Defending the World: The Politics and Diplomacy of the Environment - Hardcover

Since Earth Day's 20th anniversary last year, countless books have been published celebrating heightened American awareness of the environment, but few have dealt with the activities of other industrialized nations. Adamson, a British journalist whose environmentalist sympathies are obvious, fills this void by reviewing current eco-political developments in the international arena. Though there is little in the way of rigorous analyses, Adamson does offer, in a clear and concise way, a chronological synopsis of every major international meeting concerned with the environment. Focusing on the harm done to "global commons" (e.g., the oceans and Antarctica) and relating the consequences of nuclear power and climatic change, the author argues that future international relations will be dramatically altered as the global environmental crisis demands more and more attention. There is not much new here for the committed environmentalist, but this is a worthwhile book for the casually informed layperson.
- Thomas J. Baldino, Juniata Coll., Huntingdon, Pa.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.