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The degradation of the human environment is a worldwide problem which has increasingly led to worldwide concern. All countries, whether rich or poor, young or old, irrespective of political and economic institutions, are finding that they must understand and improve the relationships between man's activities and the total environmental system. The recognition that the planet's resources and its capacities to absorb waste are definitely limited raises important questions as to how to approach solutions in a way that not only safeguards legitimate national interests but in the long run protects and enhances those resources essential to the future welfare of all states.

North American economic integration, principally through the North American Free Trade Agreement, is creating important changes in many aspects of Canadian-United States-Mexican relations. One of the important areas affected by these changes is the environment. In Environmental Management on North America's Borders Richard Kiy and John D. Wirth have brought together a collection of timely studies written by experienced practitioners in border affairs that provide an introduction to the range of environmental issues on both borders and an understanding of the dynamics now transforming North America. Rather than examining only one border, or part of a border, at a time, this volume treats the two borders as one conceptual unit. Kiy and Wirth argue that the patterns of local participation and coalition-building are harbingers of an emerging North American community. Environmental Management on North America's Borders will be a particularly useful volume in the fields of environmental management and North American border studies. It can also serve as an important overview of these issues for those interested in the environment, NAFTA, and the concept of continental or regional integration.

AbstractThe paper reviews various options adopted in the UK for engineered protection measures aimed at preventing pollution to the environs of landfill sites. The advantages and limitations of both natural and synthetic lining materials are discussed, recognizing the constraints posed by the geometry and geology of prospective landfill sites. Particular attention is given to the Environmental Safety Centre experience with techniques designed to minimize both leachate and gaseous emissions, and hence prevent pollution of ground and surface waters, and reduce hazards to nearby property. Options for operational practices and restoration procedures are discussed in relation to the control of degradation processes and polluting potential. Included in these options are design and operation of leachate and gas collection/treatment systems, phasing of landfilling operations, and progressive restoration of sites. Monitoring requirements are emphasized as a vital measure of the success or failure of site designs and operational practices in ensuring that appropriate environmental protection is achieved and maintained.

Protecting the Earth's atmosphere has become a concern on the agenda of all mankind, regardless of how one state or another is involved in resolving or worsening of this serious problem. States are facing global warming, generating a triple dilemma. First, there is the dilemma of short-term and predictable costs to winning long-term and less predictable benefits. The second refers to some specific segments, such as oil companies and industrial workers bearing the costs, while most of the benefits are distributed in domestic and world society internaţional. The third dilemma concerns the collective goods between states, ie the benefits are shared globally and the costs to be borne by each state. The international system must face both the conflicts, whose number is increasing, and the complexity of the global management. As demands on the environment continues to grow, this problem grows and the two reasons which contribute to this pressure are: economic development and a greater number of people. Pollution as a global issue is the prerogative of our century, especially in the last thirty years when the population of the planet has greatly increased (from 5 to 7 billion) and the environment has been damaged by pollution, erosion and other phenomena due to the willingly or unwillingly actions of mankind. Compared to 400 years ago, as a result of improved living and health standards, and also due to a high percentage of the birth rate, the world population has increased about 10 times, and for the year 2050 is expected to reach about 10.5 billion. How human action influences the soil and the earth's atmosphere can take many forms and existed since humans began using fire for agriculture, heating and cooking food and especially during the industrial revolution that began at the end of the eighteenth century and early nineteenth century, when air pollution has started to become a major problem. Currently, one of the most serious problems caused by air pollution is global warming produced by the accumulation in the atmosphere large amounts of carbon dioxide and other gases, known as greenhouse gases. They reduce the heat dissipated from Earth but does not block the sun radiation. Because of this greenhouse effect is expected that global temperature increase of 1.4 ° C to 5.8 ° C by 2100, a process that has already begun to change climate patterns, affecting agricultural production, changing the distribution of animals and plants and increasing sea level. To combat the problems posed by pollution worldwide and reducing pollution, an important role it plays on the international stage the policies adopted by governments and international bodies, international understanding and not least nongovernmental groups formed at local, national and international.