Climate Change: A Very Short Introduction

The Oxford "Very Short Introduction" series is a great way to become familiar with a host of historical, literary, scientific, and cultural topics. This introduction to climate change outlines the key evidence for the damage done since the Industrial Revolution--and that has accelerated since the end of World War II. A combination of factors have contributed to environmental damage that, if not reversed soon, could prove permanent. The explosion of fossil fuel usage and the expansion of carbon dioxide-producing industries in the past 40 years has warmed the planet. This has given rise to changes in weather patterns, loss of permanent ice packs and glaciers, and destruction or depletion of fisheries and other food sources. As the global population increases, former forested areas--particularly in the Amazon basin--have been cleared to produce crops for food. As forests shrink, the planet's ability to absorb and neutralize harmful gases has decline thus exacerbating the warming problem. Of course, the issues are complex and require governments and individuals to commit to actions that reverse the doomsday-producing warming trends. It appears that the point of no return will occur sometime between 2030-50, but with each passing year, the likelihood of reversing the trends becomes more remote. I recommend this book and any of the other excellent works in the Very Short Introduction series as sources for getting a foundational knowledge of topics.

Good read, very entertaining and informative. My only observation is that at times the author gets carried away by personal opinions rather than facts. Solid 4 stars for me.

It is a moral imperative that our generation create a sustainable civilization for our children and grandchildren to inherit. Climate change is the biggest threat to sustainability. This book explains the problem crisply covering both the science and politics. The technological solution is feasible and affordable (2-3% of global GDP). It is the political solution that presently escapes us. A grass roots uprising is needed. This book makes the topic accessible to the entire electorate and will help fuel (pardon the pun) that movement.

This book is an opening door to the concept of climate change. If you consider yourself curious, but uninformed, A Very Short Introduction to Climate Change is for you. It outlines in understandable language exactly what the world is facing in light of the changes our planet is going through. It would do us all a world of good -literally- if more people read this.

Hits all the main topics you need to know if you know nothing of climate change. Definitely helps you get interested and start a change to help.

Gets to the facts. Good reference for those interested, but not well informed.

We got the book we expected in condition as described, on time. We appreciate the personal note. recommend for future purchases.

If you have recently decided that maybe climate change is real and would like to know more about the history and science, this is a good summary. If you just want to know more about what you can do there are better books. Do not buy this book unless you have been ignoring all the information on climate change for the past several years. This go into detail on the history and science of ice and warming on our planet. If you've been actively reading about our history and human impact on our climate, you won't find anything you haven't already learned.

Absolutely biased

A lot of detail in accessible language. Good for backing up an argument with people who want to ignore the emergency.

1st chapter good,then science lost , enter politics . amazon wants more words so here they are more than 20 of them

V Good intro to the climate change issues

The book is about 160 pages long, but contains an extraordinary amount of information on climate change. It's a model of clarity and covers both the science and politics of climate change. Highly recommended.