An accessible introduction to climate change that outlines key scientific, economic, and political issues, reviews how the global community has addressed the issue to date, and discusses the options being explored for further action.

An accessible introduction to climate change that outlines key scientific, economic, and political issues, reviews how the global community has addressed the issue to date, and discusses the options being explored for further action. Climate Change: A Reference Handbook offers readers a way to separate science from politics on this crucial and often contentious issue. It provides a comprehensive introduction to the science and public policy of climate change, including discussion of historical developments, today's key concepts, and the future of climate science and policy. Climate Change begins by explaining the science behind global climate change, including the growing consensus that human activity is a major contributing factor. It then takes an objective look at the key conflicts in climate science and policy, describes those that have been resolved, and offers a balanced review of proposals for those that have not. A separate chapter focuses on the scientific, economic, and political aspects of climate change as they are playing out specifically in the United States.

"Climate Change, part of ABC-CLIO's 'Contemporary World Issues' series of reference handbooks, provides a useful resource and introduction to this important topic. . . . This volume would be a useful resource for students seeking background on a topic of great current interest, controversy, and relevance." - Choice

"Climate Change is part of the outstanding ABC-CLIO series on 'Contemporary World Issues' and focuses upon all of the various aspects of the environmental causes and effects of our rapidly changing climate. . . . Climate Change is an ideal academic textbook for environmental studies, as well as being easily accessible for the non-specialist general reader with an interest in this complex and critically important subject." - Midwest Book Review

"The study of climate change and its impact on our past and present has increased in recent years. Part of ABC-CLIO's 'Contemporary World Issues' series, this compact volume provides a useful introduction to the history and current scholarship on climate change. Written by Downie (Fairfield Univ.), the editor of other textbooks on the topic who is here joined by Kate Brash (Columbia Univ.) and Catherine Vaughn (International Research Inst. for Climate and Society), the book comprises of eight chapters, chronologies, biographical sketches, and a directory of organizations, among other features. The first three chapters cover the topic in great detail, tackling both controversies and solutions from a worldwide perspective. At first glance, the last four chapters (serving more like appendixes) seem like filler material, but the 25-page chronology (beginning in 1750), 51-page data and documents index, and even the directory of organizations all add currency and value. BOTTOM LINE This unassuming book may deceive the selector into passing on it, but while it remains current, it will be useful to older teens and adults doing introductory research on climate change." - Library Journal

"This title is suitable for high school and public libraries." - ARBA

"Most books on the topic of climate change discuss science: this offers a social and political perspective key to any understanding of climate change, considering legislation, events, politics, and more. From world-wide issues surrounding climate change specific to different countries to scientific controversies overall, this offers a key discussion essential for any high school to college-level collection!" - The Midwest Book Review - California Bookwatch