Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Introduction
Up to now this has been a standard topic about climate change, reviewing the history, sci-
ence, politics, and potential solutions. This chapter will, however, delve into some of the
deeper questions of why humanity seems unable to deal with, on the face of it, a simple
question of pollution. The challenge of climate change must be seen within the current
dominant political and economic landscape. Only by understanding the fundamental societ-
al and economic causes of carbon emissions can we hope to be able to build systems that
can rapidly reduce them. At the same time as we deal with climate change we need to en-
sure that we also tackle other global challenges, such as poverty alleviation, environmental
degradation, and global security. Future policies and international agreements need to
provide win-win solutions that deal with the biggest challenges facing humanity in the 21st
century.
