Sustainable Development in Changing Complex Earth Systems

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xvii

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2. Introduction

   • Attila Kerényi, Richard William McIntosh

   Pages 1-9

3. Structure and Operation of Systems, Models of the Global Earth System

   • Attila Kerényi, Richard William McIntosh

   Pages 11-58

4. Internal Material Flows in the Earth and Their Effects on the Society

   • Attila Kerényi, Richard William McIntosh

   Pages 59-74

5. Changes on Earth as a Result of Interaction Between the Society and Nature

   • Attila Kerényi, Richard William McIntosh

   Pages 75-202

6. Structure and Operation of the Global Society (Anthroposphere)

   • Attila Kerényi, Richard William McIntosh

   Pages 203-226

7. Steps Towards Realising Global Sustainable Development

   • Attila Kerényi, Richard William McIntosh

   Pages 227-262

8. Conclusions: Towards an Environmental Friendly Humane Society

   • Attila Kerényi, Richard William McIntosh

   Pages 263-268

9. Back Matter

   Pages 269-292

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This book applies system theory to analyze the operation and structure of the complex earth surface system, including the interactions between society and nature that cause environmental degradation and threats to human populations. The possible ways to harmonize the operation of a global society as a complex system using the United Nation sustainable development goals are investigated, as well as the major efforts currently implemented to achieve this objective and why many are unsuccessful. Readers will learn this material through case studies that assess the essential conditions required to occupy a planet sustainably, and examine the complex interactions between society and nature in the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and outer layers of the lithosphere. The book is written for undergraduate students in geography, earth sciences, environmental sciences, and ecology, and will also appeal to environmental agency employees, nature protection representatives, teachers, and researchers. 

• Global sustainable development
• Global earth system
• Network theory
• World models
• Geosphere
• Outer boundary zone
• Hydrosphere
• Anthroposphere
• Environmental Geography
• climate change

• Landscape Protection and Environmental Geography, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary

  Attila Kerényi

• Mineralogy and Geology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary

  Richard William McIntosh

Dr. Attila Kerényi is an Emeritus Professor in the Department of Landscape Protection and Environmental Geography at the University of Debrecen. He has over 150 publications in peer reviewed journals, and his main research interests include geomorphology, soil erosion processes, and environmental and landscape protection. 

Dr. Richard William McIntosh is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mineralogy and Geology at the University of Debrecen. His research interests include structural geology, geological mapping, and sustainable geothermal energy. 

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