With so much disinformation around concerning environmental matters, even although this type of encyclopedia is being churned out to meet the public’s seemingly insatiable appetite for green issues, it is nevertheless welcome. Welcome in the respect of treating environmental issues scientifically. Besides the usual components expected of an encyclopedia, this one includes an introductory essay on sustainability.
The book comprises five sections: a series of global maps on a range of themes (such as climate, rainforests, carbon dioxide emissions); an A‐Z of environmental terms; a directory of environmental organisations; a bibliography of environmental periodicals; and a who’s who of “leading personalities” in environmental affairs. The maps are in themselves fascinating and like all maps impart an amazing amount of information without words (for example, there are no nuclear power reactors in Africa except the two in South Africa; Australia and New Zealand have no nuclear power reactors). There are about 20 pages of maps but I would have preferred even more.There are about 1,000 definitions in the A‐Z section and entries were very much in the main confined to environmental terms (entries are cross‐referenced). I once went on my holidays to Manfredonia in Italy and found it somewhat quiet; according to the A‐Z, it is little wonder since a petrochemical explosion a few years previously had spewed out ten tons of arsenic. There are 400 entries in the organisations list with relevant details; listings according to country are also given and within this, governmental and non‐governmental organisations. This listing is quite exhaustive (St Christopher and Nevis are included). The list of journals should be of direct interest to librarians.
The final listing of personalities is, as would be expected, contentious and elicits reactions from “well deserved” to “am I looking at the right encyclopedia?” Thus we have Robert Redford and Brigitte Bardot (all their films are listed; you can telephone Bardot on 1‐45‐05‐14‐60). From the world of politics we have Jimmy Carter, Gorbachev and Al Gore (the last is a tobacco farmer). Nice guys include David Bellamy, Chris Bonington, David Attenborough and Edmund Hillary. The Duke of Edinburgh is listed with his address (Buckingham Palace); alas, his book of 1962 Birds from Britannia will almost certainly have been remaindered along with his boat.
This is a worthwhile if pricey purchase. What is on the cover is also between the covers so everything is of some relevance. Well, nearly everything. Certainly not Bardot’s last masterpiece, Noonah le Petit Phoque Blanc. A tale to warm the hearts of seal cullers worldwide.
