Building a Foundation for Sound Environmental Decisions

Building a Foundation for Sound Environmental Decisions
ISBN-10
0309174775
ISBN-13
9780309174770
Category
Political Science
Pages
103
Language
English
Published
1997-08-01
Publisher
National Academies Press
Authors
National Research Council, Division on Earth and Life Studies, Commission on Geosciences

Description

Over the past decades, environmental problems have attracted enormous attention and public concern. Many actions have been taken by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and others to protect human health and ecosystems from particular threats. Despite some successes, many problems remain unsolved and new ones are emerging. Increasing population and related pressures, combined with a realization of the interconnectedness and complexity of environmental systems, present new challenges to policymakers and regulators. Scientific research has played, and will continue to play, an essential part in solving environmental problems. Decisions based on incorrect or incomplete understanding of environmental systems will not achieve the greatest reduction of risk at the lowest cost. This volume describes a framework for acquiring the knowledge needed both to solve current recognized problems and to be prepared for the kinds of problems likely to emerge in the future. Many case examples are included to illustrate why some environmental control strategies have succeeded where others have fallen short and how we can do better in the future.

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