Debating the Earth highlights the diversity of political responses toenvironmental issues by bringing together forty essential readings inenvironmental politics. These readings cover various definitions ofenvironmental crisis, its causes and effects, responses to it in institutions,politics, policies, community organizing, and lifestyle. They are organized in away that emphasizes the differences and debates across the various schools ofthought on environmental affairs. The key debates cover:The Severity of Environmental Problems: How real are ecological limits?Reformist Responses to Environmental Issues: Can expert administrators orliberal democratic institutions respond effectively?Environment and Economics: Is there a clash between economic and environmentalvalues? Can sustainable development reconcile them?Green Critiques: What sorts of radical changes are advocated by deepecologists, socialist ecologists, ecofeminists, environmental justice activistsand others?Society, the State, and the Environment: How can green critiques be put intopolitical practice in social movements and democratic structures?The book offers a comprehensive introduction to environmental politics and willbe a valuable text for all students of environmental politics and policy, andanyone with an interest in environmental issues.