Enlightened Environmentalism

A continuous search for comforts, conveniences, and novel objects has brought humanity to a state where a continuation of this process endangers the welfare, perhaps even survival of humanity. The present lifestyle of profligate consumption, aided by developments in science and technology, imposes a heavy burden on the planetary resources and harms the ecosystem that supports us. Considering Earth to be a limitless source of useful materials and an infinite sink of waste products is endangering our future by depleting natural resources and degrading the environment. Many such developments have already begun to adversely affect the ecosystem and are multiplying rapidly. The book discusses these issues in a comprehensive manner, including climate change and its deleterious consequences, degradation and pollution of land, air, and seas, changing weather patterns, rising sea levels, forest fires, expanding deserts, and shortage of freshwater in many parts of the world. A lack of concern for sustainability while searching for immediate benefits is degrading the ecosystem. We may pass on the planet to the younger generations with more pollution, dangerous weather patterns, and fewer endowments that may seriously limit their lives. Each chapter of the book discusses one aspect of the existential problems facing humanity and ends with a section entitled 'The Way Forward' that makes suggestions for actions to be taken expeditiously to stop the progression of dangerous events.