Earthscan

Earthscan is an English-language publishing brand specializing in books and journals about climate change, sustainable development, environmental technology, environmental policy, and corporate social responsibility. Its publications have been aimed at several overlapping audiences, including academic researchers, policy professionals, practitioners, students, and general readers seeking accessible material on environmental and social change. The imprint originated in the 1980s through the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), a London-based research and policy organization. In its early period, Earthscan published works that translated environmental research into books for a wider policy and professional audience. The list included research-led treatments of desertification, natural disasters, development assistance, and the relationship between women and environmental change. Neil Middleton ran the operation from 1987. After the publishing operation incurred losses, Earthscan became independent and initially moved to Kogan Page, while continuing to publish many works arising from IIED research and networks. Earthscan developed a recognizable editorial position at the intersection of environmental science, public policy, development studies, economics, and practical sustainability management. Its list included both specialist books and works intended to influence public debate. Subjects ranged from low-carbon lifestyles and renewable or efficient energy systems to sustainable prosperity, environmental governance, development aid, natural capital, and responses to climate risk. Authors and contributors associated with the imprint included Lester Brown, Walt Patterson, Al Gore, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Tim Jackson, Amory Lovins, Molly Scott Cato, Jonathon Porritt, Felix Dodds, Chris Goodall, Clive Hamilton, and Sakiko Fukuda-Parr. The brand also experimented with digital public engagement. In August 2009, Earthscan introduced Earthcasts, a series of free, interactive, hour-long webcasts on sustainability, climate change, and corporate social responsibility. Participants included Tim Jackson and Robert Costanza. In October 2009, Earthscan acquired the publishing assets of RFF Press, the imprint associated with Resources for the Future, strengthening its environmental economics and policy publishing interests. Earthscan received significant recognition in the independent publishing sector in 2010, when it won three Independent Publishing Awards, including Independent Publisher of the Year. It was reported to be only the second publishing company to win three awards in a single year. In January 2011, Taylor & Francis acquired the Earthscan name and backlist for an undisclosed sum. The imprint was subsequently incorporated into Routledge, Taylor & Francis's academic and professional publishing business. The transaction resulted in staff redundancies and the closure of Earthscan's London office, but the Earthscan name continued to be used for sustainability-related publications under Routledge. Today, Earthscan is best understood as a specialist editorial imprint rather than an independent publishing company. Its value lies in a focused backlist and continuing publishing identity around sustainability, climate change, environmental policy, and applied environmental knowledge. Its books and journals are distributed through the broader Taylor & Francis and Routledge infrastructure.

Earthscan Publications was established in the 1980s by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED). The imprint was created to publish and circulate research concerning environmental change, development, and public policy in forms usable by specialists and broader policy audiences. From 1987, the operation was run by Neil Middleton. The early list included research-based books on desertification, natural disasters, development assistance, and gender and environmental issues. Examples included Alan Grainger's work on desertification, Anders Wijkman and Lloyd Timberlake's analysis of natural disasters, and titles addressing women and environmental conditions in the developing world. A number of Earthscan books continued to arise from IIED research, even after the imprint's corporate structure changed. After the publishing operation made a loss, Earthscan became independent and initially moved to Kogan Page. This transition allowed the imprint to continue as a specialist environmental publisher while developing a broader commercial list. Its subject coverage expanded across climate change, sustainable development, environmental economics, environmental technology, energy, corporate responsibility, development policy, and sustainability practice. In August 2009, Earthscan launched Earthcasts, a free webcast program designed to connect authors and experts with audiences interested in sustainability, climate change, and corporate social responsibility. The sessions were interactive and lasted approximately one hour. Tim Jackson and Robert Costanza were among the notable participants. In October 2009, Earthscan acquired the publishing assets of RFF Press, strengthening the connection between its list and environmental economics and policy research. The imprint received three Independent Publishing Awards in March 2010, including Independent Publisher of the Year. The recognition reflected Earthscan's position as a prominent specialist publisher within the independent publishing sector. In January 2011, Taylor & Francis acquired the Earthscan name and backlist for an undisclosed sum. The imprint was placed within Routledge, Taylor & Francis's academic and professional publishing operation. The integration involved the closure of Earthscan's London office and job losses among staff. Earthscan nevertheless remained in use as an editorial imprint, allowing the sustainability-focused backlist and future publications to continue under the larger Routledge distribution and sales network. Earthscan's publishing history is therefore characterized by a transition from an IIED-founded specialist publisher, through an independent phase, to an imprint within a major international academic publishing group. Its continuing identity is associated with environmental knowledge, climate policy, sustainable development, and applied sustainability research.

• 2011

  Taylor & Francis acquires the imprint

  [1]Earthscanen.wikipedia.org

  Taylor & Francis acquires Earthscan's name and backlist and continues the brand within Routledge.

• 2010

  Three Independent Publishing Awards

  [1]Earthscanen.wikipedia.org

  Earthscan wins three Independent Publishing Awards, including Independent Publisher of the Year.

• 2009

  Earthcasts webcast series launches

  [1]Earthscanen.wikipedia.org

  Earthscan begins a free interactive webcast series focused on sustainability, climate change, and corporate social responsibility.

• 2009

  RFF Press assets acquired

  [1]Earthscanen.wikipedia.org

  Earthscan acquires the publishing assets of RFF Press.

• 1987

  Neil Middleton takes over management

  [1]Earthscanen.wikipedia.org

  Neil Middleton begins running Earthscan.

• 1984

  Publication of Natural Disasters

  [1]Earthscanen.wikipedia.org

  Earthscan publishes Anders Wijkman and Lloyd Timberlake's examination of whether disasters should be understood as purely natural events or as outcomes shaped by human decisions.

• 1982

  Publication of Desertification

  [1]Earthscanen.wikipedia.org

  Earthscan publishes Alan Grainger's research-led book on desertification, one of the early titles associated with the imprint.

• 1980

  Earthscan is founded by IIED

  [1]Earthscanen.wikipedia.org

  The International Institute for Environment and Development establishes Earthscan Publications as an environmental and development-focused publishing operation.

A specialist sustainability and environmental publishing imprint serving academic, professional, policy, and general-interest readers through the Routledge and Taylor & Francis infrastructure.

• Academic and professional publishing

  Earthscan sustainability books

  The core Earthscan list consists of books on sustainable development, climate change, environmental governance, environmental economics, corporate responsibility, and practical sustainability. The list has served researchers, policy professionals, students, practitioners, and general readers, combining research-based analysis with accessible discussion of environmental and social challenges.

• Environmental technology publishing

  Earthscan environmental technology and energy titles

  Earthscan has published professional and specialist material on environmental technology, energy systems, low-carbon living, resource use, and related responses to climate change. These works connect technical subjects with policy, management, and behavior-change questions.

• Digital events and webcasts · 2009

  Earthcasts

  Earthcasts was a free series of interactive, approximately hour-long webcasts launched in 2009. The programming addressed sustainability, climate change, and corporate social responsibility and featured contributors including Tim Jackson and Robert Costanza.

• Environmental economics and policy publishing · 2009

  RFF Press backlist

  The publishing assets acquired from RFF Press in 2009 added material associated with Resources for the Future and complemented Earthscan's existing interests in environmental economics, resource policy, and evidence-based environmental decision-making.

• 2009Earthcasts

  International online audience

  Earthscan created a free interactive webcast series to discuss sustainability, climate change, and corporate social responsibility with authors and public experts.

  Outcome. The series extended Earthscan's engagement beyond printed books and showcased contributors such as Tim Jackson and Robert Costanza.

  Source

• 2011

  Taylor & Francis acquires EarthscanM&A

  Background

  Earthscan had developed as a specialist environmental publisher, but its name and backlist were available for acquisition by a larger academic publishing group.

  Action taken

  Taylor & Francis purchased the Earthscan name and backlist for an undisclosed sum and placed the imprint under Routledge.

  Aftermath

  The London office was closed and some staff lost their jobs, while the Earthscan imprint and its sustainability-focused list continued within Routledge.

  Source

• 2009

  Acquisition of RFF Press publishing assetsM&A

  Background

  Earthscan sought to broaden its environmental publishing portfolio and acquired the publishing assets of RFF Press, the imprint associated with Resources for the Future.

  Action taken

  Earthscan acquired the RFF Press publishing assets in October 2009.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition strengthened Earthscan's position in environmental economics and policy publishing.

  Source

1. 1Earthscanen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Routledge Sustainabilityroutledge.com