Reaching Net Zero

Reaching Net Zero: What It Takes to Solve the Global Climate Crisis addresses the imminent need to fully understand the causes, effects, and evidence of global warming; due to the large amount of climate disinformation and complexity of much of the available valid science, this book addresses the science of global warming in a concise, readable manner while providing an in-depth reference for readers who want more details or to study the sources of information. This book also investigates potential practical next steps of interest to concerned scientists, engineers, and citizens, with an aim to further discuss and achieve the eventual Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 'Net Zero' goals. Solving the problem of reaching net zero requires educating others to support the changes that must occur and to provide the possible solutions required. This is a necessary read for academics in climate and environmental science, and specialists such as those in earth science or environmental studies, covering the science, technology, economics, politics, international, and other issues involved in doing something about global warming. It is also important for those interested in global warming and anyone involved in decision-making processes and legislation that deal with reduction in carbon footprints.

Autorentext

Bill Fletcher retired as a Senior Vice President at Rockwell International Corporation responsible for corporate R&D and business planning. Most of his career involved business planning and international operations for large companies. He served as an officer and engineer in the navy working on the design and operation of nuclear powered ships, and was an engineer involved with the design and construction of commercial nuclear power plants. Later, he focused on industrial development and automation. His international experience includes an assignment in Saudi Arabia planning the large Jubail industrial development project on the Persian Gulf, with additional expatriate assignments in Asia, Europe, Africa, and Canada.

Craig Smith retired as a President and Chairman, DMJM H+N, a subsidiary of AECOM Technology Corporation, an international engineering and construction management firm. He began as an Assistant Professor of Engineering at UCLA, where he was also the Assistant Director of the Nuclear Energy Laboratory. After UCLA, he cofounded ANCO Engineers, Inc., an engineering consulting firm in Los Angeles, later joining AECOM as the Vice President of Daniel Mann, Johnson, and Mendenhall (DMJM). He subsequently became the senior vice president, executive vice president, and COO. In 1999, he became the President of Holmes and Narver, Inc. He has been broadly involved in the field of energy and power, responsible for design and construction management, tests, and research on most types of electrical generating facilities.

Inhalt

1. Introduction

2. Addressing global warming

   Part One

3. The earth as a system
4. Fundamental drivers of global warming
5. How do we know global warming is real?
6. How do we know man-made CO2 is the issue?
7. What are the effects of global warming?

8. International efforts to address global warming

   Part Two

9. What would it take to reach net zero?
10. Energy alternatives
11. Unique problems of major contributors to global warming
12. Why is global warming such a difficult problem to solve?

13. Some successes and failures

    Part Three

14. Action plan: efficiency, power, transportation, and land use
15. Can it be done?

16. The way forward

    Part Four - Appendices