The Challenge of Climate Change Which Way Now?

by Perlmutter, Daniel P.; Rothstein, Robert L.

• ISBN13: 9780470654972
• ISBN10: 047065497X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-12-13
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

This book fills a previously unfilled niche on the popular subjects of climate change and global warming. Rather than evaluating whether or not the problem exists, Challenging Climate Change takes the stance that global warming is an ever-present reality in today's environment and systematically outlines a course of action for moving forward. The book addresses the interlocking issues of policy, negotiations, and technical solutions to the problems related to climate control while also proposing specific steps and a list of priorities. Throughout each chapter, the authors report information on recent findings on each topic and present and interpret a great variety of proposals on remedies to global warming. Each subject is evaluated from both technical and policy perspectives, covering topics such as renewable energy, the problem of supply and demand, energy storage, and international negotiations on implementation of environmental policies. The authors' uniquely different academic backgrounds come together on this topic to explore the difficulties as well as the needs of international agreements, together with the associated scientific potentials and limitations. It rejects pessimistic views, arguing that there are technological changes and/or important policies to pursue that can make a difference. The writing is straightforward and directed to an educated but non-professional audience, requiring no formal training in either science or international relations.

Author Biography

Daniel D. Perlmutter is Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, and has served as Chair of the Chemical Engineering Department at the University and as University Ombudsman. His contributions were recognized by a Lindbach Award for excellence in teaching, a Guggenheim Foundation Award for research, two Fulbright Fellowships, and the Lectureship Award of the American Association for Engineering Education. His research focused on the dynamics and control of chemical reaction systems, yielded three books and many publications in professional journals. Robert L. Rothstein was the Harvey Picker Distinguished Professor of International Relations at Colgate University. He has published widely on the international negotiating process and peace processes in protracted conflicts and has been awarded a variety of prestigious fellowships, including the Rockefeller Foundation, the Carnegie Foundation, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and the U.S. Institute of Peace. He has also been a consultant to the Department of State and a number of foundations and international institutions.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xi
Acknowledgments	p. xiv
In the Beginning	p. 1
Introduction	p. 1
The Viewpoint Taken	p. 1
What is Your Problem?	p. 6
The Challenges We Face	p. 9
Notes and References	p. 14
A View of Geopolitics	p. 16
Introduction	p. 16
Are There Limits to Growth?	p. 17
Public Goods and Public "Bads"	p. 23
Policymaking and Negotiations	p. 27
Notes and References	p. 31
Surveying the Field	p. 33
Introduction	p. 33
A History of Change	p. 34
Measuring Energy	p. 38
Supply: Where Do We Get It?	p. 39
Demand: How Do We Use It?	p. 42
Will We Run Out of Oil? Or Gas?	p. 43
Forms of Energy	p. 50
Notes and References	p. 53
Global Warming	p. 55
Introduction	p. 55
Temperature of the Planet	p. 57
Greenhouse Gases	p. 58
Is Global Warming Our Fault?	p. 66
The RF Index	p. 67
Air Pollution Revisited	p. 69
Immediate or Short-Term Remedies	p. 71
Limits to Growth and the Commons Revisited	p. 74
Sequestration	p. 76
Notes and References	p. 78
Renewable Energy	p. 81
Introduction	p. 81
Hydroelectric Power	p. 83
Biofuels	p. 85
Wind Power	p. 89
Power from Tides and Waves	p. 91
Direct Use of Solar Energy	p. 93
Nuclear Energy	p. 96
Geothermal Energy	p. 97
Indirect Emissions and Hidden Costs	p. 98
Notes and References	p. 100
Energy Storage	p. 103
Introduction	p. 103
Batteries and Fuel Cells	p. 104
Syngas and Liquid Fuels	p. 107
Hydrogen Gas	p. 109
Pumped Water or Compressed Air	p. 111
Hot Water or Molten Salt	p. 112
Flywheels	p. 114
Notes and References	p. 114
The Negotiating Process	p. 116
Introduction	p. 116
A Period of Transition	p. 117
Our Worst Fears	p. 118
Guidance from a Theory of Bargaining	p. 121
Useful Lessons from the Past	p. 122
What Should a Treaty Accomplish?	p. 125
Where We are Heading	p. 128
Notes and References	p. 129
From Theory to Practice	p. 131
Introduction	p. 131
Different Regimes and Perspectives	p. 132
Improving the Prospects	p. 134
The Debate on Venues	p. 138
Bargaining Strategies: Domestic and International	p. 143
Big Bang or Accelerated Incrementalism?	p. 145
Choices in the Context of Risk	p. 147
Notes and References	p. 148
Where Do We Go from Here?	p. 150
Introduction	p. 150
Is the Feasible Insufficient?	p. 151
Fiscal Measures	p. 155
A Complicated Question	p. 157
An Overall Assessment	p. 160
Choices and Priorities	p. 161
Caveats	p. 166
A To-Do List	p. 167
Notes and References	p. 169
A List of Priorities	p. 171
Introduction	p. 171
Short-Term Gains: Less than 10 Years	p. 172
Medium-Term Improvements: 10-20 Years	p. 176
Long-Term Solutions: More than 20 Years	p. 178
Plan A and Plan B, Simultaneously	p. 182
Notes and References	p. 187
Prospects After Copenhagen	p. 188
Introduction	p. 188
Costly Failure or Small Success?	p. 189
Reframing the Debate	p. 196
The Good News and the Bad News	p. 200
The China Problem	p. 206
Third World Dilemmas	p. 209
Polarized Politics	p. 211
Notes and References	p. 218
Index	p. 223
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