The human ecology of global change: Unresolved questions

Abstract

The need to view human activity as an integral component of the geospherebiosphere system has been emphasized since the earliest writings on global environmental change. In recent years, however, the long-term, large-scale interactions between human activities and the world's environment have become the focus of increasing practical and scholarly attention. Several national and international programs are beginning to plan systematic research strategies for better understanding those interactions. This paper attempts to review and summarize the major conclusions of these early planning efforts through a discussion of the major unresolved questions relating to the human ecology of global change.The challenge of defining a research program on the interactions among the human, ecological, and physical systems involved in global environmental change has been explored over the past several years by a growing number of scholars and institutions. This paper seeks to review and summarize their findings, with a view towards identifying the questions that merit central attention in studies of the human ecology of global change. In attempting to cover this broad area, I focus on the interactions of social and environmental systems -in particular the human sources, consequences, and management of global change. Related and equally important questions that arise within the social or environmental sciences per se, or primarily in connection with specific policy decisions, I leave for others to explore.

Attitudes of Sultan Qaboos University Students towards Some Environmental Problems and their Willingness to Take Action to Reduce them

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Lourdes Arizpe

“…This fundamental stratum of cultural values is the basis of assessments of options and choices made (Clark 1989). Thus, the perception of reciprocity, gain or loss is also incorporated into the model being used.…”

The Evolution of the Sustainable DeveIopment Concept: A Perspective from Australia

“…Furthermore, the very signs and symbols of material progress are breaking up both the traditional ways of life and resource use of contemporary aboriginal societies and, paradoxically, causing increasing strains on the social, economic and environmental fabric of the wealthy industrialised nations. Clearly, recognition that the global market system is putting major strains on the socio-economic and ecological systems of the planet has resulted in calls for sustainable forms of development (Clark and Munn, 1986;Clark, 1989). Sustainable development can be defined as meeting the basic needs of all and extending to all the opportunity to satisfy their aspirations for a better life without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (WCED, 1990).…”