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The very survival of the planet is at risk: human misuse of natural resources and disturbance of natural environmental systems is pushing the Earth to the limits of its capacity. This is an introduction for environmental study, explaining how the environment functions, how environmental systems relate, and the ways in which people and environment interact. Focusing particularly on the environmental impacts of human activities, the book explains the ways in which an understanding of basic physical principles can help us to use the environment and its resources. Three particular approaches are adopted throughout: "a systems approach" - highlighting the interactions and interrelationships between the environment's diverse parts; "an interdisciplinary perspective" - stepping back from individual subject focus to examine the complex breadth of the environment's diversity; and "a global perspective" - incorporating stimulating examples drawn from around the world to illustrate broad global patterns and contrasts.