This ground-breaking volume provides analyses from experts around the globe on the part played by national and international law, through legislation and the courts, in advancing efforts to tackle climate change, and what needs to be done in the future. Published under the auspices of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL), the volume builds on an event convened at BIICL, which brought together academics, legal practitioners and NGO representatives. The volume offers not only the insights from that event, but also additional materials, sollicited to offer the reader a more complete picture of how climate change litigation is evolving in a global perspective, highlighting both opportunities, and constraints.

This intriguing volume provides a thorough examination of the historical roots of global climate change as a field of inquiry, from the Enlightenment to the late twentieth century. Based on primary and archival sources, the book is filled with interesting perspectives on what people have understood, experienced, and feared about the climate and its changes in the past. Chapters explore climate and culture in Enlightenment thought; climate debates in early America; the development of international networks of observation; the scientific transformation of climate discourse; and early contributions to understanding terrestrial temperature changes, infrared radiation, and the carbon dioxide theory of climate. But perhaps most important, this book shows what a study of the past has to offer the interdisciplinary investigation of current environmental problems.

Environmental change is increasingly considered a critical topic for researchers across multiple disciplines, as well as policy makers throughout the world. Mounting evidence shows that environments in every part of the globe are undergoing tremendous human-induced change. Population growth, urbanization and the expansion of the global economy are putting increasing pressure on ecosystems around the planet. To understand the causes and consequences of environmental change, the contributors to this book employ spatial and non-spatial data, diverse theoretical perspectives and cutting edge research tools such as GIS, remote sensing and other relevant technologies. International Perspectives on Global Environmental Change brings together research from around the world to explore the complexities of contemporary, and historical environmental change. As an InTech open source publication current and cutting edge research methodologies and research results are quickly published for the academic policy-making communities. Dimensions of environmental change explored in this volume include: Climate change Historical environmental change Biological responses to environmental change Land use and land cover change Policy and management for environmental change

This book looks at the concerns over climate change, often termed "global warming," which have emerged both in the U.S. and internationally as major policy issues. Reports in 2007 by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) provided scientific underpinnings for these concerns, and the number of proposals and international meetings devoted to these issues has grown. This book also discusses the major challenges that the United Nations is facing regarding global warming, including finding an agreement on the nature of legally binding commitments, if any, that would prove acceptable to all major players including current parties and developing countries that are major emitters, as well as to the United States. This clash of perspectives is likely to ensure that costs remain a pivotal issue, along with scientific uncertainty, as the climate change policy debate continues.

The world is confronting the reality of climate change, which transcends geographical boundaries, necessitating a multidisciplinary approach. Effective mitigation strategies for climate change demand diversity, inclusion, equity, and collaboration as paramount considerations in the formulation and execution of mitigation strategies. Global Perspectives on Climate Change, Social Resilience, and Social Inclusion illuminates the interplay between climate shifts and society's complex tapestry. Authored by leading sociologists and interdisciplinary scholars, this researched volume offers an exploration of climate change through the lens of sociology, unveiling its implications for our global community. Moreover, the book spotlights the proactive voices of voluntary associations and activists dedicated to championing climate change victims' rights. Their collective message resonates throughout: mitigating climate change risks must be integrated into a broader framework of resilient development, elevating the economic standing and quality of life for disadvantaged groups while fostering equity across all strata of society. This book is ideal for scholars, policymakers, and activists seeking a nuanced understanding of the intricate interplay between climate change and the social fabric of our world.