The Science and Politics of Global Climate Change: A Guide to the Debate

by Andrew E. Dessler, Edward A. Parson

This third edition has been comprehensively updated to reflect the large changes in scientific knowledge and policy debates on climate change since the previous edition in 2009. It provides a concise but thorough overview of the science, technology, economics, policy, and politics of climate change in a single volume. It explains how scientific and policy debates work, outlines the scientific evidence for the reality and seriousness of climate change and the basic atmospheric science that supports it, and discusses policy options and the current state of the policy debate. By pulling these elements together, the book explains why the issue can be so confusing and provides guidance on practical routes forward. Anyone interested in climate change, the global environment, or how science is used in policy debates should read this book. It is the ideal textbook for undergraduate or graduate courses in environmental policy and climate change.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Environment, Climate Change, Politics

278 pages, Hardcover

First published December 31, 2005

Reviews

[Eliza Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dessler and Parson’s book provided a great introduction to climate change. For the most part, the work is thorough in its exposition of climate issues from both the science and policy angles. My main complaint is that the book could be a bit repetitive at times. Regardless, I will certainly use this book as a reference in the future, and I recommend it to anyone who is seeking to learn more about the climate debate.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

A highly readable introduction to (predictably) the science and politics behind climate change, Dessler and Parson present a comprehensive overview of the issue's contours and significance. Written before the IPCC released their Fourth Assessment Report, and therefore lacking a degree of currency enjoyed by more recent publications, their book covers the terrain of climate skepticism, risk assessment, the state of international cooperation (pre-COP15), and theories of science. If you're looking to gain a deep insight into the anticipated impacts of climate change or an assessment of current mitigation options, this would not be the preferred source. Instead, check out reports published by Resources for the Future, the World Resources Institute, or the Kennedy School's Belfer Center. Still, for covering less than 200 pages, I would highly recommend this to anyone seeking a standalone, intelligent primer on the issue that will most gravely challenge this century's policymakers.

[Susan Arra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and easy reading!

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now this book is a decent introduction into the state of scientific knowledge about climate trends as well as the politics surrounding the issue. It is a sober, non-shrill discussion of what we think we know, how we know it, and what we might expect in the future. I have one serious complaint. At one point the authors reproduce the ever popular graph that shows C02 levels and temperature trending together over the last several hundred thousand years. The authors point out that it is "likely" that the temperature rises happened first and caused C02 increases, and then they add that such an observation does not "refute" the claim that rising CO2 could cause temp increases. True, it doesn't refute it, but it would mean that those graphs showing C02 and Temp running together through history are COMPLETELY IRRELEVANT to the claim that increases in CO2 cause temp increases. Note that I am not saying that the causality cannot run in both directions, but basic logic tells us that A causes B is not evidence in any way whatsoever that B causes A. It does not serve the ends of those concerned well when they use bogus arguments to convince us; furthermore, I would have liked to have seen a discussion of the scientific evidence that the mechanism of temp increases of late are CO2 increases. The argument in this book is basically that the other known causes of climate change are unlikely, but to those of us who are not scientists it is not clear how strong the belief is that it is CO2 (along with water vapor) that keeps the sun's rays hugging the earth.

[غياث وهب · Rating 4 out of 5]

يطرح الكاتب كيفية تكوين البيوت الزجاجية التي هي المصطلح للاحتباس الحراري وتغير درجات الحرارة على مر العصور وكوننا غير مسيطرين على شدة الشمس والتغيرات العبقية