Ch.1. The greenhouse effect: causes and impacts -- Greenhouse? What's that? -- The greenhouse effect -- What is climate change? -- Climate change facts -- Science tempers fears on climate change -- It's not the end of the world -- Analysis of recent trends and greenhouse indicators -- Climate change is real -- Climate change impacts on Australia -- Future effects: feeling the heat -- Too vital for guesses -- What are the impacts of climate change? -- Impact from temperature rises -- Climate change health impacts in Australia -- How will climate change affect me? -- Species extinctions will increase due to global warming -- Ch.2. Reducing greenhouse pollution -- World response to climate change -- The economics of climate change -- A costly climate future -- Death by degrees: the impact of climate change -- A healthy scepticism can save the world -- Deciding to be good, but not yet: UN dithers on climate change -- Australia's response to climate change -- Australia leads the world on climate change -- Tracking to the Kyoto target -- A lot of hot air but partnership no substitute for Kyoto -- Cutting greenhouse pollution -- Australia's climate change strategy: the real way forward -- The business case for early action -- Climate change solutions -- Climate change checklist -- Glossary
Summary
"Greenhouse pollution is caused by gaseous pollutants released into the atmosphere through human actions that amplify the greenhouse effect. Gases creating greenhouse pollution include water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride. The enhanced greenhouse effect is now widely accepted as the major cause of global climate change. Australia has one of the highest per capita levels of greenhouse gas emissions in the developed world, in large part due to a heavy reliance on coal to generate electricity. It is estimated that by 2020, Australia's greenhouse pollution will be more than 20% above 1990 levels. Some international experts assert that Australia needs to reduce its greenhouse emissions by up to 30% by 2020 to avoid dangerous climate change. What part should international agreements such as the Kyoto Protocol, energy efficiency measures, renewable energy sources and nuclear power play in reducing global emissions?" -- Publisher's website
