A History of the Science and Politics of Climate Change The Role of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

A history of the IPCC for researchers and policy makers in climate change.

How did the global climate change issues emerge? The issue of human-induced global climate change became a major environmental concern during the twentieth century. In response to growing concern about human-induced global climate change, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was formed in 1988. Written by its first chairman, this book is an overview of the history of the IPCC. It describes and evaluates the intricate interplay between key factors in the science and politics of climate change, the strategy that has been followed, and the regretfully slow pace in getting to grips with the uncertainties that have prevented earlier action being taken. The book also highlights the emerging conflict between establishing a sustainable global energy system and preventing a serious change in global climate. This text provides researchers and policy makers with an insight into the history of the politics of climate change.

Foreword; Abbreviations; Part I. The Early History of the Climate Change Issue: 1. Nineteenth century discoveries; 2. The natural carbon cycle and life on earth; 3. Global research initiatives in meteorology and climatology; 4. Early international assessments of climate change; Part II. The Climate Change Issue Becomes One of Global Concern: 5. Setting the stage; 6. The scientific basis for a climate convention; 7. Serving the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee; 8. The IPCC second assessment report; 9. In the aftermath of the IPCC second assessment; 10. The Kyoto Protocol is agreed and a third assessment begun; 11. A decade of hesitance and slow progress; Part III. Are We at a Turning Point in Addressing Climate Change?: 12. Key scientific findings of prime political relevance; 13. Climate change and a future sustainable global energy supply; Some concluding remarks; Notes; References; Name index; Subject index.

Written by its first chairman, this book is an overview of the history of the IPCC, and provides researchers and policy makers with an insight into the history of the politics of climate change.

Bert Bolin is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Meteorology at the University of Stockholm, Sweden. He is a former Director of the International Institute for Meteorology in Stockholm, and former Scientific Advisor to the Swedish Prime Minister. He was Chairman of the IPCC from 1988 to 1997. Professor Bolin has received many awards during his career, including the Blue Planet Prize from the Asahi Glass Foundation, the Rossby Medal from the American Meteorological Society, the Global Environmental Leadership Award from the World Bank, and the Arrhenius Medal from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.