitats. In this landmark volume, Jim combines lyrical prose and passionate eloquence to lay bare the impact of global warming and urge us all towards a more daring conservation vision that embraces everything from the mountain treeline to a second spring for the wolf.Trade Review'This is a book from an author that can inspire those with a good knowledge of wildlife but also, I feel, draw in others to that subject through the beauty of the writing and the incisiveness of the observation. A great book, and obviously a book for all seasons.' -- Mark Avery'Jim Crumley … has been our predominant writer on the natural world … [He] is a naturalist with a great gift for observation … His work engages us in the best ways – it addresses us as equals. We are drawn alongside him, to appreciate what he appreciates.' -- Kathleen Jamie

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Book SynopsisPermaculture needs all of us, and all of us need permaculture.Permaculture is a way of farming, gardening, or managing land for sustainable food that emphasizes a reciprocal relationship with nature. It?s also a way of living that has countless benefits for both individual and collective well-being and is an essential tool in the fight of our lives: tackling the climate crisis.Incorporating such concepts and practices as rewilding and community resilience, permaculture is an approach with core principles that center collectivism and stewardship. From these principles, we can take key lessons about how we interact with nature and with others in all areas of life.Exploring the history of permaculture, how it exists today, and combining practical prompts with personal stories, this book is written with expertise, yet is accessible and enjoyable for beginners and the experienced alike.Whether you?re completely new to permaculture, or you?re someone with experience who wants to reconnect and learn more about its history and principles, this book will contain valuable lessons for growth far beyond the garden.

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Book SynopsisEmblem is the debut collection from Lucy Mercer, winner of the inaugural White Review Poet's Prize. This is a book of ecological poetics, interested in exploring the changing symbols of the natural world in literature. Emblem revitalises this forgotten hybrid form in the present as a frame to contemplate the obscurities of motherhood, faith and the interior. In ghostly conversation with the sixteenth-century emblematist Andrea Alciato – a witness to a lonely time – the poems are carried forward by a non-linear dream logic of metaphor and similitude, speaking pictures who remain silent and a focus on an adjacent imaginal world. As well as reusing images from Alciato's emblem book, the poems fixate on alternating relations between text and image that blur into relations between mind and body, child and mother, red and green, past and present, public and private, the living and the dead.

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Book SynopsisTo people who haven't been there, Antarctica seems remote, extreme and perhaps even forbidding. Yet everybody who has visited comes back full of enthusiasm, with amazing memories and stunning photos. The author inspires interest in this amazing place while encouraging responsible, informed and sustainable tourism.She helps you to decide where and when to go, whether to include South Georgia and/or the Falklands, how to read between the lines of an itinerary, which operator to book with and what size of ship will suit you best. She provides practical information about weather, clothing and photography, and gives links to useful websites and further reading. She covers various specialist options from sea kayaking to camping on the ice.The wildlife section is lavishly illustrated with photos of creatures ranging from tiny krill through seabirds and penguins to seals, dolphins and whales with their amazing adaptations. Understanding their breeding cycles helps you to anticipate what you wi

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Book SynopsisThe Green Lunch Box is packed with delicious, healthy, plant-based lunches to help you save the planet in your lunch break.Making your own lunch just a few times a week saves money, packaging and precious time. Discover simple, short recipes for hot boxes, soups, salads, wraps and snacks that make the most of your everyday fresh and store cupboard ingredients. Learn to love your leftovers, master the art of batch cooking and discover ingenious sustainable ways to pack (and eat) your lunch.Features sixty beautifully illustrated recipes, including: Smashed beets and rainbow salad with hazelnut dukkha,Burrito box with charred sweetcorn, avocado, habanero peppers and lime salsa,Black lentil, almond and coconut dahl with crispy cumin cauliflower,Courgette, carrot, apple and lime slaw with toasted pumpkin seeds,Spicy parsnip soup with crispy harissa chickpeas,Peanut butter, lime, chilli and rocket bagel,Mushroom, white bean, miso and leek parcels

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Book SynopsisThis open access book presents detailed pathways to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2050, globally and across ten geographical regions. Based on state-of-the-art scenario modelling, it provides the vital missing link between renewable energy targets and the measures needed to achieve them. Bringing together the latest research in climate science, renewable energy technology, employment and resource impacts, the book breaks new ground by covering all the elements essential to achieving the ambitious climate mitigation targets set out in the Paris Climate Agreement. For example, sectoral implementation pathways, with special emphasis on differences between developed and developing countries and regional conditions, provide tools to implement the scenarios globally and domestically. Non-energy greenhouse gas mitigation scenarios define a sustainable pathway for land-use change and the agricultural sector. Furthermore, results of the impact of the scenarios on employment and mineral and resource requirements provide vital insight on economic and resource management implications. The book clearly demonstrates that the goals of the Paris Agreement are achievable and feasible with current technology and are beneficial in economic and employment terms. It is essential reading for anyone with responsibility for implementing renewable energy or climate targets internationally or domestically, including climate policy negotiators, policy-makers at all levels of government, businesses with renewable energy commitments, researchers and the renewable energy industry.Part 2 of this title can be found at this Link: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-99177-7Trade Review“Based on state-of-the-art scenario modelling, the book provides the vital missing link between renewable energy targets and the measures needed to achieve them. Its robustly modelled scenarios indicate how to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2050, globally and across ten geographical regions. … The book is an essential read for anyone who is responsible for implementing renewable energy or climate targets internationally or domestically, including climate policy negotiators, policy-makers at all levels of government, businesses … .” (eurekalert.org, February, 5, 2019)​Table of Contents

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Book SynopsisThis open access book discusses the socio-political context of the COVID-19 crisis and questions the management of the pandemic emergency with special reference to how this affected the governance of migration and asylum. The book offers critical insights on the impact of the pandemic on migrant workers in different world regions including North America, Europe and Asia. The book addresses several categories of migrants including medical staff, farm labourers, construction workers, care and domestic workers and international students. It looks at border closures for non-citizens, disruption for temporary migrants as well as at special arrangements made for essential (migrant) workers such as doctors or nurses as well as farmworkers, ‘shipped’ to destination with special flights to make sure emergency wards are staffed, and harvests are picked up and the food processing chain continues to function. The book illustrates how the pandemic forces us to rethink notions like membership, citizenship, belonging, but also solidarity, human rights, community, essential services or ‘essential’ workers alongside an intersectional perspective including ethnicity, gender and race.Table of Contents​Part I. Pandemic Borders, Belonging, and Exclusion1 Spaces of Solidarity and Spaces of Exception: Migration and Membership During Pandemic Times Anna Triandafyllidou2 (In)Essential Bordering: Canada, COVID, and Mobility Audrey Macklin3 Territorial and Digital Borders and Migrant Vulnerability Under a Pandemic Crisis Petra Molnar4 Vulnerability and Resilience in the Covid-19 Crisis: Race, Gender, and Belonging Eileen Boris5 Sanctuary Cities and Covid-19: The Case of Canada Mireille Paquet, Noémie Benoit, Idil Atak, Meghan Joy, Graham Hudson, and John ShieldsPart II Pandemics and ‘Essential’ Migrants6 Migrant Care Labour, Covid-19, and the Long-Term Care Crisis: Achieving Solidarity for Care Providers and Recipients Lena Gahwi and Margaret Walton-Roberts7 Pandemic Shock Absorbers: Domestic Workers’ Activism at the Intersection of Immigrants’ and Workers’ Rights Anna Rosińska and Elizabeth Pellerito8 Essential Farmworkers and the Pandemic Crisis: Migrant Labour Conditions, and Legal and Political Responses in Italy and Spain Alessandra Corrado and Letizia Palumbo9 The Entangled Infrastructures of International Student Migration: Lessons from Covid-19 Parvati Raghuram and Gunjan Sondhi10 Voluntary and Forced Return Migration Under a Pandemic Crisis Zeynep Sahin Mencutek11 Return Migration from the Gulf Region to India Amidst COVID-19 S Irudaya Rajan and H. Arokkiaraj12 Internal Migration and the Covid-19 Pandemic in India S Irudaya Rajan and R. B. Bhagat

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Book SynopsisThis open access book emphasizes that procuring goods at the expense of the environment and those who live there is no longer acceptable. Fortunately, there is now an unstoppable force, created by a collective of diverse stakeholders, driving the sustainability agenda. A company’s sustainability standards can only truly be as good as those along its entire supply chain. The purpose of this book is to encourage and inspire companies on their journey to transform into responsible and sustainable businesses by addressing the supply chain, which reflects a significant part of a company’s expenses and thus Table of ContentsPart I: Setting the Scene.- 1. The Challenge of Our Lifetime.- 2. Make a Difference.- Part II: From Ambition to Impact.- 3. Develop Purpose, Ambition Level, and Strategy.- 4. Anchor Sustainability into the Operating Model.- 5. Set Category Work and Suppliers in Motion.- 6. Create a Movement and Drive Transformation.- 7. Outlook 2030 and Conclusion.- 8. Sustainability in Action: Interviews with Experts.

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Book Synopsis1. Introduction Treasure' from a mineral hunt.- 2. The Sunda Arc - Western Indonesia's magma factory.- 3. The Batak Tumor The bulge before the blast.- 4. The Haranggaol Dacite Tuff (HDT) - Explosive eruptions commence.

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Book SynopsisThis CIGRE green book begins by addressing the specification and provision of communication services in the context of operational applications for electrical power utilities, before subsequently providing guidelines on the deployment or transformation of networks to deliver these specific communication services. Lastly, it demonstrates how these networks and their services can be monitored, operated, and maintained to ensure that the requisite high level of service quality is consistently achieved.Table of ContentsPART 1 - OPERATIONAL APPLICATIONS AND THEIR COMMUNICATION REQUIREMENTS 1. Operational Applications in the Power Delivery System 2. Substation-to-Substation Applications 3. Substation-to-Central Platform Applications 4. Inter-platform Applications 5. Office-to-Field Applications 6. Distribution Applications PART 2 - PROVISIONING OF UTILITY-GRADE COMMUNICATION SERVICES 1. Service Provisioning, Quality of Service and SLA 2. Service specification attributes (time, loss, throughput, dependability, security, cost) 3. Building and Adjusting Service Level Agreements – the Service Catalog <4. Service Provisioning Models and their impact on the Delivery Process PART 3 - DELIVERY OF COMMUNICATION SERVICES IN THE UTILITY ENVIRONMENT 1. Introduction 2. Communication Service Delivery Architecture 3. Service Interfacing at the Access Point 4. Time Synchronization at User-to-Network Interface 5. Circuit and Packet Conversions at the Service Access Point 6. Modeling the Service Delivery Process 7. Managing the Delivered Communication Service 8. Meeting Service Quality at a Packet Switched Access Point 9. Integrating Service Delivery for IT and OT Communications Part 4 - DEPLOYING RELIABLE AND SECURE NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURES 1. Introduction 2. An Overview on Network Technologies 3. Hierarchical and Overlay Architectures 4. Revisiting the Process Model – Upstream Management 5. Telecom Network Asset Ownership 6. Planning Network Transformations and Migrations 7. Cyber-secure and Disaster-resistant Communications Part 5 - MAINTAINING NETWORK OPERATION IN NORMAL AND DISASTER SITUATIONS 1. Introduction 2. Reasons for a Formal Approach to O&M 3. O&M Scope, Process and Organization 4. Managing Faults and Anomalies 5. Incident Management and Work Assignment 6. Configuration and Change Management 7. Quality and Performance Monitoring 8. Telecom O&M Communications and Field Worker Support

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Book SynopsisThis first hands-on guide to ISO-compliant Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) makes this powerful tool immediately accessible to both professionals and students. Following a general introduction on the philosophy and purpose of LCA, the reader is taken through all the stages of a complete LCA analysis, with each step exemplified by real-life data from a major LCA project on beverage packaging. Measures as carbon and water footprint, based on the most recent international standards and definitions, are addressed. Written by two pioneers of LCA, this practical volume is targeted at first-time LCA users but equally makes a much-valued reference for more experienced practitioners. From the content: * Goal and Scope Definition * Life Cycle Inventory Analysis * Life Cycle Impact Assessment * Interpretation, Reporting and Critical Review * From LCA to Sustainability Assessment and more.Trade Review'The textbook is divided into six chapters and is both very readable, as well as comprehensive. For those who wish to teach from it, extensive and quite up-to-date references are included.' (David Hunkeler 2016)Table of ContentsPreface xi 1 Introduction 1 1.1 What Is Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)? 1 1.1.1 Definition and Limitations 1 1.1.2 Life Cycle of a Product 2 1.1.3 Functional Unit 3 1.1.4 LCA as System Analysis 4 1.1.5 LCA and Operational Input–Output Analysis (Gate-to-Gate) 5 1.2 History 6 1.2.1 Early LCAs 6 1.2.2 Environmental Policy Background 7 1.2.3 Energy Analysis 8 1.2.4 The 1980s 8 1.2.5 The Role of SETAC 9 1.3 The Structure of LCA 10 1.3.1 Structure According to SETAC 10 1.3.2 Structure of LCA According to ISO 11 1.3.3 Valuation – a Separate Phase? 12 1.4 Standardisation of LCA 14 1.4.1 Process of Formation 14 1.4.2 Status Quo 16 1.5 Literature and Information on LCA 17 References 18 2 Goal and Scope Definition 27 2.1 Goal Definition 27 2.2 Scope 28 2.2.1 Product System 28 2.2.2 Technical System Boundary 29 2.2.2.1 Cut-Off Criteria 29 2.2.2.2 Demarcation towards System Surrounding 32 2.2.3 Geographical System Boundary 34 2.2.4 Temporal System Boundary/Time Horizon 35 2.2.5 The Functional Unit 37 2.2.5.1 Definition of a Suitable Functional Unit and a Reference Flow 37 2.2.5.2 Impairment Factors on Comparison – Negligible Added Value 40 2.2.5.3 Procedure for Non-negligible Added Value 41 2.2.6 Data Availability and Depth of Study 43 2.2.7 Further Definitions 44 2.2.7.1 Type of Impact Assessment 44 2.2.7.2 Valuation (Weighting), Assumptions and Notions of Value 45 2.2.7.3 Critical Review 46 2.2.8 Further Definitions to the Scope 47 2.3 Illustration of the Component ‘Definition of Goal and Scope’ Using an Example of Practice 47 2.3.1 Goal Definition 48 2.3.2 Scope 50 2.3.2.1 Product Systems 50 2.3.2.2 Technical System Boundaries and Cut-Off Criteria 53 2.3.2.3 Demarcation to the System Surrounding 53 2.3.2.4 Geographical System Boundary 54 2.3.2.5 Temporal System Boundary 55 2.3.2.6 Functional Unit and Reference Flow 55 2.3.2.7 Data Availability and Depth of Study 55 2.3.2.8 Type of Life Cycle Impact Assessment 56 2.3.2.9 Methods of Interpretation 57 2.3.2.10 Critical Review 57 References 57 3 Life Cycle Inventory Analysis 63 3.1 Basics 63 3.1.1 Scientific Principles 63 3.1.2 Literature on Fundamentals of the Inventory Analysis 64 3.1.3 The Unit Process as the Smallest Cell of LCI 65 3.1.3.1 Integration into the System Flow Chart 65 3.1.3.2 Balancing 67 3.1.4 Flow Charts 69 3.1.5 Reference Values 72 3.2 Energy Analysis 74 3.2.1 Introduction 74 3.2.2 Cumulative Energy Demand (CED) 77 3.2.2.1 Definition 77 3.2.2.2 Partial Amounts 77 3.2.2.3 Balancing Boundaries 79 3.2.3 Energy Content of Inflammable Materials 81 3.2.3.1 Fossil Fuels 81 3.2.3.2 Quantification 81 3.2.3.3 Infrastructure 84 3.2.4 Supply of Electricity 85 3.2.5 Transports 88 3.3 Allocation 92 3.3.1 Fundamentals of Allocation 92 3.3.2 Allocation by the Example of Co-production 92 3.3.2.1 Definition of Co-production 92 3.3.2.2 ‘Fair’ Allocation? 93 3.3.2.3 Proposed Solutions 98 3.3.2.4 Further Approaches to the Allocation of Co-products 101 3.3.2.5 System Expansion 102 3.3.3 Allocation and Recycling in Closed-Loops and Re-use 105 3.3.4 Allocation and Recycling for Open-Loop Recycling (COLR) 107 3.3.4.1 Definition of the Problem 107 3.3.4.2 Allocation per Equal Parts 109 3.3.4.3 Cut-off Rule 111 3.3.4.4 Overall Load to System B 113 3.3.5 Allocation within Waste-LCAs 113 3.3.5.1 Modelling of Waste Disposal of a Product 114 3.3.5.2 Comparison of Different Options of Waste Disposal 116 3.3.6 Summary on Allocation 117 3.4 Procurement, Origin and Quality of Data 118 3.4.1 Refining the System Flow Chart and Preparing Data Procurement 118 3.4.2 Procurement of Specific Data 119 3.4.3 Generic Data and Partial LCIs 127 3.4.3.1 Which Data are ‘Generic’? 127 3.4.3.2 Reports, Publications, Web Sites 129 3.4.3.3 Purchasable Data Bases and Software Systems 131 3.4.4 Estimations 132 3.4.5 Data Quality and Documentation 133 3.5 Data Aggregation and Units 134 3.6 Presentation of Inventory Results 136 3.7 Illustration of the Inventory Phase by an Example 137 3.7.1 Differentiated Description of the Examined Product Systems 138 3.7.1.1 Materials in the Product System 138 3.7.1.2 Mass Flows of the Product after Use Phase 140 3.7.1.3 Handling of Sorting Residues and Mixed Plastics Fraction 142 3.7.1.4 Recovery of Transport Packaging 143 3.7.2 Analysis of Production, Recovery Technologies and Other Relevant Processes of the Production System 143 3.7.2.1 Production Procedures of the Materials 143 3.7.2.2 Production by Materials 146 3.7.2.3 Distribution 148 3.7.2.4 Collection and Sorting of Used Packaging 148 3.7.2.5 Recovery Technologies (Recycling) 149 3.7.2.6 Recycling of Transport Packagings 151 3.7.2.7 Transportation by Truck 152 3.7.2.8 Electricity Supply 152 3.7.3 Elaboration of a Differentiated System Flow Chart with Reference Flows 153 3.7.4 Allocation 153 3.7.4.1 Definition of Allocation Rules on Process Level 153 3.7.4.2 Definition of Allocation Rules on System Level for Open-Loop Recycling 157 3.7.5 Modelling of the System 157 3.7.6 Calculation of the Life Cycle Inventory 158 3.7.6.1 Input 159 3.7.6.2 Output 165 References 170 4 Life Cycle Impact Assessment 181 4.1 Basic Principle of Life Cycle Impact Assessment 181 4.2 Method of Critical Volumes 183 4.2.1 Interpretation 184 4.2.2 Criticism 185 4.3 Structure of Impact Assessment according to ISO 14040 and 14044 187 4.3.1 Mandatory and Optional Elements 187 4.3.2 Mandatory Elements 187 4.3.2.1 Selection of Impact Categories – Indicators and Characterisation Factors 187 4.3.2.2 Classification 190 4.3.2.3 Characterisation 191 4.3.3 Optional Elements of LCIA 192 4.3.3.1 Normalisation 192 4.3.3.2 Grouping 197 4.3.3.3 Weighting 200 4.3.3.4 Additional Analysis of Data Quality 201 4.4 Method of Impact Categories (Environmental Problem Fields) 201 4.4.1 Introduction 201 4.4.2 First (‘Historical’) Lists of the Environmental Problem Fields 202 4.4.3 Stressor-Effect Relationships and Indicators 206 4.4.3.1 Hierarchy of Impacts 207 4.4.3.2 Potential versus Actual Impacts 209 4.5 Impact Categories, Impact Indicators and Characterisation Factors 212 4.5.1 Input-Related Impact Categories 212 4.5.1.1 Overview 212 4.5.1.2 Consumption of Abiotic Resources 214 4.5.1.3 Cumulative Energy and Exergy Demand 220 4.5.1.4 Consumption of Biotic Resources 222 4.5.1.5 Use of (Fresh) Water 224 4.5.1.6 Land Use 227 4.5.2 Output-Based Impact Categories (Global and Regional Impacts) 233 4.5.2.1 Overview 233 4.5.2.2 Climate Change 234 4.5.2.3 Stratospheric Ozone Depletion 240 4.5.2.4 Formation of Photo Oxidants (Summer Smog) 246 4.5.2.5 Acidification 254 4.5.2.6 Eutrophication 261 4.5.3 Toxicity-Related Impact Categories 268 4.5.3.1 Introduction 268 4.5.3.2 Human Toxicity 269 4.5.3.3 Ecotoxicity 279 4.5.3.4 Concluding Remark on the Toxicity Categories 285 4.5.4 Nuisances by Chemical and Physical Emissions 286 4.5.4.1 Introduction 286 4.5.4.2 Smell 286 4.5.4.3 Noise 287 4.5.5 Accidents and Radioactivity 289 4.5.5.1 Casualties 289 4.5.5.2 Radioactivity 290 4.6 Illustration of the Phase Impact Assessment by Practical Example 291 4.6.1 Selection of Impact Categories – Indicators and Characterisation Factors 293 4.6.1.1 (Greenhouse) Global Warming Potential 294 4.6.1.2 Photo-Oxidant Formation (Photo Smog or Summer Smog Potential) 295 4.6.1.3 Eutrophication Potential 296 4.6.1.4 Acidification Potential 297 4.6.1.5 Resource Demand 298 4.6.2 Classification 300 4.6.3 Characterisation 300 4.6.4 Normalisation 305 4.6.5 Grouping 310 4.6.6 Weighting 311 References 311 5 Life Cycle Interpretation, Reporting and Critical Review 329 5.1 Development and Rank of the Interpretation Phase 329 5.2 The Phase Interpretation According to ISO 331 5.2.1 Interpretation in ISO 14040 331 5.2.2 Interpretation in ISO 14044 331 5.2.3 Identification of Significant Issues 332 5.2.4 Evaluation 333 5.3 Techniques for Result Analysis 334 5.3.1 Scientific Background 334 5.3.2 Mathematical Methods 335 5.3.3 Non-numerical Methods 338 5.4 Reporting 338 5.5 Critical Review 340 5.5.1 Outlook 342 5.6 Illustration of the Component Interpretation Using an Example of Practice 343 5.6.1 Comparison Based on Impact Indicator Results 343 5.6.2 Comparison Based on Normalisation Results 344 5.6.3 Sectoral Analysis 344 5.6.4 Completeness, Consistency and Data Quality 346 5.6.5 Significance of Differences 347 5.6.6 Sensitivity Analyses 348 5.6.7 Restrictions 350 5.6.8 Conclusions and Recommendations 351 5.6.9 Critical Review 351 References 352 6 From LCA to Sustainability Assessment 357 6.1 Sustainability 357 6.2 The Three Dimensions of Sustainability 358 6.3 State of the Art of Methods 361 6.3.1 Life Cycle Assessment – LCA 361 6.3.2 Life Cycle Costing – LCC 364 6.3.3 Product-Related Social Life Cycle Assessment – SLCA 366 6.4 One Life Cycle Assessment or Three? 368 6.4.1 Option 1 368 6.4.2 Option 2 369 6.5 Conclusions 370 References 371 Appendix A Solution of Exercises 375 Appendix B Standard Report Sheet of Electricity Mix Germany (UBA 2000, Materials p. 179ff) Historic example, only for illustrative purposes 381 Acronyms/Abbreviations 385 Index 391

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Book Synopsis“We are buried beneath mountains of fast-accumulating data. In such circumstances, this book, rather than adding to the data load, aims to offer real understanding.” —James LovelockHuman beings are extraordinary creatures. Intelligent, agile, and curious, we have adapted and invented our way to becoming the most important species on the planet. So great is the extent of our influence, that many speak of a new geological era, the Anthropocene, an age defined by human-induced change to the blue and green globe we call home.Our lofty status comes with responsibility as much as possibility: How should we approach our present and future? What knowledge should we carry with us? Conceived by James Lovelock (1919–2022), inventor of the Gaia theory, this illustrated essay collection brings together an all-star lineup of thinkers and scientists to offer essential understanding about who we are, how we live, and where we might be going.Much as the Gaia theory considers our Earth as an integrated whole of living systems, The Earth and I encourages holistic understanding. Across 12 chapters, we take in both the intricate details and immense structures of our species and our planet, from our ever-expanding universe to our minuscule but mighty cells. We see stellar explosions and the layers of life beneath our feet, delve into the neuroscience of decision-making, get to grips with our climate, and contemplate our increasing intimacy with technology.The book’s world-class contributors include quantum physicist Lisa Randall, Astronomer Royal Martin Rees, Pulitzer Prize–winning biologist Edward O. Wilson, and Nobel Prize–winning neuroscientist Eric Kandel. With lively illustrations from British artist Jack Hudson, the result is an inspiration for curious minds young and old, and a trusted tool kit for an informed and enlightened future.Trade Review“…a beautiful, handy explainer on the evolution of the planet.” * Wired.com *

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Book SynopsisDiscover the whole fascinating world of deserts in an opulent illustrated book! Immerse yourself in breathtaking landscapes and untouched nature on all five continents. From the icy expanses of the Arctic and Antarctic to the barren wastelands of Greenland and Iceland, the endless steppes of Central Asia and America and the endless deserts of Arabia and Africa.Highlights such as the majestic Gobi Desert, the mystical Sahara, the Namib Desert, the picturesque Kalahari or the Colorado Desert are of course not missing. The pictures take you into a world of endless dune landscapes, barren and bizarre stone deserts or salt lakes as if from another planet. But there are also oases to discover that seem like a mirage and abandoned settlements that bear witness to the futile human efforts to gain a foothold here. This illustrated book is more than just a collection of photographs - it is a captivating portrait of our planet and poetically tells of the wonder of life - and its fragility.Text in English, German, and French.

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