Regional Studies in Environmental Science, General & Miscellaneous Social Policies, Natural Literature & History, Environmental Conservation & Protection - General & Miscellaneous, Human Ecology, Sustainable Development

Social Policy and the Environment

Name: Social Policy and the Environment
Author: Meg Huby
ISBN: 9780335198290

by Meg Huby

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Overview

Most people today are aware of the pressing need to deal with both social and environmental problems at local and global levels. However, the intimate links between them are not always recognized. This accessible text demonstrates that, since people's lives are shaped by the environments in which they live, environmental issues have a valid place on the social policy agenda. It focuses on the water, food, housing, domestic energy, transport and leisure needs of modern societies, exploring the ways in which different groups of people meet these needs. The author argues that the use of environmental resources which this entails results in changes that can alter the ability of other groups of people to ensure their present and future well-being. Inequity between social groups, stemming from unequal distribution of resources and influenced by nationality, age, gender and disability, are often perpetuated by the effects of human activities on the environment. The central themes of need and equity, risk and uncertainty, responsibility and economic growth that run throughout this book are crucial to the development of ideas about the sustainability of social and environmental change.

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Booknews

Broadening the conventionally limited sphere of social policy to encompass the environment as well as human welfare, Huby (U. of York) presents debates aimed at non-science major undergraduates over the social costs, responsibility for, and prevention of environmental damage. From a holistic viewpoint blurring the divide between the natural and social sciences, she frames the discussion on equitable policies for sustainable development with Spiker's concept of critical social policy as entailing structured inequalities. Includes a glossary of scientific and technical terms. Distributed in the US by Taylor & Francis. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.