Oil, Water, and Climate
An Introduction

An excellent introduction to oil, water and climate change issues for students of environmental science.

Catherine Gautier (Author)

9780521709194, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 7 April 2008

408 pages
25.2 x 0.8 x 2.4 cm, 1.77 kg

'Throughout the volume, Gautier effectively builds a historically-sensitive account of contested processes, while illuminating the high stakes and unfolding challenges around oil, water and climate.' Global Environmental Politics

Today's oil and gas are at record prices, whilst global energy demand is increasing from population and economic development pressures. Climate change, resulting in large part from the burning of fossil fuels, is exacerbating the impacts of the excelerated exploitation of our natural resources. Therefore, anxieties over energy, water, and climate security are at an all-time high. Global action is needed now in order to address this set of urgent challenges and to avoid putting the future of our civilization at risk. This book examines the powerful interconnections that link energy, water, climate and population, exploring viable options in addressing these issues collectively. Difficult political decisions and major reforms in resource governance, policies, market forces, and use are needed and this book provides excellent introductory material to begin to understand and to address these problems.

Foreword
Introduction
1. Overview
2. Carbon dioxide emissions, global warming, and water resources
3. Population, environmental impacts, and climate change
4. Carbon cycle and human impacts on it
5. Peak oil, energy, water, and climate
6. Oil consumption and CO2 emissions from transportation
7. Oil, economy, power, and conflicts
8. Energy alternatives and their connection to water and climate
9. The water cycle and global warming
10. Freshwater availability, sanitation deficit, and water usage – connection to energy and global warming
11. Rivers, lakes, aquifers, and dams – relation to energy and climate
12. Water contamination, energy, and climate
13. Geopolitics of water and the international situation
14. Water alternatives
15. Global climate change – observations, modeling, and predictions
16. Energy and water challenges and solutions in a changing climate framework – commonality, differences, and connections.

Subject Areas: Environmental science, engineering & technology [TQ], Politics & government [JP]