This book is an extensive treatment of environmental issues with a focus on the 15 countries in the Baltic Sea region. The book covers the effects of environmental impacts on landscape, biodiversity, water, atmosphere, soil, ecosystems, and people. Also examined is how society deals with environmental impacts be engineering, economic and legal means as well as international cooperation. Considerable space is given to aspects of environmental management as a systematic way for society to cope with environmental problems. There is an abundance of case studies, mostly from the region, and comparisons are made between the situation in Northern Europe and the rest of the world. There is also concrete information about European Union directives as well as UN conventions that deal with the environment.
Environmental science is defined as the interface between society and nature. The text is thus highly interdisciplinary, and about half the book is allocated to natural sciences and half to social sciences. Ethics, behaviour, lifestyle, and education issues are included.
The book was made possible by the cooperative effort of about 80 researchers and teachers from 12 countries, and many disciplines. The text has been carefully edited to make it consistent. There are about 600 illustrations, including unique photos, maps, and drawings. The Baltic University Programme Environmental Science Website will contain updates and new contributions to make Environmental Science a living educational material for the entire Baltic Sea region
Environmental Science: Understanding, Protecting and Managing the Environment in the Baltic Sea Region
by: Lars Rydén, Pawel Migula and Magnus Andersson
Baltic University Press, 2003.
824p.
ISBN 91-970017-0-8
