Environmental Geography: People and the Environment

This concise work on our changing planet walks readers through people's interactions with the environment via case studies and lists of key concepts. The first section looks at the depressing, nightmarish effects of humans on the planet: giant garbage patches floating in the world's oceans, deforestation, lost species, and hazardous waste. Next, readers learn about the influence of the environment on humankind. Low-lying areas of land are disappearing as sea levels rise, floods and earthquakes cause devastation, and wildfires destroy natural spaces as a once-hospitable planet turns hostile. Yet the final chapter offers hope, exploring what individuals and governments can do or are currently doing to prevent environmental degradation and save lives: creating disaster plans, passing environmentally friendly laws, and coming up with alternative transportation.