The polar regions an environmental history adrian howkins on amazoncom free shipping on qualifying offers the environmental histories of the arctic and antarctica are characterised by contrast and contradiction these are places that have witnessed some of the worst environmental degradation in recent history. The environmental history of the polar regions is told through stories of exploration colonialism imperialism exploitation competition collaboration and the formation of international conservation agreements. The polar latitudes are among the final frontiers for environmental history hawkins book as much history of science and exploration as environmental history takes us on a most engaging tour to both arctic and antarctic jr mcneill georgetown university a useful and innovative contribution to this growing literature. As polar regions an environmental history shows tourism is just one of the many peculiarities of the changing polar regions adrian howkins explains to readers how the poles bareness and mystery of untapped potential have shown humanity at its best worst and most odd including respectively exploratory exploits devastating oil spills . In this new environmental history of the regions the polar regions adrian howkins argues that despite being located at opposite ends of the planet the arctic and antarctic share much in common adrian howkins is professor of history at colorado state university specialising in world environmental history antarctic history