This Handbook presents methods to advance the understanding of interdependencies between the well-being of human societies and the performance of their biophysical environment. It showcases applications to material and energy use; urbanization and technological transition; economic growth and social vulnerabilities; development and governance of social and industrial networks; and the role of history, culture, and science itself in carrying out analysis and guiding policy as well as the role of theory, data, and models in guiding decisions.Unique features include: in-depth presentation of methods and applications in environmental studies diverse examples of research methods complemented by a wide geographic and thematic range of applications a careful balance between a review of the state of the art in environmental studies and an exploration of new developments in research methods and applications strong emphasis on historic, social, and cultural issues together with the life sciences needed to fully assess environmental change accessibility to a wide readership. Academics and students interested in broadening their knowledge of methods and applications in environmental studies will find this book to be a valuable resource. It will also be of great use to practitioners in environmental agencies looking to gain an insight into particular research methods. Contributors: L. Alçada-Almeida, P. Antunes, E.B. Barbier, A.M.Bassi, C.R. Binder, R. Boyd, L.K. Campbell, J.J.T. Connolly, C. Court, L.C. Dias, A. Drachen, K. Feng, D.R. Fisher, H. Folmer, H. Ghadimi, B. Gill, S. Gößling-Reisemann, C.A.S. Hall, D. Hardy, C. Hartefeld, K. Hubacek, M.E. Ibarrarán, R. Jackson, H.W. Kua, S. Locke, M. Olazabal, M. Paolisso, M. Patterson, M. Popp, D. Reckien, M. Ruth, R. Santos, R. Schoell, J. Schubert, L. Shi, S. Silva, H. Smith, K. Stave, E.S. Svendsen, C. Taiapa, D.S.K. Thomas, P. Von Mouche, N. Videira, J. Zhu, T. Zimmermann

Table of Contents:
Contents: PART I: UNDERSTANDING AND SHAPING THE SOCIAL CONTEXT OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES 1. An Introduction to Methods and Applications in Environmental Studies Matthias Ruth 2. Public Meanings of Science and the Environment Simon Locke 3. Cross-Cultural Environmental Research Processes, Principles and Methods – Coastal Examples from Aotearoa/New Zealand Derrylea Hardy, Murray Patterson, Huhana Smith and Caine Taiapa 4. Understanding Culture and Environment Dynamics Using Cultural Consensus Analysis Michael Paolisso 5. Mixed Methods Analysis of Urban Environmental Stewardship Networks James J.T. Connolly, Erika S. Svendsen, Dana R. Fisher and Lindsay K. Campbell 6. The Structured Mental Model Approach Claudia R. Binder, Regina Schoell and Monika Popp 7. Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping: Applications to Urban Environmental Decision-making Marta Olazabal and Diana Reckien 8. Action Research for Coherently Integrated Sustainability Policy Design and Implementation Harn Wei Kua PART II: MODELING RESOURCE USE, ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE PROVISION, PRODUCTION AND EMISSIONS IN THEORY AND PRACTICE 9. Energy Return on Investment (EROI) and its Implications for Long-term Prosperity Charles A.S. Hall 10. A Multi-region Input-output Analysis of Global Virtual Water Flows Kuishuang Feng and Klaus Hubacek 11. Dynamic Product-centric MFA Till Zimmermann and Stefan Gößling-Reisemann 12. Network Analysis of Industrial Ecosystems Junming Zhu and Lei Shi 13. Linking Environmental and Economic Frameworks to Model Technology Transitions Randall Jackson, Christa Court and Hodjat Gahdimi 14. System Dynamics for Environmental Application Krystyna Stave 15. Using Participatory System Dynamics in Environmental and Sustainability Dialogues Paula Antunes, Krystyna Stave, Nuno Videira and Rui Santos 16. Analyzing Green Growth: Integrating Models to Assess Green Economy: Methods and Application to Mexico María Eugenia Ibarrarán, Andrea M. Bassi and Roy Boyd 17. Valuing Estuarine and Coastal Ecosystems for Storm Protection Edward B. Barbier 18. Are Cities Really Smart? The Environmental Impact of Urban and Rural Municipalities According to Different Methodological Perspectives Johannes Schubert and Bernhard Gill 19. Vulnerability Assessments Deborah S.K.Thomas 20. Multi-criteria Environmental Performance Assessment with an Additive Model Luís C. Dias , Sandra Silva and Luís Alçada-Almeida 21. Gaming on Environmental Issues Casper Harteveld and Anders Drachen 22. Nash Equilibria of Transboundary Pollution Games Henk Folmer and Pierre van Mouche Index