Some major developments witnessed during the 20th century have greatly impacted human beings as well as the planet Earth—the only known planet to support life. Incalculable harm is being caused to natural habitats, eco-systems and environment by unprecedented growth in population resulting in great rise in consumption; rapid increase in urbanization and industrialisation; dramatic changes in global economic environment; and reckless use of mineral and forest resources, etc. It is ironical that some of the achievements of the 20th century themselves pose the challenges for the present 21st century. As of 2008, the world population has reached 6.66 billion. According to data from the CIA’s World Fact Book (2007), world human population increase by 211,090 people every day. With 6.66 billion people inhabiting this earth, and the global economy over the next 25 years could expand from $35 trillion in 2005 to $72 trillion in 2030 (World Bank). Such high pace of human and economic activity is putting pressure on global life support systems. There is a paramount need to create widespread consciousness of the environment. It must permeate all ages and all sections of society. The environmental problems call for more than scientific and technological solutions. They require the re-establishment of environmental ethics and values practiced in traditional societies. The book contains articles by erudite scholars and environmentalists who have deeply analysed various issues related to environmental degradation and made valuable suggestions to deal with pertinent problems. They have laid emphasis on sustainable development which has become the catchword in the domain of intellectual activism and accentuates the notion that economic growth should proceed only in so far as natural resources are recycled rather than depleted, biodiversity is maintained, and clean air, potable water and fertile lands are protected. The book will be highly beneficial for students, researchers in the field of environment, policymakers, executives and industrialists. It will create awareness among the readers about the need to adopt sustainable practices, protect natural habitats and preserve biodiversity.

Table of Contents:
1. Sustainable Development: Environmentalism Versus Appropriate Technology—Deba Prashad Chatterjee 2. Ecological Bases of Indian Traditions: Search for an Indigenous Vision—Binay Kumar Pattnaik 3. The Earth Charter and Global Environmental Governance—Klaus Bosselmann 4. Impact of Industrial Effluents on Freshwater Bodies: A Review—R.R. Khapekar, P.R. Chaudhary and P.B. Nandkar 5. The Weekend Effect: The Science Suggests that we may be Embarking on an Expensive Policy which will Harm the Environment—Donald H. Stedman 6. The Precautionary Principle in Sustainable Development and Environmental Health—Jaymie R. Meliker and J. Austin Kerr 7. Gender and Participation in a Water Supply and Sanitation Project: Mekong Delta, Vietnam—Barbara Earth and Tran Tuan Anh 8. Achieving Sustainability without Undermining Livelihoods: Rebuilding a more Socially-Sensitive Sustainable Water Framework—Kwok Fu Sam Wong 9. Integrating GIS and Participatory Approaches to Environmental Degradation Assessment in a Community in Northern Ghana—Isaac Agyemang Contributors