The Challenge of Climate Change Which Way Now

This book fills a previously unfilled niche on the popular subjects of climate change and global warming. Rather than evaluating whether or not the problem exists, Challenging Climate Change takes the stance that global warming is an ever-present reality in today's environment and systematically outlines a course of action for moving forward. The book addresses the interlocking issues of policy, negotiations, and technical solutions to the problems related to climate control while also proposing specific steps and a list of priorities. Throughout each chapter, the authors report information on recent findings on each topic and present and interpret a great variety of proposals on remedies to global warming. Each subject is evaluated from both technical and policy perspectives, covering topics such as renewable energy, the problem of supply and demand, energy storage, and international negotiations on implementation of environmental policies. The authors' uniquely different academic backgrounds come together on this topic to explore the difficulties as well as the needs of international agreements, together with the associated scientific potentials and limitations. It rejects pessimistic views, arguing that there are technological changes and/or important policies to pursue that can make a difference. The writing is straightforward and directed to an educated but non-professional audience, requiring no formal training in either science or international relations.

Daniel D. Perlmutter is Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, and has served as Chair of the Chemical Engineering Department at the University and as University Ombudsman. His contributions were recognized by a Lindbach Award for excellence in teaching, Guggenheim Foundation Award for research, tow Fulbright Fellowships, and the Lectureship Award of the American Association for Engineering Education. His research focused on the dynamics and control of chemical reaction system, yielded three books and many publications in professional journals. Robert L. Rothstein was the Harvey Picker Distinguished Professor of International Relations at Colgate University. He has published widely on the international negotiating process and peace processes in protracted conflicts and has been awarded a variety of prestigious fellowships, including the Rockefeller Foundation, the Carnegie Foundation, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and the U.S. Institute of Peace. He has also been a consultant to the Department of State and a number of foundations and international institutions.