Policy Making in an Era of Global Environmental Change

R. E. Munn

ISBN 10: 9401090173 / ISBN 13: 9789401090179

Published by Springer Netherlands, Springer Netherlands, 2012

About this Item

Druck auf Anfrage Neuware - Printed after ordering - Will major global environmental change take place in the 21st century How much is known about the change Can we find out more Must we take it seriously Should we do something now, or can we wait a decade or so This book seeks to answer these questions. Scientists are reaching consensus that rates of change in many of the environmental indicators are already increasing in some cases, and are likely to increase even more rapidly in the 21st century. Although there are still uncertainties, the case is made that the consequences of not taking action are too great to take a chance that the scientists' expectations are wrong. The book leads to the admonition - Think long term, act now! Signs of Change (Chapter 1) Chapter 1 provides a definition of global change and some examples of changes already taking place in the driving forces (demographics, energy consumption, deforestation, 'mining of groundwater', etc. ) and in some of the environmental variables (increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations, depletion of stratospheric ozone, desert ification, decreasing biodiversity, etc. ) The chapter raises some important questions for science and society, and concludes that global environmental change is both a scientific and a political issue.

Seller Inventory # 9789401090179

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Policy Making in an Era of Global Environmental Change
• Publisher: Springer Netherlands, Springer Netherlands
• Publication Date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 9401090173
• ISBN 13: 9789401090179
• Binding: Taschenbuch
• Condition: Neu
• Dimensions: 235W x 155H x 14D millimeters 235 millimeters width by 155 millimeters height by 14 millimeters depth
• Weight: 376 grams

About this title

Synopsis

Will major global environmental change take place in the 21st century? How much is known about the change? Can we find out more? Must we take it seriously? Should we do something now, or can we wait a decade or so? This book seeks to answer these questions. Scientists are reaching consensus that rates of change in many of the environmental indicators are already increasing in some cases, and are likely to increase even more rapidly in the 21st century. Although there are still uncertainties, the case is made that the consequences of not taking action are too great to take a chance that the scientists' expectations are wrong. The book leads to the admonition - Think long term, act now! Signs of Change (Chapter 1) Chapter 1 provides a definition of global change and some examples of changes already taking place in the driving forces (demographics, energy consumption, deforestation, 'mining of groundwater', etc. ) and in some of the environmental variables (increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations, depletion of stratospheric ozone, desert­ ification, decreasing biodiversity, etc. ) The chapter raises some important questions for science and society, and concludes that global environmental change is both a scientific and a political issue.

Review

` ... is extremely well written, easy to understand, and amasses an amazingly large volume of information. I heartily recommend 9it for those who desire a broad overview of the entire range of issues relating to global change.'
Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 78:6 (1997)