A history of the science and politics of climate change: the role of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Bert Bolin0521880823, 9780521880824

How did the global climate change issues emerge? The issue of human-induced global climate change became a major environmental concern during the twentieth century. In response to growing concern about human-induced global climate change, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was formed in 1988. Written by its first chairman, this book is an overview of the history of the IPCC. It describes and evaluates the intricate interplay between key factors in the science and politics of climate change, the strategy that has been followed, and the regretfully slow pace in getting to grips with the uncertainties that have prevented earlier action being taken. The book also highlights the emerging conflict between establishing a sustainable global energy system and preventing a serious change in global climate. This text provides researchers and policy makers with an insight into the history of the politics of climate change.

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Table of contents :
Title
……Page 1
Contents
……Page 5
I. The early history of the climate change issue
……Page 15
1. Nineteenth-century discoveries
……Page 17
2. The natural carbon cycle and life on earth
……Page 23
3. Global research initiatives in meteorology and climatology
……Page 33
4. Early international assessments of climate change
……Page 47
II. The climate change issue becomes one of global concern
……Page 55
5.
Setting the stage……Page 57
6. The scientific basis for a climate convention
……Page 67
7. Serving the Intergovernmental
Negotiations Committee……Page 93
8. The IPCC second assessment report
……Page 120
9. In the aftermath of the IPCC second assessment
……Page 139
10. The Kyoto Protocol is agreed and a third assessment begun
……Page 161
11. A decade of hesitance and slow progress
……Page 177
III. Are we at a turning point in addressing climate change?
……Page 207
12. Key scientific findings of prime political relevance
……Page 209
13. Climate change and a future sustainable global energy supply
……Page 228
Some concluding remarks
……Page 262
Notes
……Page 265
References
……Page 276
Name Index
……Page 287
Subject Index
……Page 289