The book studies the art and science of analyzing, assessing and anticipating environmental change. Among the issues considered are the observational evidence, statistical analysis and dynamic modeling as well as visioning of not-implausible changes in the environment, the changing public perception of the environment, functions of the environment and its use. A series of four prominent cases, namely climate change, the emissions of gasoline lead into the atmosphere and water bodies, fisheries policies and the management of marine oil pollution is reviewed.
Preface.- Climate Change Scenarios - Purpose and Construction.-Economic Scenarios for Global Change.- Climate Change: Regulating the Unknown.- Curbing the Onmipresence of Lead in the European Environment since the 1970s - a Successful Example of Efficient Environmental Policy.- Mission Impossible? Media Coverage of Scientific Findings.- Fishing for Sustainable Policies - Political Causes of Over-fishing and Solutions for Sustainable Fisheries.- Oil Pollution in Marine Ecosystems - Policy, Fate, Effects and Response.