An exploration of the need for innovative mechanisms of governance in an era when human actions are major drivers of environmental change. The onset of the Anthropocene, an era in which human actions have become major drivers of change on a planetary scale, has increased the complexity of socioecological systems. Complex systems pose novel challenges for governance because of their high levels of connectivity, nonlinear dynamics, directional patterns of change, and emergent properties. Meeting these challenges will require the development of new intellectual capital. In this book, Oran Young argues that to achieve sustainable outcomes in a world of complex systems, we will need governance systems that are simultaneously durable enough to be effective in guiding behavior and agile enough to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances. While some insights from past research on governance remain valid in this setting, Young argues that we need new social capital to supplement mainstream regulatory approaches that feature rule making with an emphasis on compliance and enforcement. He explores the uses of goal setting as a governance strategy, the idea of principled governance, and the role of what is often called good governance in meeting the challenges of the Anthropocene. Drawing on his long experience operating on the science/policy frontier, Young calls for more effective collaboration between analysts and practitioners in creating and implementing governance systems capable of producing sustainable outcomes in a world of complex systems.

An interdisciplinary and quantitative account of human claims on the biosphere's stores of living matter, from prehistoric hunting to modern energy production. The biosphere-the Earth's thin layer of life-dates from nearly four billion years ago, when the first simple organisms appeared. Many species have exerted enormous influence on the biosphere's character and productivity, but none has transformed the Earth in so many ways and on such a scale as Homo sapiens. In Harvesting the Biosphere, Vaclav Smil offers an interdisciplinary and quantitative account of human claims on the biosphere's stores of living matter, from prehistory to the present day. Smil examines all harvests-from prehistoric man's hunting of megafauna to modern crop production-and all uses of harvested biomass, including energy, food, and raw materials. Without harvesting of the biomass, Smil points out, there would be no story of human evolution and advancing civilization; but at the same time, the increasing extent and intensity of present-day biomass harvests are changing the very foundations of civilization's well-being. In his detailed and comprehensive account, Smil presents the best possible quantifications of past and current global losses in order to assess the evolution and extent of biomass harvests. Drawing on the latest work in disciplines ranging from anthropology to environmental science, Smil offers a valuable long-term, planet-wide perspective on human-caused environmental change.

Faslane naval base, just 30 miles outside Glasgow, holds Britain's entire nuclear arsenal. Despite continued protest in 2006/2007, while Scotland voted against Trident, Westminster voted to re-commission the nuclear submarines. With political disempowerment keenly felt after the war in Iraq, political activist Angie Zelter formed an ambitious plan, Faslane 365 was an attempt by protesters to blockade Faslane every day for a year. This book not only takes you behind the scenes of this remarkable display of non-violent civil resistance but also garners opinions from contributors on all aspects of nuclear disarmament and protest. From the history of Trident and investigations of international law to police involvement and living conditions Faslane 365 will provide a unique inside view of campaigning on this vital issue.

Advances in Nuclear Safety Analysis Methodology provides a unique exposition on leading-edge safety analysis techniques applied in nuclear reactor licensing. Chapters discuss accidents with major significance to nuclear safety, governing safety design objectives, analysis methods used to quantify the behavior of the reactor, and associated safety-related systems. After sections on both Design Basis Accidents (DBA) and Beyond Design Basis Accidents (BDBA), the equally important topic of analysis relevant to accident management and emergency response is also addressed. This book will provide researchers, safety analysis and nuclear operational staff with a practical, highly authoritative and consolidated guide on the state-of-the-art.