All in the balance: assessing schemes to protect humans and the environment

摘要

"Events, dear boy, events," was how Harold Macmillan famously summed up his most difficult challenge during his time as prime minister. The words have become commonplace since that time and have even been attacked as cliched and "dull". In fact, they sum up in a remarkably succinct way one of the most profound problems facing every human being as he or she steers a course through life. For while one's situation may alter only gradually and by small amounts over long periods, every so often an abrupt change will occur and break up the continuity of one's existence.