Global Sustainability
A Nobel Cause

Interdisciplinary exploration of the best scientific and political strategies to attain global sustainability, from many Nobel Prize-winning and other high-profile authors.

Hans Joachim Schellnhuber (Edited by), Mario Molina (Edited by), Nicholas Stern (Edited by), Veronika Huber (Edited by), Susanne Kadner (Edited by)

9780521769341, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 18 February 2010

416 pages, 60 b/w illus. 10 tables
25.4 x 18 x 2.2 cm, 0.96 kg

Arising from the 1st Interdisciplinary Nobel Laureate Symposium on Global Sustainability in Potsdam, this book brings together Nobel Laureates in Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Economics and Peace - top-level representatives from politics and NGOs, and renowned experts on sustainability. In an unparalleled attempt to address humankind's transformation to global sustainability, the authors explore the best scientific and political strategies for reconciling our civilization with its physical and ecological support systems. The book features a radically interdisciplinary approach through a broad range of contributions, covering the latest insights from climate impact research, environmental economics, energy resource analysis, ecosystems science, and other crucial fields. It is for everyone interested in sustainability issues. Intellectually stimulating articles address the complex challenges arising from the need to avoid dangerous climate change, covering both advanced mainstream concepts and novel transformational approaches.

Foreword Angela Merkel
Preface Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, Mario Molina, Nicholas Stern, Veronika Huber and Susanne Kadner
Prologue: save the boot room Ian McEwan
Part I. The Great Transformation: 1. Transformations of the twenty-first century: transitions to greater sustainability Murray Gell-Mann
2. Commentary: integrated sustainability and the underlying threat of urbanization Geoffrey B. West
3. Commentary: earth system analysis and taking a crude look at the whole Wolfgang Lucht
4. Making progress within and beyond borders Johan Rockström, Katrin Vohland, Wolfgang Lucht, Hermann Lotze-Campen, Ernst Ulrich von Weizsäcker and Tariq Banuri
5. Towards a sustainable future James P. Leape and Sarah Humphrey
Part II. Climate Stabilization and Sustainable Development: 6. Scientific understanding of climate change and associated risks – consequences for a global deal Stefan Rahmstorf, Jennifer Morgan, Anders Levermann and Karsten Sach
7. Towards a global deal on climate change Nicholas Stern and Su-Lin Garbett-Shiels
8. Commentary: the German contribution to a global deal Sigmar Gabriel
9. A 'just' climate agreement: the framework for an effective global deal Sunita Narain
10. Commentary: carbon justice and forestation – the African perspective Wangari Maathai
11. Carbon offsets, the CDM and sustainable development Diana Liverman
12. Insights into the climate challenge Rajendra Pachauri
13. Commentary: climate change – learning from the stratospheric ozone challenge Mario Molina
14. Climate change, poverty eradication and sustainable development Nitin Desai
15. Commentary: development and sustainability: conflicts and congruence Kirit Parikh
Part III. Institutional and Economic Incentives: 16. Robust options for decarbonization Thomas Bruckner, Ottmar Edenhofer, Hermann Held, Markus Haller, Michael Lüken, Nico Bauer and Nebojsa Nakicenovic
17. Price and quantity regulation for reducing greenhouse gas emissions Ottmar Edenhofer, Robert Pietzcker, Matthias Kalkuhl and Elmar Kriegler
18. Commentary: controlling climate change economically James Mirrlees
19. What is the top priority on climate change? Paul Klemperer
20. Research and technology for sustainability – a global cause Annette Schavan
21. Commentary: energy research and technology for a transition toward a more sustainable future Nebojsa Nakicenovic
Part IV. Technological Innovation and Energy Security: 22. A world powered predominantly by solar and wind energy Walter Kohn
23. Low cost 'plastic' solar cells: a dream becoming a reality Alan Heeger
24. Smart grids, smart loads and energy storage Joachim Luther
25. The SuperSmart Grid – paving the way for a completely renewable power system Antonella Battaglini, Johan Lilliestam and Gerhard Knies
26. Getting the carbon out of transportation fuels Felix Creutzig and Daniel Kammen
27. Opportunities for technological transformations and the dawn of a CO2-negative industry: from climate change to climate management? Maria Magdalena Titirici, Dieter Murach and Markus Antonietti
Part V. A Global Contract between Science and Society: 28. Promoting science, technology and innovation for sustainability in Africa Mohamed Hassan
29. Information flow: the basis for sustainable participation John Sulston
30. Commentary: educating and motivating global society Susanne Kadner
31. Commentary: democracy and participation Achim Steiner
Part VI. The Potsdam Memorandum: 32. Potsdam Memorandum
33. Commentary: the Potsdam Memorandum: a remarkable outcome of a most important conference Klaus Töpfer
Appendix: glossary
Co-authors' biographies.

Subject Areas: Environmental science, engineering & technology [TQ], Social impact of environmental issues [RNT], Environmentalist thought & ideology [RNA], The environment [RN], International environmental law [LBBP], Environmental economics [KCN]