Overview

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.

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9780511804427

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Reviews

'No one has put together as encompassing and profound understanding of the scientific and politics of climate change as has Bert Metz. Whether as negotiator, analyst or leading force in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Metz brings to the global debate the ability to bridge the clarity demanded by the lay public to the intellectual subtlety of an experts' expert. A book for our time that looks far beyond.' Thomas C. Heller, Stanford University 'This book is a clear and lucid account of the interaction between Climate Change and Development. It provides lessons for both the academic community and those in public policy that need to take action to control climate change.' Professor Ogunlade R. Davidson, Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Sierra Leone and Former Vice-Chair and Co-Chair, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 'This is the book that I will use and refer to for my courses and training sessions on climate change mitigation and adaptation. If you are looking for practical solutions for a sustainable transition to control climate change then this is the ideal book. Bert Metz led the IPCC process with wisdom and passion, and he has now used his freedom of expression and excellent insight to explain how a better common future can be ensured.' Joyashree Roy, Jadavpur University, and Coordinating Leader Author, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 'Bert Metz distills several decades of accumulated insights and experience from the top climate change positions into one condensed sourcebook of wisdom. No-one else can see the 'mitigation universe' so comprehensively and from so many perspectives as he can, and he does not shy away from discussing some of the most sensitive issues or even perceived taboos. It is the ultimate synthesis of what you ever wanted or needed to know about climate change mitigation, written in a clear, easily navigable, very accessible language.' Diana Urge-Vorsatz, Central European University '... the book manages to cover a breadth of material in a very accessible and somewhat varied format. ... provid[es] a broad overview of the IPCC's scientific findings, whilst including interesting and engaging mini case-study insights on areas from biogas digester programmes in China to Tanzania's vulnerability to climate change impacts. ... This book is most definitely a useful reference text if you quickly need to know what the Kyoto Protocol entails, a summary of measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, or the potential impact of shifting transport modes.' Area

Author Information

Bert Metz has vast experience in the field of climate change policy. He served as the co-ordinator of climate policy at the Netherlands Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment and chief negotiator for the Netherlands and the European Union in the international climate change negotiations from 1992–1998. He was elected co-chairman of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) working group on climate change mitigation for the IPCC Third Assessment Report (1997–2002) and re-elected for the Fourth Assessment report (2002–2008; in which period the IPCC received the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize). At the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency from 1998–2005, he led the group on climate change and global sustainability, publishing a large series of national and international policy analyses on climate change and sustainability. Since retiring, he is serving as advisor to the European Climate Foundation and other organisations. In 2009 he received the European Practitioner Achievement Award in applying environmental economics from the European Association for Environmental and Resource Economists.

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