Critical Political Ecology brings political debate to the science of ecology. As political controversies multiply over the science underlying environmental debates, there is an increasing need to understand the relationship between environmental science and politics. In this timely and wide-ranging volume, Tim Forsyth uses an innovative approach to apply political analysis to ecology, and demonstrates how more politicised approaches to science can be used in environmental decision-making. Critical Political Ecology examines: *how social and political factors frame environmental science, and how science in turn shapes politics *how new thinking in philosophy and sociology of science can provide fresh insights into the biophysical causes and impacts of environmental problems *how policy and decision-makers can acknowledge the political influences on science and achieve more effective public participation and governance. The book examines a variety of global environmental problems at local and global scales, including climate change, deforestation, GMOs, desertification and pollution. It also probes activities of environmental social movements and international organizatio such as the World Bank. Critical Political Ecology advances existing approaches to political ecology, science and politics by offering means to integrate environmental politics with environmental science. It offers insights into blending social and natural science approaches to environmental problems, and for merging "political ecology" with "science studies."