Worldwatch Institute, ed. State of the World 2009: Into a Warming World. Washington: Worldwatch Institute, 2009.
State of the World 2009: Into a Warming World is intended to inject new inspiration and energy into national and international climate negotiations by conveying the profound, long-term consequences of the experiment we are now conducting on the Earth’s atmosphere, with an emphasis on the human and ecological effects of that transformation. The book also examines the policy changes needed to combat climate change and explores the economic benefits that could flow from the transition, including the potential to create new industries and jobs in countries around the world.
For this historic volume, Worldwatch has recruited an exceptional team of innovative thinkers and inspiring writers from rich and poor countries alike. R. K. Pachuari, Chair of the IPCC, authored the foreword, and leading climate change researchers and activists from around the world contributed their talents to this volume.
State of the World 2009 examines: the next-generation technologies that show the most promise for eliminating greenhouse gas emissions or removing these gases from the atmosphere; enforceable agreements that reward countries and individuals for cutting emissions; innovative strategies for building climate-change resilience in the poorest countries; and ideas for making sure the natural world survives the changes on the way. In addition to six chapters, it includes 22 “climate connections” on topics from climate and biodiversity to Chinese and Indian perspectives on the crisis. It also includes a convenient climate change reference guide and glossary. (Text adapted from Worldwatch Institute’s website)