Confronting Climate Change: Risks, Implications and Responses

ISBN-13: 9780521421096 / Angielski / Miękka / 1992 / 400 str.

Irving Mintzer; Irving M. Mintzer

Opis

This book, which was published in time for the Earth Summit in Brazil in June 1992, is likely to make a huge impact on the political and economic agendas of international policy makers. It summarizes the scientific findings of Working Group I of the IPCC in the first part of the book. While acknowledging the uncertainties in subsequent chapters, it challenges and expands upon the existing views on how we should tackle the problems of climate change.

Recenzje

'This book is the story of the backstairs arm-twisting, stone walling and finally, in 1992, the signing of the Climate Change Convention at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. It is a warts-and-all version, written by diplomats, scientists and lobbyists.' Fred Pearce, New Scientist

Spis treści

1. Living in a warming world; Part I. The Science of Climate Change: 2. Linkages between global warming, ozone depletion, acid deposition, and other aspects of global environmental change; 3. Climate sensitivity, climate feedbacks and policy implications; 4. Lessons from the ice cores: rapid climate changes during the last 160,000 years; 5. Changes in climates of the past: lessons for the future; 6. Indices and indicators of climate change: issues of detection, validation and climate sensitivity; Part II. Impacts of Climate Change: 7. Future sea level rise: environmental and socio-political considerations; 8. Effects of climate change on food production; 9. Effects of climate change on shared fresh water resources; 10. Effects of climate change on weather-related disasters; 11. The effect of changing climate on population; Part III. Energy Use and Technology: 12. The energy predicament in perspective; 13. Electricity: technological opportunities and management challenges to achieving a low-emissions future; 14. Transportation in developing nations: managing the institutional and technological transition to a low-emissions future; Part IV. Economics and the Role of Institutions: 15. The economics of near-term reductions in greenhouse gases; 16. 'Wait and see' versus 'No regrets': comparing the costs of economic strategies; 17. International organizations in a warming world: building a global climate regime; 18. Modifying the mandate of existing institutions: NGOs; 19. Modifying the mandate of existing institutions: corporations; 20. International trade, technology transfer, and climate change; Part V. Equity Considerations and Future Negotiations: 21. Sharing the burden; 22. Climate negotiations: the North South perspective; 23. Shaping institutions to build a new partnership: lessons from the past and a vision for the future.