Climate Change: What It Means for Us, Our Children, and Our Grandchildren (American and Comparative Environmental Policy) (Paperback)

~ Joseph F. C. DiMento (Editor), Pamela M. Doughman (Editor)
Key Phrases: climate science, Kyoto Protocol, United States, Intergovernmental Panel (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

As revealed in Al Gore's Oscar-winning documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, many interest groups are involved in the debate over climate change—groups with sometimes overlapping, and frequently diverging, concerns. This book seeks to introduce readers to "the science, politics, and policies of climate change" by taking this complex phenomenon "from the laboratory to the living room." In language understandable to the layperson, the authors begin with a "primer" on the earth's climate system—a balancing act involving the atmosphere, oceans, ice masses, land surface, and the biosphere—and explain how global climate change can impact individual nations. DiMento and Doughman move on to the science of why these changes are occurring, including discussion of greenhouse gases and aerosols and their effect on melting glaciers. They stress the need for the free flow of information and an avoidance of ungrounded scare tactics, and look to the challenges that will face the next generation. A lucid argument for the importance of small, individual steps in the effort to combat global warming, as well as global policy changes. Donovan, Deborah

Review

"Climate Change is a welcome addition to the public discussion of this vital issue. It is readable, well documented, and focused on the most important dimensions of the problem. The authors provide an excellent discussion not only of what we know and how we know it, but also of what climate change means for human security, now and into the future. Useful reading for anyone interested in understanding the problem and being part of the solution."
—Ken Conca, Professor of Government and Politics and Director, Harrison Program on the Future Global Agenda, University of Maryland

"A lucid argument for the importance of small, individual steps in the effort to combat global warming, as well as global policy changes."
— Deborah Donovan, Booklist

"This ambitious book presents an accessible and engaging analysis of the multi-faceted issue of climate change. I recommend the book for anyone seeking to understand the process by which scientific consensus has been reached on the reality of human-caused climate change. I also recommend the book for those wishing to understand the societal and environmental threat posed by climate change, the challenges journalists face in conveying that threat, the political obstacles in dealing with it, and the ethical considerations that surround it."
—Michael Mann, Director of the Penn State Earth System Science Center, and co-founder of the website "RealClimate.org"

"This book gives a great overview of the science and politics of climate change, from the causes and effects of climate change, to what we know and do not know about the science and how that knowledge has become politicized, to the many political efforts at all levels of governance to address the issue. Climate Change is written by acknowledged experts and yet reads with one voice; written in a way that will be accessible to novices and also appreciated by scholars. It gives both accurate information and hope. If you're only going to read one book on climate change, this one would certainly be a good candidate."
—Elizabeth R. DeSombre, Frost Associate Professor of Environmental Studies and Associate Professor of Political Science, Wellesley College

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Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: The MIT Press; 1 edition (September 30, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0262541939
• ISBN-13: 978-0262541930
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #519,441 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Climate Change in understandable format, September 3, 2008

By	converse_classic - See all my reviews

This book is very enlightening although easy to understand. It puts factual basis behind the global climate crisis and evaluates the real scope of the problem. It also addresses the political side of the argument in an understandable and interesting fashion. A very good read for anyone interested in the green movement, especially those who are just getting in on it.