Policy implications of greenhouse warming / Policy Implications of Greenhouse Warming--Synthesis Panel, Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy ... [et al.].

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy (U.S.). Policy Implications of Greenhouse Warming--Synthesis Panel.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Global warming--Government policy--United States.

Global warming.

Greenhouse effect, Atmospheric--Government policy--United States.

Greenhouse effect, Atmospheric.

Environmental policy--United States.

Environmental policy.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (141 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : National Academy Press, 1991.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Readily accessible to any interested reader, this volume offers an analysis of the major issues surrounding greenhouse warming and presents the authoring panel's recommendations for U.S. policy. Recommendations address a wide range of issues, including energy policy; deforestation; human population growth; the appropriate role of the United States in an international strategy; and needed research on scientific, economic, and social questions. Policy Implications of Greenhouse Warming analyzes scientific understanding of greenhouse gas accumulation and its effect on climate; prospects for human, animal, and plant adaptation to rising global temperatures; and options for mitigating the effects of greenhouse gas emissions.

Contents:

Policy Implications Of Greenhouse Warming

Copyright

Preface

Acknowledgments

Contents

1 Introduction

2 Background

THE GLOBAL NATURE OF GREENHOUSE WARMING

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FROM HUMAN ACTIVITIES

THE EFFECTS OF WORLD POPULATION AND ECONOMIC GROWTH

TRENDS IN HUMAN ACTIVITIES AFFECTING GREENHOUSE GAS CONCENTRATIONS

3 The Greenhouse Gases and Their Effects

EARTH'S RADIATION BALANCE

WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM CLIMATE MODELS

WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM THE TEMPERATURE RECORD

SEA LEVEL

POSSIBLE DRAMATIC CHANGES

CONCLUSIONS

4 Policy Framework

COMPARING MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION

ASSIGNING VALUES TO FUTURE OUTCOMES

A METHOD FOR COMPARING OPTIONS

Assessing Mitigation Options

Assessing Adaptation Options

OTHER FACTORS AFFECTING POLICY CHOICES ABOUT GREENHOUSE WARMING

5 Adaptation

METHODS OF ADAPTATION

THE ROLE OF INNOVATION

ASSESSING IMPACTS AND ADAPTIVE CAPACITY

CO2 Fertilization of Green Plants

Agriculture

Managed Forests and Grasslands

Natural Landscape

Marine and Coastal Environments

Water Resources

Industry and Energy

Tourism and Recreation

Settlements and Coastal Structures

Human Health

Migration

Political Tranquility

SOME IMPORTANT INDICES

EVALUATING ADAPTATION OPTIONS

ADAPTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE

Activities with Low Sensitivity

Activities That Are Sensitive But Can Be Adapted at a Cost

Activities That Are Sensitive with Questionable Adjustment or Adaptation

Cataclysmic Climatic Changes

6 Mitigation

THE ROLE OF COST-EFFECTIVENESS

TECHNOLOGICAL COSTING VERSUS ENERGY MODELING

PLANNING A COST-EFFECTIVE POLICY

AN ASSESSMENT OF MITIGATION OPTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES

COMPARING OPTIONS

IMPLEMENTING MITIGATION OPTIONS

7 International Considerations.

INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES

FUTURE INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS

OTHER ACTIONS

8 Findings and Conclusions

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

Capacities of Industrialized and Developing Countries

Taxes and Incentives

Fundamental and Applied Research

A PROPOSED FRAMEWORK FOR RESPONDING TO THE THREAT OF GREENHOUSE WARMING

GENERAL CONCLUSIONS

9 Recommendations

REDUCING OR OFFSETTING EMISSIONS OF GREENHOUSE GASES

Halocarbon Emissions

Energy Policy

Forest Offsets

ENHANCING ADAPTATION TO GREENHOUSE WARMING

IMPROVING KNOWLEDGE FOR FUTURE DECISIONS

EVALUATING GEOENGINEERING OPTIONS

EXERCISING INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP

APPENDIXES

Appendix A Questions and Answers About Greenhouse Warming

THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT: WHAT IS KNOWN, WHAT CAN BE PREDICTED

A FRAMEWORK FOR RESPONDING TO ADDITIONAL GREENHOUSE WARMING

IMPACTS OF ADDITIONAL GREENHOUSE WARMING

PREVENTING OR REDUCING ADDITIONAL GREENHOUSE WARMING

ADAPTING TO ADDITIONAL GREENHOUSE WARMING

IMPLEMENTING RESPONSE PROGRAMS

ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN

Appendix B Background Information on Synthesis Panel Members and Professional Staff

SYNTHESIS PANEL MEMBERS

PROFESSIONAL STAFF

Appendix C Membership Lists for Effects, Mitigation, and Adaptation Panels

EFFECTS PANEL

MITIGATION PANEL

ADAPTATION PANEL

Index.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9786610203796

9781280203794

128020379X

9780309583152

0309583152

9780585021652

0585021651

OCLC:

42328863