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Par l'échelle de sa population, de son territoire et de son économie, la Chine est au cœur de la question du développement durable au xxie siècle : si celui-ci constitue un défi majeur pour la Chine, la Chine comporte elle-même diverses menaces pour la durabilité de la planète. À partir de multiples sources occidentales et chinoises, le présent ouvrage explore la question de la transition écologique dans toutes ses dimensions – environnementales, territoriales, économiques, sociales, sociétales, politiques et géopolitiques. Dans une approche prospective, il identifie également les mégatendances appelées à façonner le modèle de développement chinois d'ici à 2100 (croissance faible, changement climatique, effondrement de la population, vieillissement accéléré), et aborde les impacts de l'émergence de la Chine sur le reste de la planète. Ce livre mêle ainsi état des lieux de la recherche, analyse critique des données statistiques ou des discours, guide méthodologique, mais aussi mises en perspectives historiques, portraits de territoires, de personnes, d'animaux ou de végétaux. Proposant une fresque à la fois scientifique et vivante de la Chine actuelle et future, avec ses dynamiques et ses incertitudes, il incite à s'interroger sur la trajectoire et la destinée de la civilisation chinoise elle-même.

A concise and authoritative field guide to an exceptional natural laboratory, this title in the Classic Geology in Europe series is an essential companion for those visiting Iceland to observe the Earth in action. Rifting of the crust, volcanic eruptions and glacial activity are among a host of processes and features to be observed in this fascinating land. Nowhere else on Earth is the volcanic and tectonic architecture of seafloor rifts better exposed. Large icecaps and extensive river systems grind down the volcanic pile at rapid rates, dispersing and forming thick sequences of sediments. These formations are further modified by the pounding waves of the North Atlantic causing intriguing landforms that exhibit an intricate balance between the construction and erosion of land. Iceland is the only part of the North Atlantic Large Igneous Province that is still active and the only place on Earth where the construction of such provinces can be observed directly. As such, it is a window into the formation of proto-continents early in the Earth's history. For the past seven million years Iceland has been situated at the boundary of major air and ocean masses and has consequently been exposed to extreme climate changes. The effects of the climate on the rock-forming processes are clearly illustrated by diverse sedimentary and volcanic successions and by the wide range of volcanic landforms formed in sub-aqueous to sub-aerial environments; each succession reflecting the characteristics of internal and external processes.Icelandic culture cannot be fully comprehended without understanding its geology. Thus the book will interest not only student, amateur and professional geologists but also others attracted by the natural environment and seeking a deeper understanding of what makes Iceland the unique place that it is.

Discover Earth's most beautiful and fascinating natural landmarks. From the spectacular granite domes of Yosemite to the reefs of the Bahama Banks and the ice sheets of the Antarctic, this is an unparalleled survey of the world's natural treasures.From the Rocky Mountains to the Great barrier Reef and everything in between, Natural Wonders of the World combines breathtaking landscape photography and illustrations with 3-D terrain models and other explanatory artworks to reveal what lies beneath the surface and explain the geological processes to show how the features were formed. Plants and animals that inhabit each environment are also included, making Natural Wonders of the World a complete celebration of our world.Produced in association with the Smithsonian Institution.

“Everything you could possibly want to know about the plants, animals, geology, climate and fungi of the Pacific Northwest mountains.” —The OregonianNatural History of the Pacific Northwest Mountains is an engagingly written, portable history of Cascadia. It includes details about and identification tips for the flora, fauna, and geology of the region. If you are looking for a simple way to discover the great outdoors, this is the perfect overview of the Pacific Northwest.Covers the Coastal and Cascade Mountain Ranges, as well as the Olympic Mountains and Coast Mountains of southern British ColumbiaDescribes more than 950 species of plants, animals, and mushrooms with helpful keys for easy identificationUser-friendly, color coded layout Compelling stories of the region's plants, animals, and people bring the mountains aliveThe essential trailside reference for naturalists, hikers, and campers

A concise and authoritative field guide to an exceptional natural laboratory, this title in the Classic Geology in Europe series is an essential companion for those visiting Iceland to observe the Earth in action. Rifting of the crust, volcanic eruptions and glacial activity are among a host of processes and features to be observed in this fascinating land. Nowhere else on Earth is the volcanic and tectonic architecture of seafloor rifts better exposed. Large icecaps and extensive river systems grind down the volcanic pile at rapid rates, dispersing and forming thick sequences of sediments. These formations are further modified by the pounding waves of the North Atlantic causing intriguing landforms that exhibit an intricate balance between the construction and erosion of land. Iceland is the only part of the North Atlantic Large Igneous Province that is still active and the only place on Earth where the construction of such provinces can be observed directly. As such, it is a window into the formation of proto-continents early in the Earth's history. For the past seven million years Iceland has been situated at the boundary of major air and ocean masses and has consequently been exposed to extreme climate changes. The effects of the climate on the rock-forming processes are clearly illustrated by diverse sedimentary and volcanic successions and by the wide range of volcanic landforms formed in sub-aqueous to sub-aerial environments; each succession reflecting the characteristics of internal and external processes.Icelandic culture cannot be fully comprehended without understanding its geology. Thus the book will interest not only student, amateur and professional geologists but also others attracted by the natural environment and seeking a deeper understanding of what makes Iceland the unique place that it is.

Here is a story that has not previously been adequately told: the story of the developments, trends, and visionary people that are, in many ways, mitigating the climate crisis and turning sustainable development into reality, not just a grand concept. In A Newer World, the environmentalist Bill Hewitt explores the advances in business and finance, politics, design, science, and engineering that are transforming the world around us right now, even as the dire climatic consequences of the industrialization of our economies have become ever more starkly apparent. The received wisdom is that we are on an irrevocable path toward climate catastrophe. The political process, we are told, is broken. Coal-fired power plants in China and India are going to inundate the climate system with CO2 before we can convert to less dangerous ways to generate power. Market mechanisms to control emissions have not, as yet, realized their potential. There is some truth in all of this, but it is not, by any means, the whole story. A Newer World surveys the quantum leaps that are being made in clean technology and tells how governments, industry, and financial institutions are moving faster and more vigorously every day toward embracing these technologies. The challenges are real. A Newer World tells the untold story of the major progress already being made in addressing the looming climate crisis.