As the human population continues to grow and places increasing demands on the planet we inhabit we face the biggest challenge of our time: how can we exploit the natural resources available to us - be it for water, food, or energy - in a way that preserves the environment, and doesn't compromise its long-term future - and that of our species.

Environment, Development and Sustainability represents an examination of environment, development and sustainability as three integrated issues that form the main ongoing challenge of this century.

Looking beyond developing countries, this book presents examples from around the globe, reflecting the way that development is not a finished state: North America, the EU countries and Australasia continue to develop (and conversely have pockets of awful deprivation), and environment, development and sustainability are as much intertwined in these regions as elsewhere in the world.

With contributions from technologists, engineers, natural scientists and social scientists Environment, Development and Sustainability presents multiple perspectives on the issue of sustainable development. It celebrates the diversity of its contributors and uses positively this diversity as a resource for a more holistic approach to environment, development and sustainability.

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About the Author:
Gordon Wilson is a Senior Lecturer in Technology and Development at the Open University, where he is Director of the inter-faculty Environment, Development and International Studies Programme. His research interests are in collective knowledge construction and the role of scientists, technologists, and other professional agents in development practice. He has undertaken research in Zimbabwe, Uganda, and Algeria. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Pamela Furniss is a Senior Lecturer in Environmental Systems at the Open University. She has many years experience of writing teaching materials for the university on a wide range of environmental subjects, principally in the areas of water resource management. She was Course Team Chair for the production of Environmental decision making: a systems approach (T863).
Richard Kimbowa works for Uganda Coalition for Sustainable Development (UCSD), a local membership advocacy NGO. He is an alumnus of the OU's M.Sc Development Mangement Programme (2003-2006). He is professionally interested in civil society as mechanisms and institutions to secure sustainable development.