Global Environmental Change

by Hester, R. E.; Harrison, Roy M.

• ISBN13: 9780854042807
• ISBN10: 0854042806
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-04-01
• Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry

Summary

Few people today are unaware of the far-reaching effects of global environmental change, and it is now generally accepted that human activities are the root cause of the changes in climate. "Global Environmental Change" provides a balanced overview of the problems associated with global warming. Commencing with a chapter on the evidence for global warming presented by Sir John Houghton, the book then goes on to discuss the many problems associated with air pollution. Subsequent chapters cover rising sea levels, the effect of climate change on human health and the role of environmental performance in industry. This readable and factually detailed book will have wide appeal but will be of particular interest to environmental scientists, industrial managers, policy-makers and students.

Table of Contents

An Overview of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and Its Process of Science Assessment	1	(20)
Sir John Houghton
Background	1	(1)
Formation of the IPCC	2	(1)
The IPCC 1990 Report	3	(1)
Ownership by Scientists and by Governments	4	(1)
The Science Policy Interface	5	(1)
IPCC's Work in Science Applications and in Social Sciences	6	(1)
The 1992, 1994 and 1995 IPCC Reports	7	(1)
Attacks on the IPCC	8	(1)
The FCCC and the IPCC	9	(2)
The Third Assessment Report	11	(6)
The Future Work of the IPCC	17	(2)
The IPCC in the Context of Other Global Issues	19	(1)
Acknowledgements	20	(1)
A Perspective on Global Air Pollution Problems	21	(36)
Johan C.I. Kuylenstierna
W. Kevin Hicks
Michael J. Chadwick
Introduction	21	(4)
Impacts of Air Pollution	25	(11)
The Regional Status of Air Pollution	36	(9)
Policy Development for Air Pollution Abatement	45	(8)
Initiatives to Improve Urban Air Quality in Developing Countries	53	(2)
Future Action	55	(2)
Influence of Climate Variability and Change on the Structure, Dynamics and Exploitation of Marine Ecosystems	57	(26)
Manuel Barange
Introduction: the Global Ocean's Response to Climate Variability and Change	57	(6)
Climate Variability and Change: Coupling Atmospheric and Biological Processes in the Ocean	63	(13)
Anthropogenic Effects	76	(4)
Conclusions and Way Forward	80	(2)
Acknowledgements	82	(1)
Rising Sea Levels: Potential Impacts and Responses	83	(26)
Robert J. Nicholls
Introduction	83	(1)
Sea-level Rise and Climate Change in Coastal Areas	84	(5)
Impact and Vulnerability Assessment of Sea-level Rise	89	(11)
Responding to Sea-level Rise	100	(4)
The Future of Vulnerability Assessments	104	(3)
Discussion/Conclusions	107	(1)
Acknowledgements	107	(2)
Climate Change, Global Food Supply and Risk of Hunger	109	(30)
Martin L. Parry
Matthew T. J. Livermore
Introduction	109	(1)
Initial Estimations for Climate Scenarios from Low Resolution Climate Models	110	(13)
Recently Estimated Effects for Climate Scenarios from Higher Resolution GCMs with New Socio-economic Projections	123	(6)
Reducing Impacts by Stabilizing CO2 Concentrations at Lower Levels	129	(8)
Conclusions	137	(2)
Global Environmental Changes and Human Health	139	(22)
Michael V. Ahern
Anthony J. McMichael
Introduction	139	(1)
Local, Regional and Global Environmental Changes	140	(14)
Environmental Conflict and Security	154	(2)
Two Issues: Environmental `Global Public Goods for Health' and Scientific Uncertainty	156	(4)
Acknowledgement	160	(1)
Corporate Environmental Performance	161	(24)
Frans Berkhout
Introduction	161	(1)
Corporate Social Responsibility	161	(4)
Environmental and Social Reporting	165	(1)
Environmental Performance Measurement and Reporting	166	(1)
Standardization Initiatives	167	(3)
Analysis of Environmental and Financial Performance of Firms	170	(5)
Analysis of Environmental Performance in Firms: The MEPI Study	175	(1)
Summary of Results of the MEPI Study	176	(6)
Conclusions and Issues for Policy	182	(3)
Subject Index	185