Debating the Earth highlights the diversity of political responses to environmental issues by bringing together forty essential readings in environmental politics. These readings cover various definitions of environmental crisis, its causes and effects, responses to it in institutions, politics, policies, community organizing, and lifestyle. They are organized in a way that emphasizes the differences and debates across the various schools of thought on environmental affairs. The key debates cover: The Severity of Environmental Problems: How real are ecological limits? Reformist Responses to Environmental Issues: Can expert administrators or liberal democratic institutions respond effectively? Environment and Economics: Is there a clash between economic and environmental values? Can sustainable development reconcile them? Green Critiques: What sorts of radical changes are advocated by deep ecologists, socialist ecologists, ecofeminists, environmental justice activists and others? Society, the State, and the Environment: How can green critiques be put into political practice in social movements and democratic structures? The book offers a comprehensive introduction to environmental politics and will be a valuable text for all students of environmental politics and policy, and anyone with an interest in environmental issues.