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Environmental protection has long been indispensable in modern civilization, especially where scarcity or lack of natural resources might hamper the sustainable development of human life and society. While environmental protection is undoubtedly a common goal for the humanity, local contexts might add to the intricacy between humans and their environment, and thus create multiple perspectives for intellectual pursuits. Hong Kong and Shenzhen, for example, two neighbouring cities situated in the east of the Pearl River Delta, share and enjoy a lot of marine resources. However, both cities have been heavily impacted by pollutions arising from rapid economic transformations and industrial developments in the last few decades. For such a global issue, concerted efforts have been made in scientific studies, implementation of international policies and strengthening of local governance to bring restoration into light. Progress has been made but environmental issues remain a huge challenge to mankind.
This course aims to engage students in re-examining some current strategies for environmental protection at national, regional, local and even personal levels, by guiding them to study selected prevailing environmental problems, general practices of the society and some representative interregional collaborations in the Greater Bay Area. While general principles in environmental science will be outlined, this course will focus on water resources, management of pollution in the coastal area and regional collaborations upon the issues. To gain first-hand experience in the present situation of their own city and neighbouring regions, students from CUHK and CUHK(SZ) will participate in field trips and scientific investigations. Tutorial discussions and writing assignments are learning opportunities for students to reflect on and evaluate the implementation of current environmental policies and interregional collaborations in the Greater Bay Area, in terms of the possibilities those policies and collaborations have brought, their significance and issues arising from them. The course serves as a platform across human experience and knowledge for students to exchange ideas, propose new ideas and embark on the journey to a better world as local inhabitants and global citizens.
This book applies an interdisciplinary governance assessment framework to assess China’s water quality governance from a holistic point of view. The project explores China’s water quality status, water policy discourses, water regulations, public participation in water governance, the path towards green water law, eco-compensation approach in water quality management and the implementation mechanism for achieving water goals. It analyzes water quality challenges in China and newly developed legal and policy answers to these challenges, and examines the transition from the economic-development-dominated policy discourse to a balanced approach in water governance in China.
This book examines environmental pollution ranging from our homes to the global environment. This new edition assesses the international scope of pollution, including water, climate change, acidification, energy, solid and hazardous waste, persistent chemicals, and pesticides. The pollutants of current major concern are examined, including plastics and electronic waste. Both the impacts and the sources of pollution are addressed, as well as governmental, corporate, and personal responsibility for pollution. Pollution prevention is emphasized throughout, and the text moves on to examine a circular economy with closed-loop systems, where by-products are reused, wastes become raw materials, water is recycled, and energy is recovered from waste energy.
This book equips and inspires readers with the tools and knowledge to make a difference solving today's environmental issues. Using sustainability as their central theme, the authors emphasize natural capital, natural capital degradation, solutions, trade-offs and the importance of individuals. Readers will learn how nature works, how you interact with it and how humanity can continue to sustain its relationship with the earth by applying nature's lessons to economies and individual lifestyles. Exclusive content highlights important work of National Geographic explorers and grantees and features vivid photos, maps and illustrations that bring course concepts to life.
