The Shadows of Consumption

Consequences for the Global Environment

Peter Dauvergne (University of British Columbia)

$69.99

Paperback

Not in-store but you can order this
How long will it take?

Availability Information

We source books from suppliers in Australia and overseas. For books we don't currently have in stock, the time it takes to get them from our suppliers can vary widely - from a few days to a few months - so we check each book with each supplier to determine the expected time it will take to be supplied to us.

We then advise you accordingly. If the time taken to get any book is too long for you, you can let us know and we will cancel or adjust your order, and refund as required.

To find out the anticipated arrival time for specific items prior to ordering, please contact us by phone or email:

Phone +61 2 9264 3111, or 1800 4 BOOKS (1800 4 26657) if outside Sydney:
option 1 Abbey's Bookshop (Crime, History, Science, Kids & more) • info@abbeys.com.au
option 2 Language Book Centre (ESL & Foreign Languages) • language@abbeys.com.au
option 3 Galaxy Bookshop (Sci-fi, Fantasy, Romance, Graphic Novels) • sf@galaxybooks.com.au

QTY:

English

MIT Press
24 September 2010

Earth sciences; Applied ecology; Sustainability; Environmental science, engineering & technology

Series: The MIT Press

An environmentalist maps the hidden costs of overconsumption in a globalized world by tracing the environmental consequences of five commodities.

The Shadows of Consumption gives a hard-hitting diagnosis- many of the earth's ecosystems and billions of its people are at risk from the consequences of rising consumption. Products ranging from cars to hamburgers offer conveniences and pleasures; but, as Peter Dauvergne makes clear, global political and economic processes displace the real costs of consumer goods into distant ecosystems, communities, and timelines, tipping into crisis people and places without the power to resist. In The Shadows of Consumption, Peter Dauvergne maps the costs of consumption that remain hidden in the shadows cast by globalized corporations, trade, and finance. Dauvergne traces the environmental consequences of five commodities- automobiles, gasoline, refrigerators, beef, and harp seals. In these fascinating histories we learn, for example, that American officials ignored warnings about the dangers of lead in gasoline in the 1920s; why China is now a leading producer of CFC-free refrigerators; and how activists were able to stop Canada's commercial seal hunt in the 1980s (but are unable to do so now). Dauvergne's innovative analysis allows us to see why so many efforts to manage the global environment are failing even as environmentalism is slowly strengthening. He proposes a guiding principle of ""balanced consumption"" for both consumers and corporations. We know that we can make things better by driving a high-mileage car, eating locally grown food, and buying energy-efficient appliances; but these improvements are incremental, local, and insufficient. More crucial than our individual efforts to reuse and recycle will be reforms in the global political economy to reduce the inequalities of consumption and correct the imbalance between growing economies and environmental sustainability.

By: Peter Dauvergne (University of British Columbia)
Imprint: MIT Press
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm, Spine: 21mm
Weight: 476g
ISBN: 9780262514927
ISBN 10: 0262514923
Series: The MIT Press
Pages: 336
Publication Date: 24 September 2010
Recommended Age: From 18 years
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Peter Dauvergne is Professor of International Relations at the University of British Columbia. He is the author of Environmentalism of the Rich, Eco-Business- A Big-Brand Takeover of Sustainability (with Jane Lister), and The Shadows of Consumption- Consequences for the Global Environment, all published by the MIT Press.

Reviews for The Shadows of Consumption: Consequences for the Global Environment

Dauvergne's brilliant investigation will show you the 'other side' of the coin and that we must all incorporate a deeper awareness and take the 'long view' into our efforts to make a positive difference for human well-being near and far-immediately in your neighborhood and incrementally on the other side of the planet. -Scott D. Wright, Human Ecology Review

Joint winner for Society for Human Ecology Gerald L. Young Book Award 2009.
Winner of <PrizeName>Winner of the 2009 Gerald L. Young Book Award in Human Ecology given by the Society for Human Ecology</PrizeName> 2009
Winner of Winner of the 2009 Gerald L. Young Book Award in Human Ecology given by the Society for Human Ecology 2009
Winner of Winner of the 2009 Gerald L. Young Book Award in Human Ecology given by the Society for Human Ecology</PrizeName> 2009