The God Species: Saving the Planet in the Age of HumansWe humans are the God species, both the creators and destroyers of life on this planet. As we enter a new geological era - the Anthropocene - our collective power now overwhelms and dominates the major forces of nature. But from the water cycle to the circulation of nitrogen and carbon through the entire Earth system, we are coming dangerously close to destroying the planetary life-support systems that sustain us. In this controversial new book, Royal Society Science Books Prize winner Mark Lynas shows us how we must use our new mastery over nature to save the planet from ourselves. Taking forward the work of a brilliant new group of Earth-system scientists who have mapped out our real 'planetary boundaries', Lynas draws up a radical manifesto calling for the increased use of environmentally-friendly technologies like genetic engi- neering and nuclear power as part of a global effort to use humanity's best tools to protect and nurture the biosphere. Ecological limits are real, but economic limits are not, Lynas contends. We can and must feed a richer population of nine billion people in decades to come, whilst also respecting the nine planetary boundaries - from biodiversity to ocean acidification - now identified and quantified by scientists. Ripping up years of environmental orthodoxy, he reveals how the prescriptions of the current green movement are likely to hin- der as much as help our vitally-needed effort to use science and technology to play God and save the planet. |
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User Review - SChant - LibraryThingDidn't realise until I got into this book that it was from 2011 - much of the info was well out of date and there are more current environmental books out there. Read full review
THE GOD SPECIES: Saving the Planet in the Age of Humans
User Review - KirkusA serious view of humans' negative environmental impact on Earth and the steps needed to correct these issues."Nature no longer runs the Earth. We do. It is our choice what happens from here. So ... Read full review
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Bibliographic information
| Title | The God Species: Saving the Planet in the Age of Humans |
| Author | Mark Lynas |
| Publisher | National Geographic Books, 2011 |
| ISBN | 142620891X, 9781426208911 |
| Length | 280 pages |
| Subjects | › Nature / Environmental Conservation & Protection Science / Environmental Science Science / Global Warming & Climate Change Social Science / Human Geography |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |