Contemporary and Emerging Global Environmental Challenges

Preface
Acknowledgments

CHAPTER 1 How to Build a Sustainable Planet
Learning Outcomes
Key Concepts
1.1 Environmental Issues and the History of the Earth
1.2 The Origin of the Physical Universe
1.2.1 The Big Bang
1.2.2 Synthesis of Materials in Stars
1.2.3 Formation of Planets
1.2.4 The Genesis and Evolution of the Earth
1.3 The Origin and Evolution of Life
1.3.1 The Timeline
1.3.2 The Building Materials for Life
1.3.3 The Cell
1.3.4 The Origin of Life on Earth
1.3.5 DNA and the Tree of Life
1.4 The Origin and Dominance of Humankind
1.4.1 The Origin of Humankind
1.4.2 Human Evolution and Dominance
1.4.3 Life Beyond Earth
Further Reading
Web Resources
Questions and Exercises

CHAPTER 2 Global Biogeochemical Cycles
Learning Outcomes
Key Concepts
2.1 The Concept of Global Biogeochemical Cycle
2.2 Plate Tectonics and Rock Cycles
2.2.1 Plate Tectonics
2.2.2 The Rock Cycle
2.3 The Water Cycle
2.3.1 The Erosional Power of Water
2.3.2 The Water Cycle
2.4 Biogeochemical Cycles of Elements
2.4.1 The Carbon Cycle
2.4.2 The Nitrogen Cycle
2.4.3 Biogeochemical Cycles of Other Elements
2.5 Biogeochemical Cycles and Environmental Challenges
Further Reading
Web Resources
Questions and Exercises

CHAPTER 3 Environmental Regulations
Learning Outcomes
Key Concepts
3.1 Need for Environmental Regulations
3.1.1 Tragedy of the Commons
3.1.2 The History of Environmental Regulations
3.1.3 Implementation of Environmental Regulations in the United States in Europe
3.2 Environmental Policy-Making Process
3.2.1 Overview
3.2.2 Policy Making Process
3.2.3 The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
3.2.4 The Policy Cycle
3.3 Environmental Politics and Policy
3.3.1 Environmental Politics
3.3.2 Interest Groups in Environmental Politics and Policy
3.3.3 Environmental Groups and Their Roles in Environmental Politics and Policy
3.3.4 Litigation, Regulation, Legislation, and Negotiation in Environmental Politics
3.4 Environmental Regulations
3.4.1 Environmental Regulation in the United States
3.4.2 Environmental Regulation in the European Union
3.4.3 Environmental Regulation in China and other Developing Countries
3.5 Environmental Justice
Further Reading
Web Resources
Questions and Exercises

CHAPTER 4 Air Pollution and Greenhouse Gases
Learning Outcomes
Key Concepts
4.1 The Earth’s Atmosphere
4.1.1 Overview and History
4.1.2 Structure of the Earth’s Atmosphere
4.2 Air Pollution
4.2.1 Overview
4.2.2 Sources of Air Pollution
4.2.3 Main Air Pollutants
4.3 Air Quality Issues and Regulations
4.3.1 Air Pollution Regulations in the United States
4.3.2 Air Pollution Regulations in China
4.3.3 Air Quality Issues and Regulations in Europe and Beyond
4.4 Engineering Measures for Air Pollution Control
4.4.1 Overview
4.4.2 Vehicle Emission Control
4.4.3 Control of Other Air Pollutants
4.5 Greenhouse Effect and Management
4.5.1 Greenhouse Effect
4.5.2 Other Greenhouse Gases
4.5.3 Geoengineering Options for Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide
4.6 Other Air Quality Issues
4.6.1 Indoor Air Pollution
4.6.2 Ozone Depletion
4.6.3 Global Deoxygenation
4.6.4 Long-Range and Global Transport of Air Pollutants
Further Reading
Web Resources
Questions and Exercises

CHAPTER 5 Water Pollution
Learning Outcomes
Key Concepts
5.1 Water Quality Regulations
5.1.1 The Clean Water Act
5.1.2 The Water Framework Directive in the European Union
5.1.3 Water Quality Regulations in China and India
5.2 Common Causes of Water Pollution
5.2.1 Eutrophication
5.2.2 Pathogen Contamination
5.2.3 Toxic Contaminants
5.2.4 Trash
5.2.5 Sediment
5.3 Stormwater Issues
5.3.1 Overview
5.3.2 Urbanization and Stormwater Flow and Quality
5.3.3 Stormwater Management and Low Impact Development
5.4 Water Treatment and Reuse
5.4.1 Background and History of Water Treatment
5.4.2 Overview of Water Treatment Process
5.4.3 Water Recycling and Biosolid Management
5.5 Emerging Water Quality Issues
5.5.1 Overview
5.5.2 Microplastics
5.5.3 Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
5.5.4 Other Contaminants of Emerging Concern
5.5.5 Long-Range Transport of Pollutants
5.6 Water Quality Monitoring
Further Reading
Web Resources
Questions and Exercises

CHAPTER 6 Water Resources
Learning Outcomes
Key Concepts
6.1 Overview
6.2 Water Quality and Water Resources
6.2.1 Nexus Between Water Quality and Water Resources
6.2.2 Novel Potable Water Production Technologies
6.3 Water Shortage and Drought
6.3.1 Global Water Shortages
6.3.2 Water Security and Resilience
6.3.3 Water Resource and Sustainability
6.4 Water Supply Infrastructure and Its Environmental Impacts
6.4.1 History of Water Supply Infrastructure
6.4.2 Dams around the World
6.4.3 Ecological and other Impacts of Dams
6.5 Water Reuse and Recycling
6.5.1 Overview of Water Reuse
6.5.2 Types of Potable Water Reuse: Direct and Indirect
6.6 Desalination
6.6.1 Overview of Desalination
6.6.2 Desalination Process and Potential Impacts
6.7 Water Balance and Integrated Water Management
6.7.1 Overview of Water Balance
6.7.2 Case Study: Water Balance for North Orange County, California, USA
6.8 Water Footprint
6.8.1 The Concept of Water Footprint
6.8.2 Water Footprint of Common Items
6.8.3 Water Footprint and Sustainability
Further Reading
Web Resources 1
Questions and Exercises 1

CHAPTER 7 Groundwater and Soil Contamination
Learning Outcomes
Key Concepts
7.1 Groundwater Hydrology
7.1.1 Groundwater and Aquifer
7.1.2 Groundwater Resources
7.2 Groundwater and Soil Contamination
7.2.1 Groundwater and Drinking Water
7.2.2 Soil and Groundwater Contaminants
7.2.3 Human Health Risk Assessment
7.3 Groundwater and Soil Remediation
7.3.1 Underground Storage Tanks
7.3.2 Soil Investigation
7.3.3 Groundwater Investigation and Conceptual Site Model
7.3.4 Soil and Groundwater Remediation
Further Reading
Web Resources
Questions and Exercises

CHAPTER 8 Ecology and Biodiversity
Learning Outcomes
Key Concepts
8.1 Principles of Ecology
8.1.1 Concepts and Principles
8.1.2 Population Ecology
8.1.3 Ecosystem Health
8.2 Biodiversity
8.2.1 The Significance of Biodiversity
8.2.2 The Sixth Mass Extinction
8.3 Humans and the Ecosystem
8.3.1 Humans as Part of the Global Ecosystem
8.3.2 Ecosystem Services
8.3.3 Human Impact on Ecosystems
8.3.4 The Ecological Impact of Pollution
8.3.5 The Ecological Impacts of Habitat Loss
8.3.6 Ecological Impact of Hunting and Fishing
8.4 Genetically Modified Organisms
8.4.1 The Definition of GMOs
8.4.2 Benefits and Risks
8.5 Other Ecological Challenges
8.5.1 Endangered Species
8.5.2 Invasive Species
8.5.3 Deep Ecology: A Scientific Perspective
Further Reading
Web Resources
Questions and Exercises

CHAPTER 9 Solid Waste
Learning Outcomes
Key Concepts
9.1 Solid Waste Classification and Generation Rate
9.1.1 Overview
9.1.2 Solid Waste Generation in the United States
9.1.3 Solid Waste Generation around the World
9.2 Landfill
9.2.1 Overview and Waste Collection
9.2.2 Landfill Operation
9.2.3 Landfill Stormwater Management
9.2.4 Landfill Trash Management
9.2.5 Landfill Leachate Management
9.3 Solid Waste Recycling and Energy Recovery
9.3.1 Solid Waste Recycling
9.3.2 Waste to Energy
9.4 Hazardous Waste
9.4.1 Definition
9.4.2 Hazardous Waste Management
9.5 Plastics and Trash Pollution
9.5.1 Overview
9.5.2 Basel Convention
9.5.3 OECD Convention
Further Reading
Web Resources
Questions and Exercises

CHAPTER 10 Energy and Sustainability
Learning Outcomes
Key Concepts
10.1 Global Energy Consumption and Trends
10.1.1 Energy Sources
10.1.2 Trends in Global Energy Consumption
10.2 Conventional Energy
10.2.1 Overview of Conventional Energy
10.2.2 Crude Oil
10.2.3 Coal
10.2.4 Natural Gas
10.3 Renewable Energy
10.3.1 Overview of Renewable Energy
10.3.2 Solar Energy
10.3.3 Wind Energy
10.3.4 Other Renewable Energy Sources
10.4 Nuclear Power
10.4.1 Overview
10.4.2 Advantages of Nuclear Power
10.4.3 Challenges of Nuclear Power
10.5 Energy and Sustainability
Further Reading
Web Resources
Questions and Exercises

CHAPTER 11 Climate Change, Sea Level Rise, and Ocean Acidification
Learning Outcomes
Key Concepts
11.1 Climate Change
11.1.1 Greta
11.1.2 Global Climate System
11.1.3 Earth’s Energy Budget
11.1.4 Greenhouse Gases and Global Warming
11.1.5 Climate Variability and ENSO
11.2 Sea Level Rise
11.2.1 The Concept
11.2.2 Causes of Sea Level Rise
11.2.3 Sea Level Rise in Different Scenarios
11.3 Ocean Acidification
11.3.1 What is Ocean Acidification?
11.3.2 The Mechanism of Ocean Acidification
11.3.3 The Impact of Ocean Acidification
11.4 Mitigation Measures
11.4.1 The Global Climate Feedback Loop
11.4.2 The Carbon Problem
11.4.3 Potential Mitigation Measures
Further Reading
Web Resources
Questions and Exercises

CHAPTER 12 Environment, Human Development, and Sustainability
Learning Outcomes
Key Concepts
12.1 The Definition and Concept of Sustainability
12.2 Environmental Issues through Economic Lenses
12.2.1 The Environmental Industry
12.2.2 Environmental Economics
12.2.3 Environmental Regulation and Economics
12.3 Life Cycle Environmental Impacts and Costs
12.3.1 Life Cycle Cost
12.3.2 Ecological Footprint
12.3.3 Carbon Footprint
12.3.4 Life Cycle Environmental Cost
12.4 Sustainability Issues
12.4.1 Environmental Mitigation
12.4.2 Nature’s Intrinsic Value
12.4.3 Deep Ecology and Sustainability
12.4.4 Resource Depletion
12.5 Global Sustainable Development
12.5.1 Global Sustainable Development Goals
12.5.2 The Earthrise
Further Reading
Web Resources

Questions and Exercises
Bibliography
Knowledge Box Entries
List of Acronyms