From the tropical rainforests to the teeming cities of the developing world, to the energy hungry nations of Europe and North America, this book shows that many of today's environmental problems can only be understood in terms of both the physical and the social processes involved. One world for One Earth describes the compounding of problems by competition between interest groups, nations and trading blocks. At present we are in a vicious circle, uneven development creates problems of affluence in some areas and problems of poverty in others. In both the environment suffers. Independent local action has a crucial part to play, but to be really effective it needs a new context which can only be put in place by international governmental co-operation. This book, by going beyond the conventional account of environmental problems, provides a basis for action.