A positive feedback loop makes an existing process speed up while a negative feedback loop decreases the impact of an existing process. A source emits carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases while a sink retain and stores. ...

In order for global climate pacts to be effective, they must address the issue of greenhouse gas emissions and not let that exceed the biosphere s ability to assimilate them. Political negotiations will also fail if they ...

Environmental refugees are produced when the human population exceeds the carrying capacity of a particular region and its inhabitants are forced to search for a more hospitable area. Since not much has been done to reduce ...

In the latter part of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, rapid climate change and damage to the biosphere have increased the risks to Homo sapiens. So much harm has already been done to the biosphere ...

Dumb growth is defined as any growth that is unsustainable on a finite planet. Growth in population and consumption of finite resources are not sustainable practices and have already damaged the biospheric life support ...

The tale of the sword of Damocles can be used to describe the sword hanging by a thread over humankind with the damage it is doing to the present biosphere. The sixth biosphere, or the current biosphere, is experiencing ...

Ecotoxicology involves testing that uses attributes at higher levels of biological organization as endpoints. Ecotoxicologists have been accustomed to a relatively modest rate of environmental and ecosystem change. However, ...

Eco-ethics, used in the local and regional context, are considered the essential foundation for sustainable use of the planet and consists of a series of value judgments to which humanity is committed. Sustainability ethics, ...

Persuasive evidence indicates that the biosphere is experiencing a major biotic crisis and even if humankind ceases stress on natural systems, the crisis will most likely disrupt or alter the surviving ecosystems. The new ...

This book is a collection of John Cairns, Jr.'s papers, articles, and commentaries focusing primarily on goals and conditions needed to achieve the sustainable use of the planet.