China's Past, China's Future

by Vaclav Smil

Overview

China has a population of 1.3 billion people which puts strain on her natural resources. This volume, by one of the leading scholars on the earth's biosphere, is the result of a lifetime of study, and provides the fullest account yet of the environmental challenges that China faces. The author examines China's energy resources, their uses, impacts and prospects, from the 1970s oil crisis to the present day, before analysing the key question of how China can best produce enough food to feed its enormous population.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781134377688
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	03/01/2004
Series:	Asia's Transformations/Critical Asian Scholarship
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Vaclav Smil is Distinguished Professor in the Department of Geography, University of Manitoba, Canada. He is widely recognized as one of the world's leading authorities on the biosphere and China's environment. He is the author of many books including The Earth's Biosphere, Enriching the Earth, Feeding the World and China's Environment.

Table of Contents

1. China's Biophysical Foundations  2. Energy  3. Food  4. Environment  5. Looking Ahead by Looking Back

Editorial Reviews

'China's expanding population aond huge developmental needs have put enormous demands on the environment. This is one of the most factual and comprehensive discussions on those environmental pressures currently available.' - China Information

'This comprehensive and highly informative volume reflects upon the author's past scholarship in light of new developments and future trends.' - The China Journal

'The strength of the book lies in its balanced perspective, devoid of ideologically driven assumptions.' - The China Journal

'The book is a highly valuable resource for acquiring a detailed understanding of the complex relationships between energy, food, and the environment in contemporary China.' - The China Journal

'This is an excellent book that summarises many of the arguements and research that has stimulated Professor Smil's work. It provides a particularly useful summary of some of the main trends in China's food, energy and environmental use and, as such, should appeal not only to Sinologists but also to non-specialists and those wanting an overview of China's recent and current environment and society.'

- James Beattie, University of Otago

'China's expanding population aond huge developmental needs have put enormous demands on the environment. This is one of the most factual and comprehensive discussions on those environmental pressures currently available.' - China Information

'This is an excellent book that summarises many of the arguements and research that has stimulated Professor Smil's work. It provides a particularly useful summary of some of the main trends in China's food, energy and environmental use and, as such, should appeal not only to Sinologists but also to non-specialists and those wanting an overview of China's recent and current environment and society.'

- James Beattie, University of Otago

From the Publisher