Ebook: Climate Change, Climate Science and Economics: Prospects for an Alternative Energy Future

This volume enables readers to understand the complexity associated with climate change policy and the science behind it. For example, the author describes the criticism and defense of the widely known “hockey stick” temperature graph derived from combining instrumental data and proxy temperature indications using tree ring, ice core and other paleoclimatic data.

Readers will also learn that global warming cannot easily be avoided by reducing CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions in rich countries. Not only is emissions reduction extremely difficult in rich countries, but demands such as the UN mandate to improve the lives of the poorest global citizens cannot be satisfied without significantly increasing global energy use, and CO2 emissions. Therefore, the author asserts that climate engineering and adaptation are preferable to mitigation, particularly since the science is less than adequate for making firm statements about the Earth’s future climate.

Readers will also learn that global warming cannot easily be avoided by reducing CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions in rich countries. Not only is emissions reduction extremely difficult in rich countries, but demands such as the UN mandate to improve the lives of the poorest global citizens cannot be satisfied without significantly increasing global energy use, and CO2 emissions. Therefore, the author asserts that climate engineering and adaptation are preferable to mitigation, particularly since the science is less than adequate for making firm statements about the Earth’s future climate.

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Is anthropogenic global warming occurring? Perhaps, says the author, although an examination of the evidence suggests that it will not be catastrophic and reality tells us that, despite significant expenditure on mitigating climate change, we had better learn to adapt to it.

This volume is a comprehensive examination of why this is the case, enabling readers to understand the complexity associated with climate change policy and the science behind it. For example, the author describes the criticism and defense of the widely known “hockey stick” temperature graph derived from combining instrumental data and proxy temperature indications using tree ring, ice core and other paleoclimatic data.

Readers will also learn that global warming cannot easily be avoided by reducing CO₂ and other greenhouse gas emissions in rich countries. Not only is emissions reduction extremely difficult in rich countries, but demands such as the UN mandate to improve the lives of the poorest global citizens cannot be satisfied without significantly increasing global energy use, and CO₂ emissions. Therefore, the author asserts that climate engineering and adaptation are preferable to mitigation, particularly since the science is less than adequate for making firm statements about the Earth’s future climate.

The purpose of the book is not only to inform but to get the reader thinking critically about what may well be the most important environmental issue currently facing humankind.

---

Is anthropogenic global warming occurring? Perhaps, says the author, although an examination of the evidence suggests that it will not be catastrophic and reality tells us that, despite significant expenditure on mitigating climate change, we had better learn to adapt to it.

This volume is a comprehensive examination of why this is the case, enabling readers to understand the complexity associated with climate change policy and the science behind it. For example, the author describes the criticism and defense of the widely known “hockey stick” temperature graph derived from combining instrumental data and proxy temperature indications using tree ring, ice core and other paleoclimatic data.

Readers will also learn that global warming cannot easily be avoided by reducing CO₂ and other greenhouse gas emissions in rich countries. Not only is emissions reduction extremely difficult in rich countries, but demands such as the UN mandate to improve the lives of the poorest global citizens cannot be satisfied without significantly increasing global energy use, and CO₂ emissions. Therefore, the author asserts that climate engineering and adaptation are preferable to mitigation, particularly since the science is less than adequate for making firm statements about the Earth’s future climate.

The purpose of the book is not only to inform but to get the reader thinking critically about what may well be the most important environmental issue currently facing humankind.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xxiii
Introduction....Pages 1-13
Weather and the Instrumental Record....Pages 15-57
Climate Science and Paleoclimatology....Pages 59-100
Emission Scenarios and Climate Modeling....Pages 101-146
Alternative Explanations....Pages 147-178
How Economists Measure Wellbeing: Social Cost-Benefit Analysis....Pages 179-220
Economic Assessment of the Damages Caused by Global Warming....Pages 221-284
Implementing Policy....Pages 285-324
Avoiding Emissions Reduction: Terrestrial Carbon Sinks....Pages 325-363
Economic Growth, Energy and Climate Change....Pages 365-407
Electricity Markets and Wind Energy....Pages 409-439
Climate Change Policy Encounters the Real World....Pages 441-459
Back Matter....Pages 461-466

---

Is anthropogenic global warming occurring? Perhaps, says the author, although an examination of the evidence suggests that it will not be catastrophic and reality tells us that, despite significant expenditure on mitigating climate change, we had better learn to adapt to it.

This volume is a comprehensive examination of why this is the case, enabling readers to understand the complexity associated with climate change policy and the science behind it. For example, the author describes the criticism and defense of the widely known “hockey stick” temperature graph derived from combining instrumental data and proxy temperature indications using tree ring, ice core and other paleoclimatic data.

Readers will also learn that global warming cannot easily be avoided by reducing CO₂ and other greenhouse gas emissions in rich countries. Not only is emissions reduction extremely difficult in rich countries, but demands such as the UN mandate to improve the lives of the poorest global citizens cannot be satisfied without significantly increasing global energy use, and CO₂ emissions. Therefore, the author asserts that climate engineering and adaptation are preferable to mitigation, particularly since the science is less than adequate for making firm statements about the Earth’s future climate.

The purpose of the book is not only to inform but to get the reader thinking critically about what may well be the most important environmental issue currently facing humankind.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xxiii
Introduction....Pages 1-13
Weather and the Instrumental Record....Pages 15-57
Climate Science and Paleoclimatology....Pages 59-100
Emission Scenarios and Climate Modeling....Pages 101-146
Alternative Explanations....Pages 147-178
How Economists Measure Wellbeing: Social Cost-Benefit Analysis....Pages 179-220
Economic Assessment of the Damages Caused by Global Warming....Pages 221-284
Implementing Policy....Pages 285-324
Avoiding Emissions Reduction: Terrestrial Carbon Sinks....Pages 325-363
Economic Growth, Energy and Climate Change....Pages 365-407
Electricity Markets and Wind Energy....Pages 409-439
Climate Change Policy Encounters the Real World....Pages 441-459
Back Matter....Pages 461-466
....