The influential book on the environmental challenges before us and what we must do to address them Why are globe-spanning environmental problems on the rise and what can be done about them? Christopher Stone presents a concise and balanced overview of the risks, from climate change and ozone depletion to deforestation and biodiversity loss. Exploring the institutional framework, Stone shows why global problems do not always benefit from global solutions, how environmental diplomacy must account for the growing tensions between rich and poor nations, and why even checking population growth cannot heal the planet. At once theoretical and realistic, The Gnat is Older than Man a major contribution to our understanding of one of humanity's greatest challenges.