A systematic examination by the best writers in a variety of fields working on issues of how climate change affects society, and how social, economic, and political systems can, do, and should respond.

Climate change presents perhaps the most profound challenge ever confronted by human society. This volume is a definitive analysis drawing on the best thinking on questions of how climate change affects human systems, and how societies can, do, and should respond. Key topics covered include the history of the issues, social and political reception of climate science, the denial of that science by individuals and organized interests, the nature of the social disruptions caused by climate change, the economics of those disruptions and possible responses to them, questions of human security and social justice, obligations to future generations, policy instruments for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and governance at local, regional, national, international, and global levels.

PART I. Introduction PART II. The challenge and its history PART III. Science, society, and public opinion PART IV. Social impacts PART V. Security PART VI. Justice PART VII. Publics and movements PART VIII. Government responses PART IX. Policy instruments PART X. Producers and consumers PART XI. Global governance PART XII. Reconstruction.