Environmental Change: Key Issues and Alternative Perspectives

Books covering past and anticipated environmental change are being published at a rapid rate these days. Why highlight this one? As a senior research geographer, Oldfield does a nice job of reviewing paleoclimatic evidence in this title, but the most valuable chapter that lays out the pro and con arguments is 'Sceptics, Responses and Partial Answers'. For readers involved with policy decisions, this chapter and his chapter on impacts, are invaluable for understanding the ugly sides that pop up in this issue. Oldfield has participated in the climate science--and he's witnessed the knee-jerk policy responses-- over the decades of his career. I saw no evidence that he believes the destructive course we're on will vary to any degree, but the next thirty years, in his opinion, will be the ones to watch, especially in regard to tipping points. This book assumes the reader has some familiarity with intermediate college-level earth science concepts.