Taking Action:

An Environmental Guide
for You and Your Community

Edited by Adam Rogers.
Published jointly by the UN Environment Programme
and the UN Non-Governmental Liaison Service.
Web version supported by Environment Canada
as part of its Global Environmental Citizen project.

For information on ordering printed copies of this book, click here.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Foreword by Elizabeth Dowdeswell

Preface

Chapter 1 : The Global Environment

• Cause and Effect
• Ecosystems
• The Earth's Resources
• A Changing Relationship
• The Global Response
• Civil Society and the Post-Rio Process
  

Chapter 2 : The Global Economy

• The Polluter Pays Principle
• The Growth in World Trade Exports (in $US billion)
• Poverty and its Impact on the Environment
• Industry and Economics
• Crossing Borders: The Growth in International Trade
• The Environmental Impacts of Tourism

Chapter 3 : The Role of Communities

• The "Major Groups" (Women, Youth and Children, Indigenous People, Non-Governmental Organizations, Local Authorities and the Formation of Local Agenda 21s, Workers and Trade Unions, Business and Industry, The Scientific and Technological Communities, Farmers and Fisherfolk)
• Participating in Decision-Making Processes
• Different Approaches for Different Communities
  

Chapter 4 : Organizing for Community Action

• Adopting Environmental Principles
• Targeting Priorities and Identifying Objectives
• Taking Stock of Existing Resources
• Taking Action at the Community Level
• Promoting education and awareness building
• Pursue partnership with your government

Chapter 5 : The Community Toolbox

• Networking for Information and Contacts
• Schools and universities
• International and local organizations
• Business groups and associations
• Public utilities
• Governments
• Networking with computers
• Speaking with Authority
• Bringing in the Experts
• Advocacy and Campaigning
• Government lobbying
• Convention ratifications and implementation
• Business and consumer boycotts
• Preparing for and Dealing with Conflict
• Education and Training
• Using the Media
• Alerting the public
• Writing an effective press release
• Fund-raising and Finding Sponsors
• Writing proposals

Chapter 6 : Population and Consumption

• Key Facts
• Population, Consumption and the Environment
• Urban Migration
• Some of the Reasons for Population Growth
• Food Consumption Patterns
• Seeking Solutions to Unsustainable Population Growth
• Taking Action to Address Population Growth
• The Global Action Plan for the Earth
• Seeking Solutions to Unsustainable Consumption Patterns
• Taking Community Action

Chapter 7 : Energy

• Key Facts
• Renewable Energy
• Energy Use in the North and South
• Biomass--A Green Source of Energy
• Biogas Success
• Seeking Solutions to Unsustainable Energy Use
• Taking Community Action
• Addressing the Individual

Chapter 8 : Waste

• Key Facts
• Growing Heaps of Garbage in the Cites
• Nuclear Waste
• Toxic News
• Seeking Solutions
• Taking Community Action
• Addressing the Individual

Chapter 9 : The Atmosphere

• Key Facts
• The Troposphere, Pollution and Climate Change
• Climate Change
• Acid Rain
• The Stratospheric Ozone Layer
• What Happens on Earth as a Result of Ozone Depletion
• Seeking Solutions to Combat Smog, Global Warming and Acid Rain
• Taking Community Action
• Addressing the Individual
• Seeking Solutions To Combat Ozone Depletion
• Taking Community Action
• Addressing the Individual
• Protect Yourself

Chapter 10 : Biodiversity

• Key Facts
• Medicinal and Industrial Uses of Biodiversity
• Biodependance
• Seeking Solutions
• Taking Community Action

Chapter 11 : Freshwater Resources

• Key Facts
• Sources of Water Pollution
• Seeking Solutions
• Taking Community Action
• Taking Freshwater from the Sea
• Addressing the Individual

Chapter 12 : Oceans and Coasts

• Key Facts
• Seas Under Siege
• Seeking Solutions
• Where is the Marine Pollution Coming From?
• Taking Community Action

Chapter 13 : Forests

• Key Facts
• The Causes of Forest Loss
• The State of the Rainforests
• Seeking Solutions
• Taking Community Action
• The Green Belt Movement
• Taking Action as an Individual

Chapter 14 : Agriculture and Land Use

• Key Facts
• Urbanization: The price of poor land management
• The Search for Agricultural Sustainability
• Cash Crops: A Look at Comparative Disadvantage
• Feed the Soil, Not the Crop
• Taking Community Action

Chapter 15 : Desertification

• Key Facts
• Seeking Solutions
• Taking Community Action
  
  

Appendix I: Glossary of Terms

Appendix II: Contacts For More Information

Appendix III: List of Key Organisations

All photos, text and illustrations Copyright ©1996 The United Nations Environment Programme.