Climate Change and Global Sustainability: A Holistic Approach

Climate Change and Global Sustainability: A Holistic Approach Climate change owing to global warming is a paramount concernfor society in the twenty-first century, ans it is not an issuethat can be solved by individual academic or scientific disciplinesworking in isolation. Because climate change involves a wide rangeof interlinked problems, solutions must be pursued in aninterdisciplinary manner. This book adopts just such a holisticapproach in examining various aspects of global warming, and offersreaders a comprehensive overview. First, the mapping of knowledge about global warming ispresented as a framework for addressing thee issue. This isfollowed by a discussion of risk in relation to global warming andof the communicatin of risk betrween academia and society. Impacts,adaptation strategies, the institution of a low-carbon society anda number of other policy concerns associated with climate changeare then reviewed. Because human baheviour is a critical factor inthe move towards a low-carbon society, issues involving quality oflife are also presented, with an emphasis on philosophy. Finally,the book considers the integration of three scenario for society-alow-carbon society, a resource-ciruclating society, a society inharmony with nature and presents a comprehensive vision of thefuture. Contents Figures Tables Contributors Preface Abbreviations Introduction: From Climate change to global sustainability Structuring Knowledge of climate change Climate change risk communication Climate change impacts and responses Designing Climate Policy Transformation of Social Systems and Lifestyles Integration of a low-carbon society with a resource-ciruclatingand nature-harmonious society Future vision towards a sustainable society Index Akimasa Sumi, Nobuo Mimura Akimasa Sumi is Executive Director of the TransdisciplinaryInitiative for Global Sustainability/Integrated Research System forSustainability Science. The University of Tokyo, Jap