Environment and Society: Sustainability, Policy and the Citizen

by Stewart Barr

Overview

Environment and Society explores ways to promote the behavioural shifts necessary for creating a 'sustainable society'. Through a critical approach to the links between sustainability, policy and citizen engagement, the book argues that sustainability policy needs to move towards a positive perspective, utilizing the well-known techniques of segmentation and social marketing. Such 'mainstreaming' of sustainable lifestyles is likely to be the only effective means of engaging the majority of citizens in the environmental debate, given the major influence of the consumer society on individual aspirations and beliefs. Comprised of three substantive elements, Environment and Society explores the context for behaviour change policy, the approaches adopted by politicians and academic researchers, and the application of such approaches using empirical data from two major research projects. The book is richly illustrated using both theoretical and empirical data and provides an excellent companion to all researchers interested in sustainable lifestyles.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781317142386
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	04/29/2016
Series:	Routledge Studies in Environmental Policy and Practice
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	296
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

Dr Stewart Barr is a Senior Lecturer in Geography in the School of Geography, Archaeology and Earth Resources at the University of Exeter, UK.

Table of Contents

Contents: Foreword; Preface; Part 1 Contexts: Green dilemmas; Sustainability; Policy. Part 2 Perspectives: Behaviour change: policy and practice; The social psychology of environmental action. Part 3 Approaches: Framing environmental practice; Sustainable lifestyles; The value-action gap. Part 4 Applications: Changing behaviour: a social marketing approach; Sustainability, citizens and progress; Bibliography; Index.

Editorial Reviews

'Policy-makers and academics asking "what makes a sustainable society?" should look no further than this book. It addresses key issues about the nature of sustainable development and people's responses to increasing exhortations to lead "greener" lives. Stewart Barr successfully analyses "green dilemmas" and makes important recommendations on how new policy formulations can successfully promote environmentally beneficial behaviour.' Guy M. Robinson, Kingston University, UK ’Responding to tomorrow’s environmental challenges will require us all to change our attitudes and actions. Stewart Barr provides a comprehensive insight into the ways in which we, as individual citizens, think about and behave towards the environment. This book should be read by anyone with a serious interest in reducing society’s footprint on the earth.’ Paul Selman, University of Sheffield, UK '...worth reading by academics and students in a variety of disciplines...' International Planning Studies '...a thorough and clearly written text...' Envrionment and Planning C: Government and Policy '...Barr's study combines high scientific relevance with a strong practical impact. It will be a valuable source for university teaching and should initiate further research. Social scientists will profit from reading as well as policy makers, especially on the local level.' In-Spire Journal of Law, Politics and Societies '...recommended for the academics, students at a higher level and the policy-makers looking for a comprehensive outline of many of the issues and challenges involved in environmental policy and the public. The description and explanation for empirical research, illuminates in the third part, should provide excellent insight for those engaged in research.' European Spatial Research and Policy

From the Publisher