Will humans adapt their ways of life to conserve the natural systems
upon which their future and the living world depend? There is no simple
answer to the question of whether we as humans can adapt our lifestyles
in the pursuit of an environmentally sound world. Inadequate information
is a limiting factor, and unforeseen events make uncertainty inevitable.
Even so, choices made today can narrow or expand future options. A
critical task for society today is to reverse trends that narrow these
options, a task in which science plays a vital role. In his
thought-provoking book, Dr. Caldwell attempts to address this issue with
an integrated analysis of the interrelationships among science, the
environmental movement, and public policy. Special emphasis is given to
the interactions of environmentalism and science in generating public
and international environmental policies.