The purpose of this book is to provide the public with an improved understanding of the global warming problem that is presently facing our country and the entire world. While emphasis is placed on the scientific aspects of anthropogenic global warming (AGW), the enormous economic and social implications of AGW are also discussed. 

The first portions of the book describe the natural atmosphere of the Earth and the ease with which man can affects its contents. The middle chapters describe the reasons why we believe that global warming is occurring and why we believe that man is a major contributor. The latter portions of the book move to other aspects of AGW, including the lessons we recently learned from another nearly catastrophic atmospheric problem, the type of leadership that will be needed in order to effectively address the AGW problem, the reasons why it is so difficult for all of us to face this problem, and what will be expected of us all when we finally do decide to forcefully address AGW.

This book seeks to facilitate public deliberations concerning all aspects of the AGW debate - from "is it really occurring" to "what must we do to solve it" — by providing a readily understandable summary of both the scientific and public views on this subject and attempting to bridge the gaps that presently exist between them.    

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1:  Man's Effects on the Earth's Atmosphere                               

Chapter 2:  The Ice Ages and Global Warming                          

Chapter 3:  Searching for a Flaw in the Theory of Anthropogenic Global Warming         

Chapter 4:  Are Scientists Really Divided on Anthropogenic Global Warming?

Chapter 5:  Lessons of the Chlorofluorocarbon/Stratospheric Ozone Controversy

Chapter 6:  Musings of Carl Sagan on the Survival of Intelligent Forms of Life                         

Chapter 7:  Churchillian Leadership Needed for the Next Decade               

Chapter 8:  Getting Past the Forces of Denial

Chapter 9:  So What's Ahead for Us?                                         

Definition of Terms and Acronyms

Additional Reading