Climate Change: A Reference Handbook (Contemporary World Issues) - Hardcover

David Downie; Kate Brash; Catherine Vaughan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1598841521 ISBN 13: 9781598841527

Publisher: ABC-CLIO, 2009

Synopsis

An accessible introduction to climate change that outlines key scientific, economic, and political issues, reviews how the global community has addressed the issue to date, and discusses the options being explored for further action. * Numerous primary source documents including excerpts from important early scientific articles on climate change, global climate treaties, the 2007 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessment reports, and statements from academics, businesses, religious groups, and more * A rich variety of graphics help readers understand current and expected impacts of climate change, as well as the latest data and ideas from the scientific community on the subject of global climate change

About this title

Review

"Climate Change, part of ABC-CLIO's 'Contemporary World Issues' series of reference handbooks, provides a useful resource and introduction to this important topic. . . . This volume would be a useful resource for students seeking background on a topic of great current interest, controversy, and relevance." - Choice

"Climate Change is part of the outstanding ABC-CLIO series on 'Contemporary World Issues' and focuses upon all of the various aspects of the environmental causes and effects of our rapidly changing climate. . . . Climate Change is an ideal academic textbook for environmental studies, as well as being easily accessible for the non-specialist general reader with an interest in this complex and critically important subject." - Midwest Book Review

"The study of climate change and its impact on our past and present has increased in recent years. Part of ABC-CLIO's 'Contemporary World Issues' series, this compact volume provides a useful introduction to the history and current scholarship on climate change. Written by Downie (Fairfield Univ.), the editor of other textbooks on the topic who is here joined by Kate Brash (Columbia Univ.) and Catherine Vaughn (International Research Inst. for Climate and Society), the book comprises of eight chapters, chronologies, biographical sketches, and a directory of organizations, among other features. The first three chapters cover the topic in great detail, tackling both controversies and solutions from a worldwide perspective. At first glance, the last four chapters (serving more like appendixes) seem like filler material, but the 25-page chronology (beginning in 1750), 51-page data and documents index, and even the directory of organizations all add currency and value. BOTTOM LINE This unassuming book may deceive the selector into passing on it, but while it remains current, it will be useful to older teens and adults doing introductory research on climate change." - Library Journal

"This title is suitable for high school and public libraries." - ARBA

"Most books on the topic of climate change discuss science: this offers a social and political perspective key to any understanding of climate change, considering legislation, events, politics, and more. From world-wide issues surrounding climate change specific to different countries to scientific controversies overall, this offers a key discussion essential for any high school to college-level collection!" - The Midwest Book Review - California Bookwatch

About the Author

David L. Downie, PhD, is director of environmental studies at Fairfield University in Fairfield, CT. His published works include Global Environmental Politics, 4th Edition and The Global Environment: Institutions, Law, and Policy. Kate Brash is assistant director of the Global Roundtable on Climate Change at Columbia University, New York, NY. Catherine Vaughan is the program coordinator at the Global Roundtable on Climate Change at Columbia University, New York, NY.

About this edition

• Publisher: ABC-CLIO
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 1598841521
• ISBN 13: 9781598841527
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 360