Ebook: Global Warming and Energy Policy

The first part of the conference explores two major environmental concerns that arise from fuel use: (1) the prospect that the globe will become warmer as a result of emissions of carbon dioxide, and (2) the effect upon health of the fine particles emitted as combustion products. The conference focused on the fact that there was lack of data direct enough to enable us to predict an entirely satisfactory result, and that makes policy options particularly difficult. With regard to (1) above, in the second half of the 20th century there were major increases in anthropogenic C02 emissions, and it is generally agreed that these were responsible for an increase in C02 concentrations. But the relationship between global temperature and CO2 concentrations remains murky. The principal problem is that water vapor is a more important greenhouse gas than C02 and that the concentrations of water vapor vary widely in time and space. The approach to this problem is probably, but not certainly, a positive feedback effect: as temperature increases so does the water vapor leading to further temperature increases. Scientists associated with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) tend to believe the general features of the models. Other scientists are often less convinced.

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This volume, proceedings of a symposium on global warming and energy policy, explores two major environmental concerns that arise from fuel use: the prospect that the globe will become warmer as a result of emissions of carbon dioxide, and the effect upon health of the fine particles emitted as combustion products. In regards to the former, in the second half of the 20th century there were major increases in anthropogenic CO₂ emissions, and it is generally agreed that these were responsible for an increase in CO₂ concentrations. However, the relationship between global temperature and CO₂ is unclear. It is known, though, that water vapor is a more important greenhouse gas than CO₂ and that the concentrations of water vapor vary widely in time and space.
It is generally believed that as temperature increases so does the water vapor, leading to further temperature increases. Some scientists agree with this model, and some disagree with it. This volume (a) outlines the situation of predicting temperature rise, (b) outlines the present situation on the effect of temperature on economic activity, (c) discusses what steps can be taken to clarify this situation, and (d) discusses what society might do while waiting for these steps to produce results.
In regards to the effect of combustion products on health, the situation in this case is less global, although many parts of the world are affected. Depending on epidemiological study alone, it is hard to be sure about a risk caused by a substance unless it at least doubles the frequency of an outcome which occurs naturally. The scientific uncertainties, therefore, remain almost as large as those for global warming.

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This volume, proceedings of a symposium on global warming and energy policy, explores two major environmental concerns that arise from fuel use: the prospect that the globe will become warmer as a result of emissions of carbon dioxide, and the effect upon health of the fine particles emitted as combustion products. In regards to the former, in the second half of the 20th century there were major increases in anthropogenic CO₂ emissions, and it is generally agreed that these were responsible for an increase in CO₂ concentrations. However, the relationship between global temperature and CO₂ is unclear. It is known, though, that water vapor is a more important greenhouse gas than CO₂ and that the concentrations of water vapor vary widely in time and space.
It is generally believed that as temperature increases so does the water vapor, leading to further temperature increases. Some scientists agree with this model, and some disagree with it. This volume (a) outlines the situation of predicting temperature rise, (b) outlines the present situation on the effect of temperature on economic activity, (c) discusses what steps can be taken to clarify this situation, and (d) discusses what society might do while waiting for these steps to produce results.
In regards to the effect of combustion products on health, the situation in this case is less global, although many parts of the world are affected. Depending on epidemiological study alone, it is hard to be sure about a risk caused by a substance unless it at least doubles the frequency of an outcome which occurs naturally. The scientific uncertainties, therefore, remain almost as large as those for global warming.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xx
Five Issues....Pages 1-9
Some Global Environmental Issues of Public Concern....Pages 11-28
Front Matter....Pages 29-29
Free-Market Approaches to Controlling Carbon Dioxide Emissions to the Atmosphere....Pages 31-46
The Precautionary Principle: A guide for action....Pages 47-54
Nuclear Power — Meeting Tomorrow’s Electrical Generation Paradigm....Pages 55-63
Front Matter....Pages 65-65
Nuclear Energy in the 21st Century....Pages 67-104
Nuclear Plant Financial Performance in a Restructured Utility System....Pages 105-117
Global Warming — An Opportunity for Nuclear Power? Well Yes, But..........Pages 119-127
Near-Term Demonstration of Benign, Sustainable, Nuclear Power....Pages 129-138
Energy Technologies and Climate Change: A World and European Outlook....Pages 139-150
Global Warming: A Science Overview....Pages 151-159
“Is Nuclear Energy Going to Miss Its Environment Mission?”....Pages 161-167
California’s Electricity Problem — and the Potential World Energy Disasters....Pages 169-170
Front Matter....Pages 171-171
Non-Proliferation Issues for Generation IV Power Systems....Pages 173-185
Blacklight Power Technology....Pages 187-201
Gas Resources for the 21st Century....Pages 203-212
The Future of Nuclear Energy in the U.S.....Pages 213-217
Back Matter....Pages 219-220

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This volume, proceedings of a symposium on global warming and energy policy, explores two major environmental concerns that arise from fuel use: the prospect that the globe will become warmer as a result of emissions of carbon dioxide, and the effect upon health of the fine particles emitted as combustion products. In regards to the former, in the second half of the 20th century there were major increases in anthropogenic CO₂ emissions, and it is generally agreed that these were responsible for an increase in CO₂ concentrations. However, the relationship between global temperature and CO₂ is unclear. It is known, though, that water vapor is a more important greenhouse gas than CO₂ and that the concentrations of water vapor vary widely in time and space.
It is generally believed that as temperature increases so does the water vapor, leading to further temperature increases. Some scientists agree with this model, and some disagree with it. This volume (a) outlines the situation of predicting temperature rise, (b) outlines the present situation on the effect of temperature on economic activity, (c) discusses what steps can be taken to clarify this situation, and (d) discusses what society might do while waiting for these steps to produce results.
In regards to the effect of combustion products on health, the situation in this case is less global, although many parts of the world are affected. Depending on epidemiological study alone, it is hard to be sure about a risk caused by a substance unless it at least doubles the frequency of an outcome which occurs naturally. The scientific uncertainties, therefore, remain almost as large as those for global warming.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xx
Five Issues....Pages 1-9
Some Global Environmental Issues of Public Concern....Pages 11-28
Front Matter....Pages 29-29
Free-Market Approaches to Controlling Carbon Dioxide Emissions to the Atmosphere....Pages 31-46
The Precautionary Principle: A guide for action....Pages 47-54
Nuclear Power — Meeting Tomorrow’s Electrical Generation Paradigm....Pages 55-63
Front Matter....Pages 65-65
Nuclear Energy in the 21st Century....Pages 67-104
Nuclear Plant Financial Performance in a Restructured Utility System....Pages 105-117
Global Warming — An Opportunity for Nuclear Power? Well Yes, But..........Pages 119-127
Near-Term Demonstration of Benign, Sustainable, Nuclear Power....Pages 129-138
Energy Technologies and Climate Change: A World and European Outlook....Pages 139-150
Global Warming: A Science Overview....Pages 151-159
“Is Nuclear Energy Going to Miss Its Environment Mission?”....Pages 161-167
California’s Electricity Problem — and the Potential World Energy Disasters....Pages 169-170
Front Matter....Pages 171-171
Non-Proliferation Issues for Generation IV Power Systems....Pages 173-185
Blacklight Power Technology....Pages 187-201
Gas Resources for the 21st Century....Pages 203-212
The Future of Nuclear Energy in the U.S.....Pages 213-217
Back Matter....Pages 219-220
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