FOREWORD

Environmental history is the study of the evolution of the world, over time. In contrast to other historical disciplines, it emphasizes the active role that nature plays in influencing human behaviors. The history of environmental management can be traced to the concerns expressed by early civilizations. In recent times, anthropogenic processes have modified the course of evolutionary changes in the environment.

Dr Jacob Thomas is a very active person, who has made significant contributions to the practice of environmental management. His keen scientific perspectives are focused on particular timescales, geographic regions and key themes of environmental issues. An ardent advocate of environmental conservation, he has now decided to highlight the importance of restricting human activities that are detrimental to the sustenance of the pristine glory of Nature by writing a book on environmental management.

The topics discussed in this book are based on the author’s rich practical and international experience on projects related to environmental management. It provides a comprehensive view of the developments in environmental management that began with the Industrial Revolutions during the 18th and 19th centuries. It then provides an in-depth analysis of the environmental management of the early 20th century, when lack of standards for industrial products and processes became a major issue. The book also chronicles the progress that has been made in the creation and implementation of environmental laws and regulations, starting from the 1970s. A major part of this book deals with the more recent development of international environmental management standards and guidelines and its implications for global trade.

The layout of this work considers environmental management as a multidisciplinary subject that draws widely on both the humanities and natural science. The topics covered share the concern expressed by the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development during the 1980s, which led eventually to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), convened in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The subject matter of this book echoes the major decisions that emerged from this conference, which came to be known as the “Earth Summit”: Agenda 21, a comprehensive policy guidance document, and the Rio Declaration, a set of twenty-seven principles for achieving sustainable development. The essence of the topics covered in this work constitutes a call for improved environmental management.

This book has no equivalent in the present literature. It explains how we can initiate practical actions and take quantitative steps in managing the environment. It also gives the author’s perception about environmental issues, and deals with such diverse aspects as systems and processes, resources and waste management, issues involved in degradation, awareness regarding the environment, implications of climate change, legal framework and risk assessment.

Dr Jacob Thomas considers a science important if the knowledge acquired can be applied to quantitative measurements. In this book, he showcases all the techniques used today to deal with environmental degradation, sustainable development and strategies for mitigating the effects of waste treatment and climate change. He gives a clear presentation on how to develop management institutions and sustainable equitable urbanism, while providing numerous real-life examples, treated quite exhaustively.

This book is highly useful for researchers and students, as well as for professionals in public administration and policy-makers in international cooperation.

Valiya M. Hamza
Emeritus Professor
National Observatory of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil