Policy implications of greenhouse warming : mitigation, adaptation, and the science base / Panel on Policy Implications of Greenhouse Warming, Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy, National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

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

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 (944 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : National Academy Press, 1992.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Global warming continues to gain importance on the international agenda and calls for action are heightening. Yet, there is still controversy over what must be done and what is needed to proceed. Policy Implications of Greenhouse Warming describes the information necessary to make decisions about global warming resulting from atmospheric releases of radiatively active trace gases. The conclusions and recommendations include some unexpected results. The distinguished authoring committee provides specific advice for U.S. policy and addresses the need for an international response to potential greenhouse warming. It offers a realistic view of gaps in the scientific understanding of greenhouse warming and how much effort and expense might be required to produce definitive answers. The book presents methods for assessing options to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, offset emissions, and assist humans and unmanaged systems of plants and animals to adjust to the consequences of global warming.

Contents:

""Policy Implications of Greenhouse Warming""; ""Copyright""; ""Preface""; ""Contents""; ""Part One Synthesis ""; ""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""; ""CONCLUSIONS""; ""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""; ""CONCLUSIONS""; ""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""; ""Individual Statement by a Member of the Synthesis Panel""; ""Part Two The Science Base ""; ""10 Introduction ""; ""NOTE""; ""References""; ""11 Emission Rates and Concentrations of Greenhouse Gases ""; ""CARBON DIOXIDE""; ""METHANE""; ""HALOCARBONS""; ""NITROUS OXIDE""

""NOTES""

Notes:

Contains the report of the Policy Implications of Greenhouse Warming--Synthesis Panel published separately in 1991 under the same title.

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

ISBN:

9786610212149

9781280212147

1280212144

9780309555883

0309555884

9780585030951

0585030952

OCLC:

923266636