Sustainability Science

by Bert J. M. de Vries

Overview

The fully updated second edition of this innovative textbook provides a system analysis approach to sustainability for advanced undergraduate and graduate students. To an extent unparalleled in other textbooks, the latest scientific data and insights are integrated into a broad and deep transdisciplinary framework. Readers are encouraged to explore and engage with sustainability issues through the lenses of a cultural and methodological pluralism which promotes dialogue and alliances in the search for a (more) sustainable future. Ideal for students and their teachers in sustainable development, environmental science and policy, ecology, conservation, natural resources and geopolitics, the book will also appeal to interested citizens, activists, and policymakers, exposing them to the variety of perspectives on sustainability issues. Review questions and exercises provide the opportunity for consolidation and reflection. Online resources include appendices with more advanced mathematical material, model answers, and a wealth of recommended additional sources.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781009300193
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	12/07/2023
Edition description:	2nd ed.
Pages:	663
Product dimensions:	7.24(w) x 10.24(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Bert J. M. de Vries is co-founder of the Institute for Energy and Environment (IVEM) at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, where he received his Ph.D. on sustainable resource use. Since 1990, he has been a senior scientist at the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL, formerly MNP and RIVM). He has been actively involved in Integrated Assessment (IA) and other modelling and scenario construction and shared in the Nobel Prize awarded to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2007. From 2003 to 2013, he has been Professor of Global Change and Energy at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. His research expertise and publications are in resource and energy analysis, modelling and policy; climate and global change modelling and complex systems modelling; philosophy and ethics of sustainable development in a worldview framework; and modelling the financial system. He has co-edited several books, including Perspectives on Global Change: The TARGETS Approach (Cambridge University Press, 1997).

Table of Contents

Foreword; Preface; List of acronyms and abbreviations; List of units; Part I. Setting the Stage: 1. Sustainable development: a personal and societal aspiration; 2. Sustainable science: context and content; Part II. The State We're In and How We Got There: 3. Early states and civilisations; 4. Industrialisation: the great acceleration; 5. Modernity: the idea of progress; Part III. Engagement through Worldviews: 6. The worldview framework; 7. Worldviews: values, beliefs, ethics; Part IV. Understanding Sustainable Development: 8. Understanding, modelling, managing complexity; 9. Modelling sustainable development; Part V. Sustainability Themes: 10. Concepts, methods and indicators; 11. Population: humans and their habitat; 12. Pillars of development: health, education and mobility; 13. Nature: the life-support system; 14. Renewable resources: fisheries and forests; 15. Land and agro-food systems; 16. Water: the precious resource; 17. Energy: to a carbon-free supply; 18. Materials: towards a circular economy; 19. The economy; Part VI. Closure: 20. Stories about the future; Glossary; References; Index.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“Achieving some sort of sustainability will be THE focus of global societies in the 21st century. To be successful, our leaders will need a perspective of centuries, the full breadth of scientific insights, system thinking skills, great cultural sensitivity, and an awareness of spiritual values. All of these are offered in this wonderful, unique text, which will be useful for decades.” - Dennis Meadows, co-author of The Limits to Growth

“This textbook is one of the first truly all-encompassing introductions to sustainability science. It is methodical, clearly written and well-illustrated, truly a pleasure to handle and to read. It sets a standard for the discipline and solidly educates the generation of students that will most directly have to deal with the challenges of creating a sustainable Earth system.” - Sander van der Leeuw, Dean, School of Sustainability, Arizona State University

“In this important new book Bert de Vries has adopted a systems approach to examining all the issues that collectively amount to the determinants of sustainability. It is an excellent, comprehensive and up-to-date text dealing with not only the underlying biophysical science but also human behaviour. His use of interesting examples throughout makes it both instructive and enjoyable to read. I highly recommended it.” - Brian Walker, CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Australia

“Bert de Vries Sustainability Science is particularly welcome as it breaks ground in a new field, which so far lacks a proper systematic treatment. No wonder! The challenge is overwhelming: the book covers a series of disciplines and fields - geography, social and economic sciences, physics, chemistry, and biology - using a systems description and system dynamics as the main tool. De Vries not only succeeds in this overwhelming task but spices up the text with multiple excursions into history, philosophy, literature, not to forget the key issue of ethics. Justice and how we would like a future world to look like is always present. Bert’s book is impressive, rich and inspiring.” - Lars Rydén, Centre for Sustainable Development, Uppsala University

Editorial Reviews

Achieving some sort of sustainability will be THE focus of global societies in the 21st century. To be successful, our leaders will need a perspective of centuries, the full breadth of scientific insights, system thinking skills, great cultural sensitivity, and an awareness of spiritual values. All of these are offered in this wonderful, unique text, which will be useful for decades.” - Dennis Meadows, co-author of The Limits to Growth

“This textbook is one of the first truly all-encompassing introductions to sustainability science. It is methodical, clearly written and well-illustrated, truly a pleasure to handle and to read. It sets a standard for the discipline and solidly educates the generation of students that will most directly have to deal with the challenges of creating a sustainable Earth system.” - Sander van der Leeuw, Dean, School of Sustainability, Arizona State University

“In this important new book Bert de Vries has adopted a systems approach to examining all the issues that collectively amount to the determinants of sustainability. It is an excellent, comprehensive and up-to-date text dealing with not only the underlying biophysical science but also human behaviour. His use of interesting examples throughout makes it both instructive and enjoyable to read. I highly recommended it.” - Brian Walker, CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Australia

“Bert de Vries Sustainability Science is particularly welcome as it breaks ground in a new field, which so far lacks a proper systematic treatment. No wonder! The challenge is overwhelming: the book covers a series of disciplines and fields - geography, social and economic sciences, physics, chemistry, and biology - using a systems description and system dynamics as the main tool. De Vries not only succeeds in this overwhelming task but spices up the text with multiple excursions into history, philosophy, literature, not to forget the key issue of ethics. Justice and how we would like a future world to look like is always present. Bert’s book is impressive, rich and inspiring.” - Lars Rydén, Centre for Sustainable Development, Uppsala University

From the Publisher