Includes bibliographical references and index.

Part 1 : general philosophical and political issues -- Issue 1 : should a price be put on the goods and services provided by the world's ecosystems? -- Issue 2 : does wilderness have intrinsic value? -- Issue 3 : is the U.S. Endangered Species Act fundamentally sound? -- Issue 4 : i the precautionary principle a sound basis for environmental policy? -- Issue 5 : does environmental regulation unnecessarily limit private property rights? -- Issue 6 : should environmental policy attempt to cure environmental racism? -- Issue 7 : is limiting population growth a key factor in protecting the global environment? -- Issue 8 : will pollution rights trading effectively control environmental problems? -- Part 2 : the enironment and technology -- Issue 9 : should pollution prevention and reduction be a focus of agricultural policy? -- Issue 10 : is biotechnology an environmentally sound way to increase food production? -- Issue 11 : do environmental hormone mimics pose a potentially serious health threat? -- Issue 12 : is the Environmental Protection Agency's decision to tighten air quality standards for ozone and particulates justified? -- Part 3 : disposing of wastes -- Issue 13 : hazardous waste : should the "polluter pays" provision of superfund be weakened? -- Issue 14 : municipal waste : is recycling an environmentally and economically sound waste management strategy? -- Issue 15 : nuclear waste : should the United States continue to focus plans for permanent nuclear waste disposal exclusively at Yucca Mountain? -- Part 4 : the environment and the future -- Issue 16 : is sustainable development compatible with human welfare? -- Issue 17 : will voluntary action by industry reduce the need for future environmental regulation? -- Issue 18 : are aggressive international efforts needed to slow global warming? -- Issue 19 : are major changes needed to avert a global environmental crisis?