THE CARBON WAR: Global Warming and the End of the Oil Era
Anthony V. Bouza, THE CARBON WAR: Global Warming and the End of the Oil EraTHE CARBON WAR: Global Warming and the End of the Oil EraWhile explaining the science behind global warming in a manner easily accessible to the nonspecialist, Leggett—originally a petroleum geologist, then a Greenpeace director and now a solar energy entrepreneur—takes us on a whirlwind eight-year personal journey through the world's climate negotiations. From the first major meeting of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 1990 through the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 to the historic Kyoto Climate Summit in 1997, Leggett provides an insider's perspective on the negotiations and many of the key players. As compelling as a good thriller, the book deftly describes the machinations of what Leggett calls "the carbon club" or "the foot soldiers for the fossil-fuel industries." Working behind the scenes, these lobbyists have been successful in stalling and diluting every agreement reached to date. All the while, as Leggett explains, the world warms and climatic disasters increase. Most readers will find it impossible to doubt the reality of global warming and its likely consequences after reading Leggett's account of the past decade. The book's only fault is that since its warmly received publication two years ago in Great Britain, nothing more than a short epilogue written in February 2000 has been added to update readers. (Apr.)
closeDetailsReviewed on: 03/26/2001
Genre: Nonfiction
Hardcover - 337 pages - 978-0-7139-9360-8
Hardcover - 360 pages - 978-0-415-93101-4
While explaining the science behind global warming in a manner easily accessible to the nonspecialist, Leggett—originally a petroleum geologist, then a Greenpeace director and now a solar energy entrepreneur—takes us on a whirlwind eight-year personal journey through the world's climate negotiations. From the first major meeting of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 1990 through the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 to the historic Kyoto Climate Summit in 1997, Leggett provides an insider's perspective on the negotiations and many of the key players. As compelling as a good thriller, the book deftly describes the machinations of what Leggett calls "the carbon club" or "the foot soldiers for the fossil-fuel industries." Working behind the scenes, these lobbyists have been successful in stalling and diluting every agreement reached to date. All the while, as Leggett explains, the world warms and climatic disasters increase. Most readers will find it impossible to doubt the reality of global warming and its likely consequences after reading Leggett's account of the past decade. The book's only fault is that since its warmly received publication two years ago in Great Britain, nothing more than a short epilogue written in February 2000 has been added to update readers.
Reviewed on: 03/26/2001
Genre: Nonfiction
Hardcover - 337 pages - 978-0-7139-9360-8
Hardcover - 360 pages - 978-0-415-93101-4
