Earth System Analysis for Sustainability
by Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, Paul J. Crutzen, William C. Clark, Martin Claussen and Hermann Held
Earth System Analysis for Sustainability uses an integrated systems
approach to provide a panoramic view of planetary dynamics since the
inception of life some four billion years ago and to identify
principles for responsible management of the global environment in the
future. Perceiving our planet as a single entity with hypercomplex,
often unpredictable behavior, the authors use Earth system analysis to
study global changes past and future. They explore the question of
whether the unprecedented human-originated changes transforming the
ecosphere today will end a 10,000-year period of climate stability.
The book presents the complete story of the inseparably intertwined
evolution of life and matter on Earth, focusing on four major topics:
long-term geosphere-biosphere interaction and the possibility of using
extrasolar planets to test various geophysical hypotheses; the
Quaternary Earth System's modes of operation; current planetary
dynamics under human pressure; and transition to global sustainability.
Written by leading figures in the disciplines of geology, climatology,
evolution, biogeochemistry, macroeconomics, and institutions theory,
Earth System Analysis for Sustainability analyzes the driving forces
behind global change and uses this knowledge to propose principles to
propose principles for global stewardship.
Hans Joachim Schellnhuber is Research Director of the Tyndall Centre,
School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia and
Founding Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research,
Germany.
Paul J. Crutzen is Professor Emeritus in the Division of Atmospheric
Chemistry at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Mainz, Germany,
and Professor at Scripps Institution of Oceanography; he was
corecipient of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1995.
William C. Clark is Harvey Brooks Professor of International Science,
Public Policy, and Human Development at the Belfer Center for Science
and International Affairs at the John F. Kennedy School of Government,
Harvard University.
Martin Claussen is Managing Director and Head of the Climate System
Department at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.
Hermann Held is Head of the Mitigation Options research group within
the Department of Integrated Systems Analysis at the Potsdam Institute
for Climate Impact Research.
Introduction
The MIT Press
2004, pp 352, $ 38.05
Dahlem Workshop Reports
ISBN 0-262-19513-5
