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News Release
Climate Change - We know enough to act, and will face ever more serious consequences for delays in doing so
29 November 2007
Earthscan
New edition of Earthscan’s definitive guide to climate change and IPCC findings, for non-experts
- Ideal extract material for features on Bali, IPCC and climate change
- Winner – Planeta Environment Book of the Year
- “One of the best buys of the year” Ecological and Environmental Education
Earthscan, London – Earthscan will release a new and updated edition of their bestselling Atlas of Climate Change to coincide with the thirteenth United Nations Climate Change Conference on Bali next week. The book’s first edition – which was launched at a UNEP side event at the COP12 / MOP 2 in Nairobi last year – largely anticipated the IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report, and this new edition makes some amendments in light of the reports of Working Groups I, II and III, according to co-authors Tom Downing and Kirstin Dow.
From the Introduction by Kirstin Dow and Tom Downing:
“A vast knowledge, touching every aspect of science and life, is emerging from decades of engagement and debate on climate change. This understanding does not eliminate uncertainty altogether; but amid the complexity, uniqueness, and variability, there are topics of consensus, supported by large bodies of scientific literature. The publications, early in 2007, of the Fourth Assessment Report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, illustrate the improved understanding of climate science, regional impacts and response strategies, based on the tremendous growth of evidence from around the world. This atlas was originally compiled while the IPCC’s Working Groups were still making their assessment, and although we had largely anticipated their findings, we took the opportunity in 2007 to make some amendments in the light of the summary reports of Working Groups I, II and III. The following discussion synthesizes our analysis, supporting our view that we know enough to act, and will face ever more serious consequences for delays in doing so…”
To read the full discussion in the Introduction and see the full Table of Contents please click here: www.earthscan.co.uk/downloads/AtlasOfClimateChangeIntroduction.pdf
For review coverage and to see two of the maps from The Atlas of Climate Change, please click here:
http://shop.earthscan.co.uk/ProductDetails/mcs/productID/838/
More about the book:
The book examines the possible impact of climate change on our ability to feed the world’s people, avoid water shortages, conserve biodiversity, improve health, and preserve cities and cultural treasures. It also reviews historical contributions to greenhouse gas levels, progress in meeting Kyoto commitments and local efforts to meet the challenge of climate change (i.e. personal and public action). This atlas is particularly well-suited to present details of a global challenge with an uneven distribution of causes, consequences and management capabilities.
“The IPCC covers a huge literature, reviewed by several thousand experts. While the IPCC is an authoritative benchmark, its three volumes can be overwhelming in detail. The Atlas brings the central story of climate change, reflecting the robust findings of the IPCC, to a wider audience,” says author Tom Downing.
“The authors have been at pains to ensure that the book contains only the most reliable information, in the belief that the full importance and seriousness of the issue can only be appreciated and addressed if based
on accurate science,” says publisher Jonathan Sinclair Wilson. “We believe this book will meet a real and widespread need.”
THE ATLAS OF CLIMATE CHANGE - Notable Facts & Trends
SIGNS OF CHANGE
Warning Signs
- The average loss of thickness of glaciers in the European Alps in 2003 was nearly twice that of the previous record year of 1998 (page 21)
The Climate System
- The entire climate system is adjusting to an increase in the heat trapped in the Earth’s atmosphere. (page 33)
Forecasting Future Climates
- Global temperatures are predicted to continue rising. (page 37)
EXPECTED CONSEQUENCES
Disrupted Ecosystems
- At least 40% of the world’s economy and 80% of the needs of the poor are derived from biological resources. (page 54)
- Unprecedented rates of migration by both plants and animals will be needed if will be needed if species are to keep up with climate change. (page 54)
- Climate change is expected to make ecosystems susceptible to invasion by non-native species such as the red fire ant, which threatens to destroy native flora and fauna in the southeastern USA. (page 54)
Threatened Water Supplies
- Climate change increases the demand for water and the risk of shortfalls, particularly in the many regions that have scarce supplies. (page 57)
- Many of the effects of climate change can be countered by prioritizing the most urgent uses, adopting water-saving technology and more efficient irrigation methods. (page 56)
Food Security
- With economic incentives, world food production should not be adversely affected by climate change over the next 50 years or so. (page 58)
- In parts of tropical and sub-tropical regions, however, reductions in rainfall, and increasing risk of drought…will severely affect agriculture. (page 58)
Threats to Health
- The disease burden from climate-related conditions is already high and likely to increase with climate change: (page 61)
Cities at Risk
- London is protected from particularly high tides and storm surges by the Thames Barrier. More frequent storms, coastal erosion and subsidence, and rising sea level increases the risk to many coastal mega-cities. (page 65)
RESPONDING TO CHANGE
International Action
- Most countries have acknowledged the problem of climate change by signing the Convention on Climate Change (page 71)
- Negotiation takes place within the Convention framework to develop policies and operational procedures, with blocks of countries representing different interests, such as the Alliance of Small Island States; G77 (developing countries) and OPEC (page 71)
Carbon Trading
- Trading in carbon is one way to share the burden of reducing emissions globally (page 75)
Local Commitment
- Cities throughout the world are not waiting for national governments to debate implementation of the Climate Change Convention. They have signed their own commitment to reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions as part of the campaign Cities for Climate Protection (CCP)
COMMITTING TO SOLUTIONS
- Everyone can make a contribution through their Personal Action (page 88), but we also need to ensure our governments and major organisations take Public Action (page 90)
CLIMATE CHANGE DATA AND OTHER SOURCES OF INFO
- See tables and resources on pages 93ff
For review copies or for interviews with Thomas Downing please contact:
Gudrun Freese gudrun.freese@earthscan.co.uk
Tel +44(0)20 7121 3152 (direct) +44(0)20
http://shop.earthscan.co.uk/ProductDetails/mcs/productID/838/groupID/4/categoryID/6/v/6698ebfa-4eb9-49b4-8728-e75f8b738b62