Book excerpt: This book is indexed in Chemical Abstracts ServiceGreen Chemistry has evolved in response to several environmental issues in the second half of the last century, mostly due to the almost freely expanding chemical, petrochemical, and pharmaceutical industries. During the past two decades Green Chemistry grew rapidly and we can now consider this area as a mature and powerful field. Tremendous development has taken place in many important areas including renewable energy and resources, reaction environments, catalysis, synthesis, chemical biology, green polymers, and facile recycling. The combination of Green Chemistry with engineering, biology, toxicology, and physics will lead to novel interdisciplinary systems, which can now lift Green Chemistry to the next, advanced level.The editors have assembled authors among the best specialists of this growing area of research. This collection of reviews and perspectives provides an exciting vision of the more recent developments in Green Chemistry. The contents of this book illustrate the breath of the field and its role to address environmental issues. This volume will serve as a book of reference showing a panoramic view of the field and a preview of its future direction, as well as a book of inspiration for those aiming to further advance its frontiers. This volume emphasizes on the most recent developments in green catalysis, bio-sourced polymers and the study of continental organic matter for a better understanding of the carbon geochemical cycle.