Policy Implications Of Greenhouse Warming: Mitigation, Adaptation, And The Science Base

Policy Implications Of Greenhouse Warming: Mitigation, Adaptation, And The Science Base
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Global warming continues to gain importance on the international agenda and calls for action are heightening. Yet, there is still controversy over what must be done and what is needed to proceed. Policy Implications of Greenhouse Warming describes the information necessary to make decisions about global warming resulting from atmospheric releases of radiatively active trace gases. The conclusions and recommendations include some unexpected results. The distinguished authoring committee provides specific advice for U.S. policy and addresses the need for an international response to potential greenhouse warming. It offers a realistic view of gaps in the scientific understanding of greenhouse warming and how much effort and expense might be required to produce definitive answers. The book presents methods for assessing options to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, offset emissions, and assist humans and unmanaged systems of plants and animals to adjust to the consequences of global warming. Table of Contents Front Matter Part One: Synthesis 1 Introduction 2 Background 3 The Greenhouse Gases and Their Effects 4 Policy Framework 5 Adaptation 6 Mitigation 7 International Considerations 8 Findings and Conclusions 9 Recommendations Individual Statement by a Member Of The Synthesis Panel Part Two: The Science Base 10 Introduction 11 Emission Rates and Concentrations Of Greenhouse Gases 12 Radiative Forcing and Feedback 13 Model Performance 14 The Climate Record 15 Hydrology 16 Sea Level 17 A Greenhouse Forcing and Temperature Rise Estimation Procedure 18 Conclusions Part Three: Mitigation 19 Introduction 20 Framework for Evaluating Mitigation Options 21 Residential and Commercial Energy Management 22 Industrial Energy Management 23 Transportation Energy Management 24 Energy Supply Systems 25 Nonenergy Emission Reduction 26 Population 27 Deforestation 28 Geoengineering 29 Findings and Recommendations Part Four: Adaptation 30 Findings 31 Recommendations 32 Issues, Assumptions, and Values 33 Methods and Tools 34 Sesitivities, Impacts, and Adaptations 35 Indices 36 Final Words Individual Statement by a Member of the Adaptation Panel Appendixes A Questions and Answers About Greenhouse Warming B Thinking About Time in the Context of Global Climate Change C Conservation Supply Curves for Buildings D Conservation Supply Curves for Industrial Energy Use E Conservation Supply Data for Three Transportation Sectors F Transportation System Management G Nuclear Energy H A Solar Hydrogen System I Biomass J Cost-Effectiveness of Electrical Generation Technologies K Cost-Effectiveness of Chlorofluorocarbon Phaseout-United States and Worldwide L Agriculture M Landfill Methane Reduction N Population Growth and Greenhouse Gas Emissions O Deforestation Prevention P Reforestation Q Geoengineering Options R Description of Economic Estimates of the Cost of Reducing Greenhouse Emissions S Glossary T Conversion Tables U Prefaces from the Individual Panel Reports V Acknowledgments from the Individual Panel Reports W Background Information on Panel Members and Professional Staff Index

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