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Environment and Society
Sustainability in the Age of Climate Change

First Edition
February 2026 | 264 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
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Environment and Society: Sustainability in the Age of Climate Change by Wendy Wiedenhoft Murphy explores the intricate relationship between human societies and the natural environment through a sociological lens, emphasizing the urgent need for sustainability in the face of climate change. By integrating environmental sociology and sustainability studies, this book highlights the roles of governments, activists, and individuals in fostering a just and sustainable future, urging readers to reimagine their communities and take collective responsibility for the planet.
 
Preface
 
Acknowledgements
 
About the Author
 
Chapter 1: Climate Change and Sustainability
Toward a Sociology of Climate Change and Sustainability

 
Climate Change 101

 
Climate Resilience: Mitigation and Adaptation

 
Sustainability 101

 
Conclusion

 
Key Terms

 
Discussion Questions

 
 
Chapter 2: Nature, Society & Environmental Ethics
A Brief History of Society and Nature

 
Environmental Ethics: Preservation,Conservation, and Ecology

 
Inclusivity: Eco-Feminism and Indigenous Knowledge

 
Conclusion

 
Key Terms

 
Discussion Questions

 
 
Chapter 3: Population
Malthusian Population Theory and its Critics

 
Demographic Transition Model

 
Immigration and Migration

 
Urbanization

 
Conclusion

 
Key Terms

 
Discussion Questions

 
 
Chapter 4: Consumption and Affluence
Household Consumption

 
Unsustainable Consumption: Planned Obsolescence and Waste

 
Sustainable Consumption

 
Affluence: The Problem or the Solution?

 
Conclusion

 
Key Terms

 
Discussion Questions

 
 
Chapter 5: Technology and Energy
The Transition to Green(er) Energy

 
Renewable Energy

 
Green Technologies

 
Risk

 
Conclusion

 
Key Terms

 
Discussion Questions

 
 
Chapter 6: Governance: Global Institutions, Nation-States, and Cities
The Kyoto Protocol: Trial and Error

 
The Paris Agreement: Lessons Learned

 
Climate Change in the United States: Political Polarization and Policy Delay

 
Conclusion

 
Key Terms

 
Discussion Questions

 
 
Chapter 7: Non-state Actors: Civil Society and the Climate Movement
NGOs and the Global Climate Regime

 
Copenhagen: COP15 and the Climate Justice Movement

 
Fossil Fuel Divestment and Blockadia

 
Youth & New Climate Activism

 
Conclusion

 
Key Terms

 
Discussion Questions

 
 
Chapter 8: Environmental and Climate Justice
Justice and Human Rights

 
Four Forms of Justice

 
From Environmental Justice to Climate Justice

 
Energy Justice and Just Transition

 
Conclusion

 
Key Terms

 
Discussion Questions

 
 
Chapter 9: Good Health, Food Security, and Well-Being
Physical Health

 
Hunger and Food Insecurity

 
Malnutrition: Undernutrition and Obesity

 
Mental Health and Well-Being

 
Conclusion

 
Key Concepts

 
Discussion Questions

 
 
Chapter 10: Becoming Sustainable, Realizing Resilience
Progress…so far

 
Building Resilient Campuses: Sustainability in Action

 
Conclusion

 
Key Concepts

 
Discussion Questions

 
 
Glossary
Key features
  • Sociological Perspective on Climate Change: Explores the complex interconnections between human societies and natural systems, emphasizing the social dimensions of sustainability and climate action.
  • Focus on Sustainability: Examines the balance between current and future generations' needs, ecological limits, and social well-being, while addressing the contentious nature of sustainability transitions.
  • Comprehensive Structure: Divided into four sections covering foundational concepts, environmental impacts, governance and justice, and connections to UN Sustainable Development Goals.
  • Historical and Ethical Context: Provides an environmental history of human-nature relationships and explores diverse environmental ethics, including eco-feminism and indigenous knowledge.
  • Analysis of the IPAT Model: Investigates the environmental impacts of population, affluence, and technology (IPAT model), with critiques of unsustainable consumption trends like e-waste, fast fashion, and plastic waste.
  • Green Technology and Renewable Energy: Evaluates the role of renewable energy and green technologies in mitigating climate change, while addressing potential risks of technological change.
  • Governance and Justice: Explores global and local climate policies, the role of civil society, and the unequal distribution of environmental harms, with a focus on marginalized communities.
  • UN Sustainable Development Goals: Connects climate change to goals like ending hunger, improving health, ensuring clean water, and advancing climate action, with practical strategies for local implementation.
  • Call to Action: Encourages readers to reimagine communities, take collective responsibility, and engage in sustainable practices to address the climate crisis.

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 1 & 2