This book discusses the concepts and technologies associated with the mitigation of urban heat islands (UHIs) that are applicable in hot and humid regions. It presents several city case studies on how UHIs can be reduced in various areas to provide readers, researchers, and policymakers with insights into the concepts and technologies that should be considered when planning and constructing urban centres and buildings. The rapid development of urban areas in hot and humid regions has led to an increase in urban temperatures, a decrease in ventilation in buildings, and a transformation of the once green outdoor environment into areas full of solar-energy-absorbing concrete and asphalt. This situation has increased the discomfort of people living in these areas regardless of whether they occupy concrete structures. This is because indoor and outdoor air quality have both suffered from urbanisation. The development of urban areas has also increased energy consumption so that the occupants of buildings can enjoy indoor thermal comfort and air quality that they need via air conditioning systems. This book offers solutions to the recent increase in the number of heat islands in hot and humid regions.

This book discusses the regulatory and trade challenges facing the global adoption of biotechnological products and offers strategies for overcoming these obstacles and moving towards greater global food security. The first section of the book establishes the context of the conflict, discussing the challenges of global governance, international trade, and the history of regulation of genetically modified (GM) crops. In this section, the authors emphasize the shift from exclusively science-based regulation to the more socio-economically focused framework established by the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which was adopted in 2000. The second section of the book provides a snapshot of the current state of international GM crop adoption and regulation, highlighting the US, Canada, and the EU. The final section of the book identifies options for breaking the gridlock of regulation and trade that presently exist. This book adds to the current literature by providing new information about innovative agricultural technologies and encouraging debate by providing an alternative to the narratives espoused by environmental non-governmental organizations. This book will appeal to students of economics, political science, and policy analysis, as well as members of regulatory agencies and agricultural industry firms.

1 Einleitung.- 1.1 Teil I - Ausrichtung der Umweltkostenrechnung.- 1.2 Teil II - Realisierung und Nutzung des Reststoff-Controlling.- 1 - Ausrichtung der Umweltkostenrechnung.- 2 Anforderungen an die kostenrechnerische Unterstutzung des Umweltmanagements.- 2.1 Anforderungen an die Kostenrechnung.- 2.1.1 Einordnung in das System Betrieb.- 2.1.2 Einordnung in die betriebliche Datenverarbeitung.- 2.1.3 Modellbildung, Kostentheorie und Kostenrechnung.- 2.1.4 Funktionale Anforderungen.- 2.1.4.1 Effektivitat durch relevante Kosteninformation.- 2.1.4.2 Effektivitat durch Empfangerorientierung.- 2.1.5 Strukturelle Anforderungen.- 2.1.6 Zusammenfassung der Anforderungen.- 2.2 Aufgaben des Umweltmanagements.- 2.2.1 Umweltschutz und Kuppelproduktion.- 2.2.1.1 Kuppelproduktion und die industrielle Gutererzeugung.- 2.2.1.2 Begriffliche Strukturierung von Inputs und Outputs.- 2.2.1.3 Begriflliche Strukturierung der Handhabung von Reststoffen.- 2.2.2 Umweltschutz und die betriebliche Leistungserstellung.- 2.2.2.1 Funktionen der Umwelt fur die betriebliche Leistungserstellung.- 2.2.2.2 Umwelt als Produktionsfaktor.- 2.2.2.3 Prazisierung des Begriffes Umweltschutz.- 2.2.3 Umweltschutz und das Zielsystem.- 2.2.3.1 Das Zielsystem der Untemehmung.- 2.2.3.2 Typische Formalziele.- 2.2.3.3 Umweltziele sowie Sach- und Formalziele.- 2.2.3.4 Einordnung des Umweltschutzes in das Zielsystem.- 2.2.4 Aufgaben des Umweltmanagements.- 2.2.4.1 Aufgaben und Ausrichtung.- 2.2.4.2 Zentrale Ansatzpunkte.- 2.2.4.3 Einrichtung eines Umweltmanagementsystems.- 2.3 Anforderungen an Umweltinformationssysteme.- 2.3.1 Systematisierung von Umweltinformationssystemen.- 2.3.1.1 Gliederung nach Teilsystemen.- 2.3.1.2 Relevante Elemente der Teilsysteme.- 2.3.2 Funktionale Anforderungen.- 2.3.3 Strukturelle Anforderungen.- 2.3.3.1 Funktionsubergreifend einheitliche Begriffssystematik und Datenbasis.- 2.3.3.2 UEbersetzung von physischen Daten in monetare Daten.- 2.3.3.3 Durchgangige Stoffstromtransparenz.- 2.3.4 Zusammenfassung der Anforderungen.- 2.4 Anforderungen an die kostenrechnerische Unterstutzung des Umweltmanagements.- 2.4.1 Funktionale Anforderungen.- 2.4.1.1 Interne Anforderungen.- 2.4.1.2 Extemer Informationsbedarf.- 2.4.2 Strukturelle Anforderungen.- 2.4.3 Zusammenfassung der Anforderungen.- 3 Definition des Kostenblocks 'Umwelt'.- 3.1 Bedeutung der Kostendefinition.- 3.2 Umweltschutzkosten auf der Basis intemalisierter Kosten.- 3.2.1 Definition der Umweltschutzkosten.- 3.2.2 Enthaltene Kostengruppen.- 3.2.3 Bewertung der Umweltschutzkosten.- 3.2.3.1 Motivation von Management und Mitarbeitem.- 3.2.3.2 Eindeutigkeit und Praktikabilitit.- 3.2.3.3 Vollstandigkeit und Relevanz.- 3.2.3.4 Zusammenfassung der Bewertung.- 3.3 Umweltschutzkosten auf der Basis extemalisierter Kosten.- 3.3.1 Gliederung und Hoehe extemalisierter Umweltschutzkosten.- 3.3.2 Bewertung unter dem Formalziel Gewinn.- 3.3.3 Bewertung unter dem Formalziel Umweltschutz.- 3.3.4 Einbeziehung extemalisierter Kosten durch Lenkungspreise.- 3.4 Reststofikosten als Kostenblock 'Umwelt'.- 3.4.1 Ableitung des konzeptionellen Ansatzes.- 3.4.2 Definition der Reststofikosten.- 3.4.2.1 Enthaltene Kostengruppen.- 3.4.2.2 Variabilitat.- 3.4.3 Bewertung der Reststofikosten.- 3.4.3.1 Vollstandigkeit und Relevanz.- 3.4.3.2 Eindeutigkeit und Praktikabilitat.- 3.4.3.3 Motivation von Management und Mitarbeitern.- 3.4.3.4 Zusammenfassung der Bewertung.- 3.5 Abgrenzung zu verwandten Kostenbloecken.- 3.5.1 Kosten von Kuppelprodukten.- 3.5.2 Fehlleistungsaufwand und Qualitatskosten.- 2 - Realisierung und Nutzung des Reststoff-Controlling.- 4 Realislerung und Nutzung des Reststoff-Controlling.- 4.1 Anwendungsgebiete.- 4.2 Grundsatzliche Festlegungen.- 4.3 Reststoff-Mengenrecbnung.- 4.3.1 Datenmodell der Mengenrecbnung.- 4.3.1.1 Mengenstelle.- 4.3.1.2 Material.- 4.3.1.3 Bewegung.- 4.3.1.4 Stoffstrom.- 4.3.1.5 Beschrankung aufrelevante Mengenstellen und Bewegungen.- 4.3.1.6 Konsequenzen fur Stuckliste und R

This book presents an approach to energy-efficient building design, which takes into account the most important challenges in climate change mitigation and adaptation in Southern Europe. It outlines a specific approach related to residential buildings and their intergenerational and vulnerable occupants, such as ageing population and users in fuel poverty. It also focuses on the use of passive energy measures throughout the year, and on pursuing a realistic and affordable approach to the efficient rehabilitation of resilient residential buildings. In addition, the book presents case studies that include surveys, monitoring, and simulation of residential buildings in Spain and other Southern European representative locations, in order to go further on the study of this challenging topic.

This volume applies a mix of qualitative and quantitative research and case studies to analyze the role that the craft beverage industry plays within society at large. It targets important themes such as environmental conservation and social responsibility, as well as the psychology of the craft beer drinker and their impact on tourism marketing. This volume advances marketing, hospitality, and leisure studies research for academics, industry experts, and emerging entrepreneurs.

This book showcases vital lessons learned from research, field projects and best practice examples with regard to climate change adaptation in countries throughout the Pacific region, a part of the planet that is particularly vulnerable to and affected by climate change.The book's primary goals are to document the wealth of experiences in the region available today, to encourage cross-sector interactions among the various stakeholders in the region, and to help transfer results to other countries and regions. Accordingly, it gathers a set of papers presented at a symposium on climate change adaptation held in Fiji in July 2016, focusing on "Fostering Resilience and Improving the Quality of Life". In these contributions, local and international experts present a variety of initiatives showing how Pacific countries are coping with the many problems associated with climate change, including initiatives in education and awareness work taking place across the region, operational aspects and their implications for policy-making, and challenges in urban and rural areas.

The major purpose of this book is to contribute to better economic policy analysis through improvements in models studying the economic impacts of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases, and to show ways in which economic instruments can effectively be put to use to alleviate such problems. Global Environmental Economics is an integrated economic assessment of GHG emissions impacting economic growth and welfare change along major considerations of uncertainty, technological change and cooperation. A theoretical treatment of the issues is emphasized, using modern tools of economic theory and based on 'simple' models that yield illustrative results in terms of 'what-if' questions. With this focus the book distinguishes itself uniquely from other economic analytic approaches in the field that have appeared in the past few years. It focuses on the analysis, control and optimization of modelling forms rather than the collection and analysis of data. More concretely, the book searches for optimal fossil fuel use, research and technology policies rather than prediction of the future. The collection appeals to researchers interested in environmental economics, economic theory, and mathematical methods (in particular optimal-control theory) and economic growth.

This book presents essential information for the development of a comprehensive sustainable energy policy. It examines the diverse types of energy, their resource abundance and the material needs to develop and use them, and how communities and cities can better control their own destinies by locally managing energy use and generation. This approach does not suggest the undoing of existing infrastructures and energy providers, but rather a cooperative transition from national-regional energy management to a more local-centered system. The information is the foundation for eight specific legislative initiatives necessary for a national comprehensive sustainable policy that can both facilitate and drive the process of evolution from a carbon-energy economy to a sustainable renewable energy future.

How many of our efforts to save the environment are effective? Learn how our system is simply masking the symptoms of global warming. Climate change is more than just a buzzword. It is a reality that society and industry have failed to deal with effectively. "Greenwashing," a term that author Bruce E. Johansen defines as the "environmental sleight of hand" performed by technology and advertising, has us convinced that certain "green" practices are sustainable. In his book, Johansen examines the sanctioned activities and practices commonly touted as environmentally responsible and points out their failings. He explains why the global climate change problem is more urgent than many people think, and provides real-world examples of companies that are taking measures with genuine benefits to the environment. Presenting information relevant to every inhabitant of earth and that environmentalists, climate scientists, and students and educators in environmental studies will find essential reading, this book brings questions about legislation and economics to the forefront and asks whether today's system can support a true effort at sustainable living. It presents honest-and what some readers may find surprising-answers to inquiries into what is really "good for the environment," such as why corn ethanol may be worse for the atmosphere than oil and why coal capture and sequestration may be the worst "green" idea yet. Explains global warming science in terms that laypeople and scholars can understand Examines "greenwashing" practices employed by today's society and describes the negative impact they will have Asks truly compelling questions about what will really protect the environment from future damage Proposes changes to today's system that truly recognize the need for sustainable practices and a move away from production and consumption

Sorghum is the most important cereal crop grown in the semi-arid tropics (SAT) of Africa, Asia, Australia and Americas for food, feed, fodder and fuel. It is the fifth most important cereal crop globally after rice, wheat, maize and barley, and plays a major role in global food security. Sorghum is consumed in different forms for various end-uses. Its grain is mostly used directly for food purposes. After the release of the proceedings of two international symposia in the form of books "Sorghum in Seventies" and "Sorghum in Eighties", global sorghum research and development have not been documented at one place. Of course, few books on sorghum have been released that focus on specific issues/research areas, but comprehensive review of all aspects of recent development in different areas of sorghum science has not been compiled in the form a single book. This book is intended to fill in a void to bridge the gap by documenting all aspects of recent research and development in sorghum encompassing all the progress made, milestones achieved across globe in genetic diversity assessment, crop improvement and production, strategies for high yield, biotic and abiotic stress resistance, grain and stover quality aspects, storage, nutrition, health and industrial applications, biotechnological applications to increase production, including regional and global policy perspectives and developmental needs. This book will be an institutional effort to compile all the latest information generated in research and development in sorghum across the globe at one place.

This book effectively links the latest scientific advances to current technological applications of polymers, mainly focusing on biodegradable polymers obtained from biomass. The individual chapters were written by academic and industry researchers alike, introducing readers to topics that have received little attention in the literature to date. Key topics covered include polymers used in various areas such as food packaging, pharmaceuticals, energy production and the cosmetics industry, as well as the treatment of aqueous effluents.

Is safe and sustainable water and sanitation for all an unaffordable pipedream? This book surveys the worldwide development of water and sewage services and the challenges in meeting Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG6) along with climate change, population growth and urbanisation. It explores the reasons why current SDG6 progress is failing, including weak policy implementation, staff shortages and inadequate funding, as well as the limited impact of aid funding. The author contends that despite a series of innovations, debt finance remains too small to address needs of developing economies. Therefore, instead of advocating new funding, this book proposes addressing the funding gap through technological innovation and more efficient management and procurement through a series of examples that have challenged traditional assumptions. After four decades of good intentions, SDG6 is making a difference in monitoring shortfalls for the first time, allowing for more effective responses. This book outlines the role of innovation in hardware development, procurement and installation, and discusses how network management and operations can most effectively address funding gaps. The potential for savings is considerable, if effectively replicated. New approaches are driving forward affordable resilience, including nature-based solutions such as upstream habitat enhancement to retain water and improve downstream water quality; the circular economy, including water, nutrient, energy and heat recovery from wastewater; and demand management. This book will be of great value to scholars, policy makers and practitioners interested in the global finance of sustainable water and sanitation.

This book is a volume of essays celebrating the life and work of Yoshiro Higano, professor of Environmental Policy, Doctoral Program in Sustainable Environmental Studies, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Japan. Prof. Higano's research strongly focuses on the comprehensive evaluation of resources and research content for decision science and engineering, including simulation modeling for environmental quality control, the evaluation of environmental remediation technologies, integrated river (lake) basin management, and synthesized environmental policy. Yoshiro Higano is the past president of the Regional Science Association International (RSAI) and the current president of the Japan Section of the RSAI (JSRSAI). He also served as executive secretary for the Pacific Regional Science Conference Organizations (PRSCO). This edited volume covers a wide range of regional science approaches, theory, policy, evaluation, modeling, simulation, and practice. It is a valuable reference work for researchers, scholars, policy makers, and students in the field of regional science. The volume celebrates Prof. Higano's contributions to the JSRSAI, PRSCO, and RSAI. Essay contributors include his former students and a wide array of regional scientists, each with a personal connection to Prof. Higano.

This open access book focuses on the meanings, agendas, as well as the local and global implications of bioeconomy and bioenergy policies in and across South America, Asia and Europe. It explores how a transition away from a fossil and towards a bio-based economic order alters, reinforces and challenges socio-ecological inequalities. The volume presents a historically informed and empirically rich discussion of bioeconomy developments with a particular focus on bio-based energy. A series of conceptual discussions and case studies with a multidisciplinary background in the social sciences illuminate how the deployment of biomass sources from the agricultural and forestry sectors affect societal changes concerning knowledge production, land and labour relations, political participation and international trade. How can a global perspective on socio-ecological inequalities contribute to a complex and critical understanding of bioeconomy? Who participates in the negotiation of specific bioeconomy policies and who does not? Who determines the agenda? To what extent does the bioeconomy affect existing socio-ecological inequalities in rural areas? What are the implications of the bioeconomy for existing relations of extraction and inequalities across regions? The volume is an invitation to reflect upon these questions and more, at a time when the need for an ecological and socially just transition away from a carbon intensive economy is becoming increasingly pressing.

A good understanding of the status quo is necessary for the success of efforts to develop and maintain nature in built space. Accordingly, this book conducts an environmental scan of the context of these efforts in global perspective. In particular, it develops and employs a novel environmental scanning model (ESM) designed to rigorously analyze the political, economic, social, technological, ecological, cultural and historical (PESTECH) contexts of initiatives to promote biodiversity in the built environment. The focus is on four specific substantive areas of environmental policy, namely forestry, water, food, and energy. The units of analysis roughly correspond with the major United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) regions of the world, including sub-Saharan Africa, Middle-East and North Africa, Asia and the Pacific, Western Europe, North America, and Latin America and the Caribbean.

This book introduces the concept of sensing, smart and sustainable systems (S3 systems) to support the design and redesign of products, services, business and manufacturing processes, manufacturing systems, and enterprises. The concept of S3 systems theory is introduced and explained in detail to support designers and engineers in their development task. This approach is embraced in the implementation of emergent Information and communication technologies and artificial intelligence techniques. The text helps the reader to understand the relationship between intelligent manufacturing, S3 systems and Industry 4.0. It presents a review of current approaches to design and development of technology-based products. Finally, it enlarges on the sensing, smart and sustainable systems theory to give examples of S3 systems as case studies.

This Handbook approaches sustainable development in higher education from an integrated perspective, addressing the dearth of publications on the subject. It offers a unique overview of what universities around the world are doing to implement sustainable development (i.e. via curriculum innovation, research, activities, or practical projects) and how their efforts relate to education for sustainable development at the university level. The Handbook gathers a wealth of information, ideas, best practices and lessons learned in the context of executing concrete projects, and assesses methodological approaches to integrating the topic of sustainable development in university curricula. Lastly, it documents and disseminates the veritable treasure trove of practical experience currently available on sustainability in higher education.

This is the first book to focus on farm and rural community management in less favored areas of Japan. It provides an economic framework for, and empirical findings on, rural community management in terms of the distribution of rural resources, efficiency of farmland conservation, community development through agribusinesses, and utilization of human resources for the sustainability of rural society. The topics addressed include organic farming, the added value of locally processed foods, broad-based community agreement under a direct payment policy, forms of community vitalization, new farmers, farm diversification, redistribution of local resources among farmers by establishing farm organizations, community business, community hubs formed by multiple communities, and stakeholders who have migrated from urban to rural areas.The book is divided into four parts. Part I examines the relationship between regional agriculture and the conservation of farmland, including in hilly and mountainous areas. Part II deals with the improvement of farm resource management, particularly the redistribution of agricultural resources within multiple communities. In turn, Part III focuses on agribusinesses, especially the production of locally processed foods and community business. Lastly, Part IV addresses the sustainability of rural society, and discusses rural community development through community hubs, community-based rural tourism, and immigrated stakeholders. In each part, the peculiarities and commonalities of rural communities are explored by comparing the results of these studies with domestic and international studies.This book is highly recommended to readers who are concerned with the development of agriculture and community, resource conservation in less favored areas, and the theoretical and empirical aspects of agricultural and resource economics, as well as to those who wish to better understand rural communities in Japan.

This book aims to build the ideal model of China's grand strategy framework, which is based on three key variables: national power, strategic concept and international institution. Taking the rise of China as an opportunity, this book adopts the assessment of national strategic resources as the beginning, focuses on the evaluation of strategic capability, the choice of strategic orientation, the establishment of strategic objectives, the planning of strategic content and the implementation of strategic means. Further, following this main line, this book establishes a China's grand strategy framework based on active participation and integration-transformation-shaping process. This book emphasizes that to achieve the goals of China's grand strategy; China should uphold this strategic attitude: It should not be seduced by praise and should not be made aggressive by criticism. It should learn to be glorious but remain humble, maintain a wealthy, influential but modest position by restraint. This book can be regarded as the essence of the author's 20 years long-term focus and research on the China's grand strategy. The author's postdoctoral tutor Professor Hu Angang's comment of this book can hit the nail on the head: "This book is a pioneering theoretical study of China's great strategic research and makes a significant contribution to this research field. The basic arguments of this book have been submitted through various approaches to decision-making references or published in academic papers, and have received numerous positive responses and resonance. In my opinion, the basic ideas and important findings of this book will provide imperative reference to long-term strategy decision-making process. In addition, the fundamental theory and analysis method of the book will have an important influence in both domestic and international academic field."

This book is an outcome of the 33rd International Conference EnviroInfo 2019, held at the University of Kassel, Germany. It presents a selection of papers that describe innovative scientific approaches and ongoing research in environmental informatics and the emerging field of computational sustainability. The respective articles cover a broad range of scientific aspects including advances in core technologies such as earth observation, environmental modelling, big data and machine learning, as well as applications of ICT solutions intended to support societal transformation processes toward the more sustainable management of resource use, transportation and the energy supply. Given its scope, the book is essential reading for scientists, experts and students in these fields of research.

This book provides an understanding of Business Continuity Management (BCM) implementation for local/international construction operations, with a primary focus on Indonesian construction firms as an illustrative example. It reviews the whole spectrum of work relating to organizational culture (OC) and the institutional framework (IF) as one of the key ways for companies to evaluate and implement BCM in construction operations. Once readers have acquired a sound understanding of BCM, OC and IF linkages in construction firms, the lessons learned can be extended to other companies. This is facilitated through a systematic assessment framework presented in the book using a Knowledge Based Decision Support System (BCM-KBDSS), which allows these companies to evaluate their current status quo with respect to BCM, OC and IF, and then make informed decisions on how and to what extent BCM should be implemented in their operations. As such, the book offers a unique blend of theory and practice, ensuring readers gain a far better understanding of BCM implementation in the construction industry.

This book explores the philosophical understanding of the "energy consumption" in warehousing process that can be found in the literature. It presents known technical solutions that, if they are used in cold storage rooms, can effectively reduce energy consumption: through lower power consumption and/or energy recovery, such as the use of photovoltaic panels. The final part of the book explores the problems discussed on the basis of a concrete example - a project involving energy recovery in a refrigerated warehouse.This publication also describes the design of refrigerated warehouses, taking into account their energy intensity. In the case of logistic warehousing systems, the pallets in warehouses can offer a source of energy - namely of the potential energy stored in the loads on the shelves. Given that today's construction warehouses have heights on the order of several tens of meters, that energy can be considerable. In the case of refrigerated warehouses and cold storage facilities, it is necessary to monitor the stored goods in order to maintain a constant freezing temperature, in keeping with the requirements of the HACCP system. Inevitably, this calls for constant cooling of the air inside the warehouse, and thus produces a fixed, high and constant level of energy usage. And, just as in any other context, it becomes important to identify methods for reducing energy consumption.

This book examines female-headed households (FHHs) in the world economy, aspects of their poverty, and the implications of those for sustainable development. Following a general discussion of FHHs in the world community, the work discusses FHHs in two regions of India, one being an example of unsuccesssful development and the other of successful development. The research is based on fieldwork in five rural villages. One village, comprising mostly female-headed households, provided a unique case study. The other four villages include both male- and female-headed households with a high proportion of female-headed households.

The authors found that female-headed households dominate the poorer sections of the community, and women's access to resources is limited by cultural, social, and economic influences. Women, particularly those in FHHs, bear the heaviest burdens in times of economic hardship. These women face more forms of discrimination outside the home than women from male-headed households. They have fewer customary rights but greater freedom of movement and more opportunities for paid employment. The authors go on to show that the benefits of government development programs have not reached remote areas. The trickle-down approach has not worked, but sustainable development programs focusing on women's development and self-responsiblity have helped to lift the economic status of women in general and FHHs in particular.

Several textbooks and edited volumes are currently available on general soil fertility but' to date' none have been dedicated to the study of "Sustainable Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling in Soil." Yet this aspect is extremely important, considering the fact that the soil, as the 'epidermis of the Earth' (geodermis)' is a major component of the terrestrial biosphere. This book addresses virtually every aspect of C and N cycling, including: general concepts on the diversity of microorganisms and management practices for soil, the function of soil's structure-function-ecosystem, the evolving role of C and N, cutting-edge methods used in soil microbial ecological studies, rhizosphere microflora, the role of organic matter (OM) in agricultural productivity, C and N transformation in soil, biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) and its genetics, plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs), PGPRs and their role in sustainable agriculture, organic agriculture, etc. The book's main objectives are: (1) to explain in detail the role of C and N cycling in sustaining agricultural productivity and its importance to sustainable soil management; (2) to show readers how to restore soil health with C and N; and (3) to help them understand the matching of C and N cycling rules from a climatic perspective. Given its scope, the book offers a valuable resource for educators, researchers, and policymakers, as well as undergraduate and graduate students of soil science, soil microbiology, agronomy, ecology, and the environmental sciences. Gathering cutting-edge contributions from internationally respected researchers, it offers authoritative content on a broad range of topics, which is supplemented by a wealth of data, tables, figures, and photographs. Moreover, it provides a roadmap for sustainable approaches to food and nutritional security, and to soil sustainability in agricultural systems, based on C and N cycling in soil systems.

This book answers the following questions: How will the global oil and gas market change in the next decade? How does the United States become the world's biggest oil and gas producer? What is the current condition of China's Shale Industry and energy security? Is hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling technology cheered or feared? Is energy production driven by economy or environment? Who are the major competitors in this market? This book covers not only macro analysis at country-level, but also micro analysis at firm-level, which helps investigate this industry more comprehensively.