Based on a comprehensive study review by leading urban planning researchers, this investigative document demonstr ates how urban development is both a key contributor to climate change and an essential factor in combating it—by reducing vehicle greenhouse gas emissions.

Numerous studies report that ultraviolet (UV) radiation is harmful to living organisms and detrimental to human health. Growing concerns regarding the increased levels of UV-B radiation that reach the earth's surface have led to the development of ground- and space-based measurement programs. Further study is needed on the measurement, modeling, and effects of UV radiation. The chapters of this book describe the research conducted across the globe over the past three decades in the areas of: (1) current and predicted levels of UV radiation and its associated impact on ecosystems and human health, as well as economic and social implications; (2) new developments in UV instrumentation, advances in calibration (ground- and satellite- based), measurement methods, modeling efforts, and their... Less

Urban growth is changing the condition of humanity and the face of the earth. Half the world's people now live in cities, with most of the other half depending on them for their economic survival. Mega-cities of ten million or more people are the largest, most complex structures ever made. They are the Central hubs of modern economies and their transport systems. The resource use and waste discharge of contemporary cities dominate the human presence on earth. Fossil fuel technology powers modern urbanisation, but in the coming decades many cities will become vulnerable to the rising tides of climate change. Across the world, we need a revolution in 'future- proofing' our cities, dramatically increasing their energy efficiency, switching to renewable energy technology and mimicking natural... Less

Gradual and sudden environmental changes are resulting in substantial human movement and displacement, and the scale of such flows, both internal and cross-border, is expected to rise with unprecedented impacts on lives and livelihoods. Despite the potential challenge, there has been a lack of strategic thinking about this policy area partly due to a lack of data and empirical research on this topic. Adequately planning for and managing environmentally- induced migration will be critical for human security. The papers in this volume were first presented at the Research Workshop on Migration and the Environment: Developing a Global Research Agenda held in Munich, Germany in April 2008. One of the key objectives on the Munich workshop was to address the need for more sound empirical... Less

Urban climate change is a crossroads in two very different senses. One is historical. With the world now more than half urban, and given the ecological consequences of the world's high-consumption urban centers, we are at an ecological crossroad. We either head off the worst of ecological collapse through concerted and forward-looking action, or we face a 'Mad Max future' of dystopia, violence, and upheaval. The second crossroad is intellectual. Our individual disciplines are unable to grasp the magnitude of the economic- ecological challenges ahead. For that we need to work holistically, calling on the knowledge of climatologists, engineers, sociologists, economists, public health specialist, designers, architects, community organizers, and more. The intellectual crossroad is nothing... Less

Climate change and disasters are among today?s most pressing issues. The damage caused by the worldwide increase in disasters is staggering, with the urban poor being most at risk. Disasters make their already precarious living conditions worse, creating a vicious circle of poverty. More and more attention has thus been given to the need to address changing climatic conditions and disaster risk through development work. Despite related efforts, urban development actors still struggle to effectively reduce risk in their daily work. This book seeks to demonstrate how disaster risk management and adaptation could be better integrated into urban development planning (i.e. social housing, slum upgrading and urban governance programmes). Based on the identification of the nexus... Less

In order to avoid the potentially catastrophic impacts of global warming, the current 3% CO2 global emission growth rate must be transformed to a 1 to 3% declining rate, as soon as possible. This will require a rapid and radical transformation of the world’s energy production and end use systems. The current generation of energy technologies are not capable of achieving the level of mitigation required. Next generations of renewable, low carbon generation and end use technologies will be needed. This book quantifies the mitigation challenge. It then considers the status of key technologies needed to protect the planet from serious climate change impact. Current and emerging technologies are characterized for their mitigation potential, status of development and potential environmental... Less

This 880-page rebuttal of the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), three years in the making, was released in June 2009 by The Heartland Institute. Coauthored and edited by S. Fred Singer, Ph.D., and Craig Idso, Ph.D. and produced with contributions and reviews by an international coalition of scientists, it provides an independent examination of the evidence available on the causes and consequences of climate change in the published, peer-reviewed literature examined without bias and selectivity. It includes many research papers ignored by the IPCC plus additional scientific results that became available after the IPCC deadline of May 2006. Chapter 1 describes the limitations of the IPCC s attempt to forecast future climate with computer... Less

Today, more than half of the world's population are living in cities that are now contributing 80 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. They cover less than 3 per cent of the earth's surface. And urbanisation continues apace. With such a massive carbon footprint, it is clearly vital that cities are part of the solution. And, from another perspective, the sheer concentration of people, resources and economic activities in urban centres will only serve to magnify city-dwellers' vulnerability to the effects of climate change. Despite this, to date scarcely any consideration has been given to the potential impact of climate change on urban dwellers, especially in the developing countries and burgeoning megacities of Africa, Asia and Latin America, where a wide variety of environmental... Less

Climate Change Biology is a new textbook which examines this emerging discipline of human-induced climate change and the resulting shifts in the distributions of species and the timing of biological events. The text focuses on understanding the impacts of human-induced climate change, but draws on multiple lines of evidence, including paleoecology, modelling and current observation. Climate Change Biology lays out the scope and depth of understanding of this new discipline in terms that are accessible to students, managers and professional biologists.* The only advanced student text on the biological aspects of climate change* Examines recent and deep past climate change effects to better understand the impacts of recent human- induced changes* Discusses the conservation and other... Less

Today's enormous development challenges are complicated by the reality of climate change the two are inextricably linked and together demand immediate attention. Climate change threatens all countries, but particularly developing ones. Understanding what climate change means for development policy is the central aim of the World Development Report 2010. It explores how public policy can change to better help people cope with new or worsened risks, how land and water management must adapt to better protect a threatened natural environment while feeding an expanding and more prosperous population, and how energy systems will need to be transformed. The report is an urgent call for action, both for developing countries who are striving to ensure policies are adapted to the realities and... Less

This volume brings together, for the first time, a wide-ranging and detailed body of information identifying and assessing risk, vulnerability and adaptation to climate change in urban centres in low- and middle-income countries. Framed by an overview of the main possibilities and constraints for adaptation, the contributors examine the implications of climate change for cities in Africa, Asia and Latin America, and propose innovative agendas for adaptation. The book should be of interest to policy makers, practitioners and academics who face the challenge of addressing climate change vulnerability and adaptation in urban centres throughout the global South. Published with E&U and International Institute for Environment and Development

This thoughtful and original study throws important critical light on the dominant orthodoxies about sustainable development, and suggests a radically new direction. Foster argues compellingly that present approaches embody floating standards and bad faith, trapping societies into inaction. I suspect this is a seminal piece of work. Professor Robin Grove-White, former Chair of Greenpeace UK We all have a nagging concern that what international corporations and governments term 'sustainable' is not sustainable at all. John Fosters clear and beautifully written text shows the deep flaws in current approaches and proposes a reassessment of what true sustainability really implies. Chris Goodall, Chair of Dynmark International and author of How to Live a Low-Carbon Life This... Less

Global financial problems, rising food prices, climate change, international migration – increasingly by women – conflict situations in many poor countries, the spread of tropical diseases such as malaria and dengue fever and the increased incidence of HIV/AIDS and TB, and changing patterns of trade have all added new dimensions to gender issues in developing countries. These problems are frequently being brought to public attention in the media and through long-haul tourism. Consequently students’ interest in gender and development has grown considerably in the last few years. This updated second edition provides a concise, accessible introduction to Gender and Development issues in the developing world and in the transition countries of Eastern and Central Europe. The nine chapters... Less

This book provides a strategic assessment of the vulnerability of Australia’s biodiversity (primarily terrestrial) to climate change and suggests ways that policy and management can deal with the threats to biodiversity associated with climate change.It begins with a long-time perspective on the evolution of Australia’s biota—why Australia is so species-rich, why its biodiversity is unique, and why the conservation of this biodiversity is so important. It goes on to describe the two centuries of acute change since European settlement—the ultimate drivers of current changes in Australia’s biodiversity and the observed changes in diversity at the genetic, species and ecosystem levels. The discussion of climate change itself is organized around the global and the Australian scales,... Less

Energy security, rising energy prices (oil, gas, electricity), 'peak oil', environmental pollution, nuclear energy, climate change and sustainable living are hot topics across the globe. Meanwhile, abundant and perpetual wind resources offer opportunities, via recent technological developments, to provide part of the solution to address these key issues. The rapid growth of large-scale wind farm installations has now led to the generation of clean electricity for tens of millions of homes around the world. However, despite the potential to reduce the losses and costs associated with transmission and to use local wind acceleration techniques to improve energy yields, the potential for urban wind energy has yet to be realised. Although there is increasing public interest, the uptake... Less

'Makes a substantial contribution to the practical, effective analysis of climate change mitigation options in developing countries.' Development And Cooperation 'The book is an excellent exercise and a good source of detailed information, and a basis for further discussions. Any person interested in this major environmental problem should read it.' International Journal of Environment and Pollution 'Markandya and Halsnaes' collection is thoughtfully put together and can be recommended to all the practitioners in the fields of climate change and sustainable development.' The Journal of Energy Literature This text argues that the policies pursued by developing countries will be crucial in determining the progress of climate change. Many are industrializing rapidly and the... Less

Nitrous oxide, N2O, is the third most important (in global warming terms) of the greenhouse gases, after carbon dioxide and methane. As this book describes, although it only comprises 320 parts per billion of the earth's atmosphere, it has a so-called Global Warming Potential nearly 300 times greater than that of carbon dioxide. N2O emissions are difficult to estimate, because they are predominantly biogenic in origin. The N2O is formed in soils and oceans throughout the world, by the microbial processes of nitrification and denitrification, that utilise the reactive N compounds ammonium and nitrate, respectively. These forms of nitrogen are released during the natural biogeochemical nitrogen cycle, but are also released by human activity. In fact, the quantity of these compounds... Less

The book starts with a discussion of global warming and climate change. The problem is well documented. Part One gives background for sustainable developments and gives studies of proven, substantiated and documented solutions. The time to act has begun. The "Green Revolution" has begun. Some authors call it The Third Industrial Revolution (Rifkin, 2005) since in the 21st century the industrially developed world has begun to move rapidly from fossil fuels (The Second Industrial Revolution) to renewable energy generation, storage technologies, and sustainable communities. Now is the time to understand and learn the tools that make sustainable communities of all kinds real. The book provides a vast, but not the total, amount of materials and data. The intent is to give students of... Less

Have you dreamed about going lightweight, without having to worry about the ice running out? Wake up! Camp Cooking Without Coolers II gives you all the recipes and tips to kick the cooler habit.

The cities and the regions of the world are being transformed under the combined impact of a restructuring of the capitalist system and a technological revolution. This is the thesis of this book, now in paperback. Castells not only brings together an impressive array of evidence to support it but puts forward a new body of theory to explain it. He analyzes the interaction between information technology, economic restructuring and socio-spatial change through the empirical observation of contemporary national, urban and regional processes in the capitalist world, with emphasis on the United States. The author summarizes a very wide range of evidence of urban and regional development, and isolates the causes and consequences of the processes and trends that may be observed.

In the twentieth century, the urban settings of the wealthy nations were largely associated with opportunity, accumulation of wealth, and better health than their rural counterparts. In the twenty-first century, demographic changes, globalization, and climate change are having important health consequences on wealthy nations and especially on low- and middle-income countries. The increasing concentration of poverty and significant inequalities between urban neighborhoods and the physical and social environments in cities are important determinants of population health. In this important new book, experts identify the priority problems and outline solutions that can generate and sustain healthy urban environments. Foreword by Michael H. BloombergContribu tors include:Sue Atkinson, John G... Less

Climate change and dwindling global resources bring with them a set of complex challenges, demanding new design and planning approaches that achieve more with less. Climate: Design, written for designers, architects, planners, policymakers, and academics alike, explores the current paradigm shift and illustrates how new thinking can convert investments in urban infrastructure, land use, and development into resilient and enduring support systems for human and environmental prosperity. Author Peter Droege, an acknowledged expert in the field of renewable, sustainable design, joins forces with pioneering design firm EDAW, to focus on radical solutions and planning measures for combating climate change, and for attempting to adjust to life on a warming planet. The book explores both the... Less

Climate change is now recognised as one of the greatest challenges facing the international community and when coupled with energy production and use - the most significant contributor to climate change - and the related security problems the double threat to international security and human development is of the highest order. This wide-ranging book brings together leading thinkers from academia, government and civil society to examine and address the global insecurity and development challenges arising from the twin thrust of climate change and the energy supply crunch. Part one considers energy. It analyses the challenges of meeting future energy demands and the ongoing and future security-related conflicts over energy. Coverage includes security and development concerns related to... Less

Galvanised into action by a 2001 "Time" article on climate change, Wendy Abrams spearheaded Chicago's 'Cool Globes' public art exhibit, which showcased 123 artist-designed globes, each offering its own perspective on global warming. "Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet" offers full-colour photos of the pieces, along with commentary from the artists, statistics about the environment, and useful advice on how each of us can change our lives to keep things cooler on planet Earth. A companion piece to the installation, this work will help spread the message of the exhibit beyond the estimated 3-5 million people who visited the globes. Avoiding the 'doom and gloom' attitude of many global warming messages, Abrams and the artists seek to inform the public about a pressing situation in a constructive... Less

Free Worldwide Delivery : Climate Change : Paperback : Taylor & Francis Ltd : 9781844076482 : 1844076482 : 18 Jun 2009 : It is widely accepted in the scientific community that climate change is a reality, and that changes are happening with increasing rapidity. This title revisits the effects that global warming is having on our planet, in light of ever-evolving scientific research. It is suitable for students in environmental and social sciences.

'This is a timely, challenging and fascinating book on a topic of central importance to the success or otherwise of our climate change policies. It sets down a clear marker for what has to be done in the aviation sector.' Professor John Whitelegg, Stockholm Environment Institute, University of York, UK 'Climate Change and Aviation presents a clear picture of the transport sector's greatest challenge: how to reconcile aviation's immense popularity with its considerable environmental damage and its dependence on liquid hydrocarbon energy sources. This book avoids wishful thinking and takes the much harder, but more productive, path of considering difficult solutions that clash with short-term and short-sighted expectations about the unlimited growth potential for flying.' Professor... Less

This is the most comprehensive and current reference resource on climate change available today. It features 49 individual chapters by some of the world’s leading climate scientists. Its five sections address climate change in five dimensions: ecological impacts; policy analysis; international considerations; United States considerations; and mitigation options to reduce carbon emissions. In many ways, this volume supersedes the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Many important developments too recent to be treated by the 2007 IPCC documents are covered here. This book considers not only the IPCC report, but also results of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change held in Bali in December 2007, as well as even more recent research data... Less