Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Introduction to the First Edition
- Introduction to the Second Edition
- 1 Global Warming and Climate Change
- 2 The Greenhouse Effect
- 3 The Greenhouse Gases
- 4 Climates of the Past
- 5 Modelling the Climate
- 6 Climate Change Under Business-as-usual
- 7 The Impacts of Climate Change
- 8 Why Should We Be Concerned?
- 9 Weighing the Uncertainty
- 10 Strategy for Action to Slow and Stabilize Climate Change
- 11 Energy and Transport for the Future
- 12 The Global Village
- Glossary
- Index
Introduction to the Second Edition
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Introduction to the First Edition
- Introduction to the Second Edition
- 1 Global Warming and Climate Change
- 2 The Greenhouse Effect
- 3 The Greenhouse Gases
- 4 Climates of the Past
- 5 Modelling the Climate
- 6 Climate Change Under Business-as-usual
- 7 The Impacts of Climate Change
- 8 Why Should We Be Concerned?
- 9 Weighing the Uncertainty
- 10 Strategy for Action to Slow and Stabilize Climate Change
- 11 Energy and Transport for the Future
- 12 The Global Village
- Glossary
- Index
Summary
Since the publication of the first edition nearly three years ago, interest in the issue of Global Warming and concern about it has continued to grow. The Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC) agreed at the Earth Summit in 1992 has been ratified and machinery for its implementation is gradually being developed. At the end of 1995, the IPCC produced a further comprehensive report updating the 1990 report. Although the main conclusions have not changed, much has been added to the detail of our knowledge regarding all aspects of the issue, the science, the impacts and the possible response. This revised edition takes into account this further information from the 1995 IPCC reports.
In the first edition I included a chapter, chapter 8, with the heading ‘Why should we be concerned?’ which addresses the question of the responsibility of humans for the Earth and for looking after the environment. In it I presented something of the basis for my personal motivation as a Christian for being concerned with environmental problems. Although I believe that it important that science is presented in the broad context of human values, I realised that the inclusion of such a chapter was something of a departure and wondered how it would be received.
Some have expressed surprise that in the middle of a science book, there should be, unusually, a chapter of this kind which deals with ethical and religious issues.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Global WarmingThe Complete Briefing, pp. xiv - xviPublisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1997