Society & The Environment

This course will introduce you to the key issues faced by society which affect the natural environment. It will focus on the nature, consequences, causes of, and possible solutions to the major environmental problems faced by society. The subject will require some understanding of natural environmental processes.

Environmental issues arise from a growing awareness of problems caused by the interaction of society (at all spatial scales) and the natural world. They are increasingly important to policy makers, many types of businesses, health managers and food producers. Environmental concerns now influence, and in some cases cause, international agreements and laws, national environmental regulations and local government actions. Some environmental issues are considered to be the most important international issues to face the UN and world leaders.

In June 1992, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), sometimes known as the ‘Rio Summit’, agreed declarations and conventions that included biodiversity, climate change, forests, oceans and toxins, linked to an Earth Charter

Further agreements were made in Kyoto in 1998, and debates around the policy implementation following the summits continue. Some countries have not kept to the agreements signed, but the effort involved and high profile of the environmental issues discussed are a sign of the importance of the interaction between society and the environment. Whatever degree programme you are following, therefore, consideration of environmental issues is important. In addition, studying the environmental issues facing the world can change your perspective, and possibly your way of life. Hopefully, it will be an enjoyable and rewarding study.