Global Climate Change: The Science, Economics and PoliticsJames M. Griffin Edward Elgar Publishing, 2003 M01 1 - 270 pages Global climate change cannot be understood without knowing the fundamental principles of science, economics and politics that condition our policy choices. To that end, the contributors to this volume, experts in their respective fields, take a comprehensive look at the major issues involved. This volume is written for policymakers and informed citizenry who want to understand at a general level the complexities of global climate change without becoming enmeshed in technical minutia. The introduction emphasizes the core fact that climate change issues cut across disciplines. William Schlesinger and Gerald North explain the carbon cycle and how increased greenhouse gases impact temperature. The economics papers deal with the applicability of benefit/cost analysis and then proceed to examine the benefits of avoiding temperature change versus the costs of the various CO2 abatement options. Finally, David Victor, a Stanford political scientist, asks which policies are feasible in a world where the incentives differ dramatically among countries. The book closes with open letters to the President of the United States. |
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Global Climate Change: The Science, Economics and Politics James M. Griffin No preview available - 2003 |
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abatement agriculture allocation anthropogenic approach atmospheric CO2 benefit-cost analysis billion biomass Cambridge carbon capture carbon cycle carbon dioxide carbon emissions carbon storage carbon tax century Chapter climate models climate policy climate sensitivity CO₂ CO2 concentrations CO2 emissions developing countries discount rate distribution Earth's economic ecosystems Edmonds effects efficiency emission permits emission scenarios emission trading emissions mitigation emissions path energy environmental estimates example Figure forests fossil fuels future global carbon global climate change global warming greenhouse gases impacts of climate income increase intergenerational equity investment IPCC issue Kyoto Protocol limited market impacts measure Mendelsohn nations non-market damages non-market impacts Nordhaus nuclear power ocean options Pareto improvement percent PgC/yr potential ppmv problem programs reduce regions rise Schlesinger Science sector sequestration soils sources stabilizing strategy studies targets temperature tion uncertainty United utility willingness to pay
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Page 252 - Convention, stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.
Page 49 - High Medium Medium Low Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Low Low Low Low Low Low Low Low Level of Scientific Understanding Figure 3. Global mean radiative forcing of the climate system for the year 2000, relative to 1750.
Page 55 - A future world of very rapid economic growth, global population that peaks in mid-century and declines thereafter, and the rapid introduction of new and more efficient technologies. Major underlying themes are convergence among regions, capacity building, and increased cultural and social interactions, with a substantial reduction in regional differences in per capita income.
Page 39 - Lomander, A. (1998) Temperature dependence of organic matter decomposition: a critical review using literature data analyzed with different models. Biology and Fertility of Soils 27 , 258-262.
Page 55 - ... mid-century and declines thereafter, and the rapid introduction of new and more efficient technologies. Major underlying themes are convergence among regions, capacity building and increased cultural and social interactions, with a substantial reduction in regional differences in per capita income. The Al scenario family develops into three groups that describe alternative directions of technological change in the energy 'system. The three...
Page 172 - what is the best course of action for the next hundred years" but rather "what is the best course for the near-term given the long-term uncertainties." Several studies have attempted to identify the optimal nearterm hedging strategy based on the uncertainty regarding the long-term objective. These studies find that...
Page 23 - A variety of gases, including water vapor (H2O), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O...