An unbiased and comprehensive overview, based on the findings of the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). Using no jargon, it looks at tackling and adapting to man-made climate change, and works through the often confusing potential solutions. Bert Metz is the former co-chair of the IPCC, at the center of international climate change negotiations. His insider expertise provides a cutting edge assessment of issues at the top of the political agenda. He leads the reader succinctly through ambitious mitigation scenarios, in combination with adapting our future societies to different climate conditions and the potential costs of these measures. Illustrations and extensive boxed examples motivate students to engage with this essential global debate, and questions for each chapter are available online for course instructors. Minimal technical language also makes this book valuable to anyone with an interest in action to combat climate change.

Presents a cutting edge overview of tackling and adapting to climate change, written by a lead member of the IPCC.

1 Climate change and its impacts: a short summary 1 2 Greenhouse gas emissions 30 3 Keeping climate change within sustainable limits: where to draw the line? 51 4 Development first 78 5 Energy supply 105 6 Transportation 151 7 Buildings 181 8 Industry and waste management 209 9 Land use, agriculture, and forestry 235 10 How does it fit together? 261 11 Policies and measures 287 12 International climate change agreements 318 Index 351 The colour plates will be found between pages 208 and 209