Mankind is facing great challenges because there are justified concerns that its relationship with nature is not sustainable. However, societies, milieus and fields of action differ considerably in their interactions with the so-called environment. What the ecological crisis means from a sociological perspective and what role environmental attitudes, consumption patterns, innovations, infrastructures or risks play in it is explained in this introduction to environmental sociology with references to many examples. This textbook introduces students of sociology and social sciences to the central questions, theories and subjects of environmental sociology in 10 incisive chapters, which can also be read individually.