Book Description: Talking about global environmental issues need
not be an exercise in gloom, doom, and individual sacrificeÂ—as
Michael Carolan ably demonstrates in this introduction to
environmental sociology.Society and the Environment examines
todayâ€™s environmental controversies within a socio-
organizational context. After outlining the contours of
Â“pragmatic environmentalism,â€ť Carolan explores the material
world: air, water, biodiversity, and trash. He considers the
pressures that exist where ecology and society collide, such as
population growth and its associated increased demands for food
and energy. Finally, he drills into the social/structural
dynamicsÂ—including political economy and the international
legal systemÂ—that create ongoing momentum for environmental
ills.This interdisciplinary text features a three-part structure
in each chapter that covers Â“fast factsâ€ť about the issue at
hand, examines its wide-ranging implications, and offers
pragmatic consideration of possible real-world solu