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Climate Change

From science to sustainability

Second Edition

Stephen Peake, Joe Smith


Climate change is one of the most complex, multilayered and interdisciplinary intellectual puzzles facing us today. The questions are numerous. What scientific processes underpin climate change? To what extent is human activity a driver of climate change? Can future changes be reliably predicted? What are the likely consequences of climate change, and what policies are needed to mitigate these changes?

Climate Change offers a unique interdisciplinary journey through this important, and equally fascinating, field. It takes the reader from keystones of the underlying science - and not just the headlines - through to the philosophical and political consequences of climate change.

Taking into account latest scientific research and policy decisions, it blends earth science, biology, technology, economics, geography, politics, philosophy and ethics - together with other themes - to present a coherent, balanced overview of the field, with a particular eye towards one goal: the sustainability of our planet.

The potential impact of climate change is vast; Climate Change is the ideal guide to developing the skills needed to take part in the debates that will shape our future.
  • The first text to provide a truly balanced account of this important, interdisciplinary field.
  • Written by two authors with complementary expertise, and a wealth of valuable experience, to yield an authoritative, well-rounded text.
  • Activities, boxes and questions throughout encourage the reader to actively engage with the subject matter, helping them to develop the skills needed to be a part of our response to this global challenge.
  • The Online Resource Centre features additional materials for both lecturers and students, enhancing the value of the text as a teaching and learning tool.

New to this edition

  • Updates the relevant science to take into account new information from the IPCC's recently published Fourth Assessment Report (AR4), Climate Change 2007.
  • Discusses latest policy decisions and their implications.
  • Provides more grounding in the basic scientific concepts on which an understanding of climate change, as a process, is built.

1: The climate strikes back
2: A citizen's guide to climate science
3: Planetary engineering
4: Tuning in: integrated assessments of climate futures
5: Listening out: climate, politics, philosophy
6: Climate change and sustainability - inseparable
7: Changing the world

Stephen Peake - The Open University

Joe Smith - The Open University

"If climate change is the biggest problem facing us in the 21st century then we need a reliable guide as we grope towards a solution. You are holding that guide in your hands: a lively introduction to the full range of climate issues, ranging from science to ethics to policy. Everyone should have one." - Andrew Dobson, Keele University, UK

"Takes the reader on an exciting and stimulating journey from understanding the science of climate change to discovering how it fits into the complex sustainability debate." - Chris Hope, University of Cambridge, UK

"Rather than just focussing on one aspect or the 'science part', the book argues that students need to be aware of the science, politics and governance of climate change... The book challenges students to 'weave together' these strands in their minds, which makes it quite a unique volume." - Dr Sarah Coulthard, Amsterdam Institute for Metropolitan and International Development Studies.

Online Resource Centre:
The Online Resource Centre features

For registered adopters of the text:
· Figures from the book in electronic format, ready to download

For everyone:
· Annotated web links to key sources of further information
OxfordNews Now: the latest news relevant to climate change from a variety of media sources, brought direct to the Online Resource Centre, and always up to date