Table Of Content

Cover page Page: i Halftitle page Page: i Series page Page: ii Title page Page: xii Copyright page Page: xiv Dedication page Page: xv Contents Page: xvii Preface to the fourth edition Page: xix Acknowledgements Page: xxi List of illustrations Page: xxiii Abbreviations Page: xxvii Chapter 1. What is climate change? Page: xxx The Earth’s natural greenhouse Page: 1 Past climate Page: 3 Past variations in carbon dioxide Page: 4 Early farmers Page: 5 The Industrial Revolution Page: 6 Who produces the pollution? Page: 7 Chapter 2. History of climate change Page: 11 An old science Page: 12 Why the delay in recognizing climate change? Page: 15 The rise of the global environmental social movement Page: 17 The economists wade in Page: 19 Climate change and the media Page: 21 The new global environmental social movements Page: 23 Chapter 3. Evidence for climate change Page: 25 Weight of evidence Page: 26 Temperature Page: 27 Precipitation Page: 33 Relative global sea level Page: 34 Other evidence for global warming Page: 36 Extreme weather events Page: 38 What do the climate change deniers say? Page: 39 Chapter 4. Modelling future climate Page: 43 Models Page: 46 Carbon cycle Page: 47 Warming and cooling effects Page: 48 Emission models of the future Page: 49 Modelling uncertainty Page: 54 Future global temperatures, precipitation, sea ice, and sea level Page: 56 What do the climate change deniers say? Page: 59 Chapter 5. Climate change impacts Page: 63 What is dangerous climate change? Page: 64 Extreme events and society’s coping range Page: 65 Extreme heat, drought, and wildfires Page: 66 Storms and floods Page: 69 Coasts Page: 73 Agriculture Page: 76 Ocean acidification Page: 79 Biodiversity Page: 80 Human health Page: 83 Chapter 6. Climate surprises Page: 89 Thresholds and tipping points Page: 90 Melting ice sheets Page: 94 Deep-ocean circulation Page: 96 Gas hydrates Page: 99 Amazon dieback Page: 102 Chapter 7. Politics of climate change Page: 105 Introduction Page: 106 Climate change negotiations Page: 106 Kyoto 1997 Page: 107 Copenhagen 2009 Page: 109 Paris 2015 Page: 111 Glasgow 2021 Page: 114 Is the UNFCCC process flawed? Page: 115 Carbon trading Page: 117 REDD+ Page: 118 Chapter 8. Solutions Page: 121 Introduction Page: 122 Adaptation Page: 122 Mitigation Page: 126 Alternative, renewable, or clean energy Page: 127 Carbon capture and storage Page: 131 Transport Page: 133 Fossil-fuel subsidies Page: 136 Carbon trading, taxation, and offsetting Page: 137 Reforestation and rewilding Page: 138 Geoengineering or technofixes Page: 141 Geoengineering governance Page: 145 Chapter 9. Changing our future Page: 147 Introduction Page: 148 Planetary stewardship Page: 148 Taking action Page: 150 Government, corporations, and civil society Page: 152 International institutions Page: 153 Conclusion Page: 155 Further reading Page: 157 Index Page: 163 Deserts Page: 167 Geography Page: 168 Global Warming Page: 169 Landscapes and Geomorphology Page: 170

Description:

Very Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring In the last few years global awareness of climate change has grown very rapidly - through the school strikes led by Greta Thunberg, groups like Extinction Rebellion, the IPCC's recent high impact reports, tv documentaries, and declarations from governments around the world that we are in a climate emergency. This awareness is continuing to grow, as the science shows us that our planet and our species are facing a massive crisis, which we ourselves have caused. Climate change is one of the few scientific theories that make us examine the whole basis of modern society. It is a challenge that has politicians arguing, sets nations against each other, queries individual lifestyle choices, and ultimately asks questions about humanity's relationship with the rest of the planet. This Very Short Introduction draws on the very latest science from the 2021 IPCC Report, examining the evidence that climate change is already happening, and discussing its potential catastrophic impacts in the future. Mark Maslin also explores the geopolitics of climate change and the win-win solutions we can employ to avoid the very worst effects of climate change. Throughout, he demonstrates how we must develop new modes of thinking for the 21st century at individual, corporate, and government levels to collectively tackle the challenge of climate change. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.