Includes bibliographical references and index.

Our environment today faces ever greater threats from human activities, such as pollution, loss of species and habitats, and climate change. In response to this, the relatively new branch of philosophy covering environmental ethics is growing increasingly globally important. Robin Attfield shows how environmental ethics defends the independent value of living creatures, and the importance of making decisions informed by the needs and interests of future generations. Exploring the diverse approaches to ethical decisions, he highlights the urgency for making processes of production and consumption sustainable, addressing policies for preserving species and their habitats, and emphasizing how concerted action is required to manage our environment ethically and sustainably.