Product Description

Further substantial climate change is unavoidable and the risks to the natural world, the economy and our everyday lives are immense. The way we live in the next thirty years - how we invest, use energy, organise transport and treat forests - will determine whether these risks become realities. Although poor countries - the least responsible for climate change - will be hit earliest and hardest, all countries must adapt to the effects: hurricanes and storms strike New Orleans and Mumbai; flooding causes devastation in England and Mozambique; droughts occur in Australia and Darfur; and sea level rise will affect Florida and Bangladesh. Lord Stern, author of the "Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change" and former Chief Economist at the World Bank, is the world's leading authority on what we can do in the face of such unprecedented threat. Action on climate change will require the greatest possible international collaboration, but if successful will ensure not just our future, but our future prosperity. Focusing on the economic management of investment and growth from the perspective of both adaptation and mitigation, Stern confronts the most urgent questions facing us now: what is the problem; what are the dangers; what can be done to reduce emissions, at what cost; how can the world adapt; and, what does all this mean for corporations, governments and individuals. "A Blueprint for a Safer Planet" provides authoritative, inspirational, and hopeful, answers.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #31798 in Books
• Published on: 2009-04-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

Review
`Lord Stern, like Al Gore, could be seen as one of the rock stars of global warming'
--Financial Times, Fiona Harvey

Review
'a user's manual for the planet...commendably light on jargon and abundantly clear in his conclusions'

Review
`Despite his gloomy predictions Lord Stern's overall argument is one of optimism'

Customer Reviews

Showing the way out of this global mess - essential reading for all
This book first presents the undeniable scientific facts about climate change and the stark reality of what to expect in the future from "bussiness as usual", partially addressing the problems or attacking them head-on. Then it goes on to present the structure of a global deal which can seriously lead to a way of tackling the crisis now.
It is a bold cry for immediate action from a highly experienced and respected international policy maker. There is no shirking from any issues. This book gives optimism for the future. All we need is an open mind and a willingness to change. A must read for all seriously concerned about climate change.

blueprint no greenwash
Very solid government-speak book with all of the info that the Stern review didn't tell
a bit solid in places but at least there's no greenwash

"A New Era of Progress and Prosperity"
Nicholas Stern is author of the 2005 Stern Review and an influential paper titled "Key Elements of a Global Deal".
Throughout the book the author focuses on two key dates: the Copenhagen Conference in 2009 and a target to cut emissions by 50% by 2050. He envisages that the blueprint he constructs in this book could provide a basis for the negotiations at Copenhagen.
Some argue that the current global slump provides the wrong environment to tackle the issue, but Stern considers the crisis to be an opportunity. He points out that low carbon energy is of real economic and social value, and we must recognise the potential a new era of progress and prosperity.
Stern considers the motivations of the "deniers", emphasizing that they are usually economists, journalists and politicians - not scientists.
He emphasizes that it would be well for economists to realise that climate change is primarily a market failure where prices are not reflecting the true cost to society of production.
The author emphasizes in several places that the issues of global development and climate change cannot be separated.
He asserts that scientific evidence of long-term trends is undeniable: "The time for argument is over; it's now time to formulate policy and strategic response."
Two notable characteristics throughout are a sense of urgency and a sense of optimism. He devotes as much attention to the benefits of a low-carbon era than to the costs of inaction; even the slowing world economy and the prospect of rising oil prices are considered by Stern to be valuable opportunities. He predicts that a low-carbon future will unleash a new era of wealth generation, global equality and international co-operation.
It should also be noted that his target of 500ppm CO2e is much higher than those given by some other respected authors, and one gets the impression from Stern's justification of the target that he himself considers it to be an unfortunate compromise. However, the general policy framework he constructs would be just as effective a blueprint for global action whether or not the detailed figures can be relied upon.
The last paragraph of the book encapsulates Stern's spirit of optimism - he asserts that this is a "special opportunity" and the the "prize if enormous": tempered by the final warning that the "planet is in peril" if we fail.
I would consider this work to be a useful contribution to the debate because it avoids dwelling on the well-rehearsed scientific arguments. Rather it focuses on economics, challenging conventional wisdom by portraying a low-carbon future as a positive driver for wealth generation.