Document Type

Book Chapter

Publication Date

2015

Journal / Book Title

An Integrated Approach to Environmental Management

Abstract

From the geological perspective, the two overriding environmental management concerns are the destructive impact of hazardous natural events on human health and property and the deleterious impact of human activity on the natural environment. The knowledge derived from the geological sciences serves as the basis for a more enlightened approach to the reduction of unnecessary risk involved in the siting and construction of buildings and transportation networks, as well as the extraction of natural resources and waste management. Armed with such knowledge along with political sensitivity, environmental managers will have opportunities for positive social impact in negotiating the challenges as they weigh costs, risks, and benefits. When considering natural resource and energy issues, environmental managers should foster science-based solutions to maximize resource utilization while minimizing harmful impacts, bearing in mind externalities and long-term consequences.

The chapter provides an overview of key geological aspects of environmental management, illustrating fundamental principles via representative examples. The main geological subjects addressed include volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, coastal processes, fresh water resources, waste management, and fossil fuel resources. They are discussed in tandem with their associated environmental problems and risks.

Comments

From an environmental management textbook suitable for graduate and advanced undergraduate students.

DOI

10.1002/9781118744406

Book Publisher

Wiley

Journal ISSN / Book ISBN

978-1-118-74435-2

Book Editor(s)

D. Sarkar

Published Citation

Kruge M.A. (2015) Geology in environmental management. In, D. Sarkar et al., eds., An Integrated Approach to Environmental Management. Wiley. Ch. 1, pp. 3-45.

Download

Share

COinS