Role of the Government, The (Confronting Global Warming)

Cover......Page 1
Copyright......Page 5
Contents......Page 6
Preface......Page 12
Natural Factors Cause Some of Earth’s Warming and Cooling......Page 14
The Role of Scientists in Climate Observation and Projection......Page 15
Long-Term Warming May Bring About Extreme Changes Worldwide......Page 17
Strategies for Confronting Climate Change......Page 18
The Air Knows No Boundaries......Page 21
The Clean Air Act......Page 25
The Concept of Cap and Trade......Page 26
The Montreal Protocol......Page 28
Notes......Page 31
2. International Recognition of Climate Change......Page 32
International Organizations Advance Climate Knowledge......Page 33
The First Meetings to Confront Climate Change......Page 35
The Kyoto Protocol......Page 40
Beyond the Kyoto Protocol......Page 44
Notes......Page 45
Early Government Reports Address Global Warming......Page 47
U.S. Congress Hears About Climate Change......Page 48
Presidential Plans to Address Greenhouse Gas Emissions......Page 50
States Develop Regional Initiatives to Reduce Emissions......Page 53
California Takes Action......Page 55
National Cap and Trade?......Page 56
Notes......Page 58
Global Warming Potential......Page 59
CO2 Differs from Other fiPollutants......Page 60
The Clean Air Act and the Definition of an Air Pollutant......Page 61
Congressional Action to Regulate Carbon Dioxide......Page 65
Cap and Trade......Page 66
Carbon Taxes......Page 69
Notes......Page 71
5. Reducing Automobile Emissions......Page 72
Getting Americans to Drive Less......Page 73
Making Cars More Efficient......Page 75
The Debate over CAFE Standards......Page 76
Promoting Alternative Vehicles and Fuels......Page 78
Notes......Page 83
6. Making Buildings More Energy Efficient......Page 84
State Energy Codes: Ensuring New Buildings Are Energy Efficient......Page 85
Reducing Energy Consumption in Existing Buildings......Page 88
Weatherization Programs Help Reduce Energy Use......Page 93
Appliance Standards: Building Energy-Efficient Appliances......Page 94
Notes......Page 95
Responding to Climate Change with Renewable Energy......Page 97
Spurring Investment in Renewable Energy......Page 99
Making Coal Cleaner......Page 104
Notes......Page 107
Agriculture’s Potent Warming Emissions......Page 109
Promoting Efficient Fertilizer Use......Page 111
Cattle Are a Major Methane Source......Page 112
Making Energy out of Manure......Page 114
Agriculture as a Solution to Climate Change......Page 117
Notes......Page 119
Forests Can Absorb and Release Carbon Dioxide......Page 121
Deforestation......Page 122
Avoiding Deforestation as Climate Change Strategy......Page 124
State and Local Land-Use Policies as Climate Change Tools......Page 131
Notes......Page 133
10. Moving Away from the Carbon Economy......Page 134
The Hydrogen Economy......Page 135
The Importance of Renewable Energy......Page 137
The California Hydrogen Highway......Page 139
The Bioeconomy......Page 141
Notes......Page 143
11. Adapting to Climate Change......Page 145
Helping Ecosystems and Wildlife Adapt......Page 146
Creating Resilient Coastal Communities......Page 149
Protecting Water Resources......Page 150
Adaptive Farming Practices......Page 154
Adaptation in the Developing World......Page 155
Notes......Page 158
12. Government Climate Change Challenges......Page 159
Glossary......Page 164
Books......Page 168
Periodicals......Page 170
Internet Sources......Page 172
Web Sites......Page 173
Index......Page 174
About the Author......Page 189
Back Cover......Page 190