Beyond sustainability : a thriving environment
(Book)

Includes bibliographical references and index.

""[In Beyond Sustainability: A Thriving Environment, Second Edition, Delaney and Madigan approach the study of the environment from two academic disciplines-sociology and philosophy. Both sociologists and philosophers have concerns about our environment's ability to not only sustain itself, but also reach a point where it can actually thrive. It is the authors' contention that promoting sustainability is not nearly good enough as it is thrivability that we should seek for the sake of protecting the environment, and in turn, all living things. In this, the second edition of Beyond Sustainability , the authors have made a drastic number of updates both in terms of more recent data and examples, and also with the introduction of new topics and concepts, all the while emphasizing more clearly the need to lessen our dependency on fossil fuels in order to halt the very significant and negative impact humans have inflicted upon the environment. In many ways, then, this is like a new book. Among the many topics discussed are: sustainability, thrivability, and environmentalism; mass extinctions; a limited "carrying capacity;" our reliance on fossil fuels; climate change with an emphasis on carbon dioxide and global warming; climate change and the ozone and the greenhouse effect; the need to increase our use of renewable forms of energy; overpopulation; the Five Horrorists; the extraction of fossil fuels; the creation and mass use and abuse of plastics; food waste; deforestation; harmful agricultural practices; marine debris; electronic waste (e-waste); medical waste; the role of nature (e.g., volcanic eruptions, lightning strikes, wildfires, storms, invasive species, and outer-worldly forces); the need to go green; environmental happiness; and, the role of education in saving the environment. It should also be noted that this new edition of Beyond Sustainability was written during the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic and as such there are many references to this disease, primarily in direct relationship to the environment.]"-Provided by publisher"--,Provided by publisher.

"This book approaches environmentalism via two academic disciplines, sociology and philosophy. Both have concerns about the environment's ability not only to sustain itself but to thrive. The authors argue that rather than simple sustainability, we must promote thrivability for the sake of protecting the environment and all living things. In this greatly expanded second edition, the authors have updated data and examples, introduced new topics and concepts, and emphasized the need to lessen our dependence on fossil fuels. Numerous topics are explored, from the differences between sustainability and thrivability, and the overuse of plastic, to mass extinction, the role of natural disasters and more. The COVID-19 pandemic offers an added perspective on the relationship between disease and the environment"--,Provided by publisher.