What's New
Books
New Directions in Climate Change: Vulnerability, Impacts, and Adaptation Assessment. Summary of a Workshop. By the National Research Council's Committee on the Human Dimensions of Global Change. Washington, D.C., The National Academies Press, 2009. (QC981.8 .C5 N49 2009)
With effective climate change mitigation policies still under development, and with even the most aggressive proposals unable to halt climate change immediately, many decision makers are focusing attention on the need for strategies to adapt to climate changes that are now unavoidable. This short book summarizes a workshop that identified specific needs associated with the gap between the demand and supply of scientific information about climate change adaptation.
Risk of Vessel Accidents and Spills in the Aleutian Islands: Designing a Comprehensive Risk Assessment. By National Research Council. Washington, D.C., Transportation Research Board, 2008. ( TRB/SR/293)
The grounding and breakup of the bulk carrier Selendang Ayu during a severe storm in December 2004 focused public attention on the oil spill risks posed by vessels transiting the Aleutians. It resulted in a spill of 336,000 gallons of heavy fuel oil near the shores of Unalaska Island.
A federal court settlement specified that certain community service funds paid by the defendant in that case be allocated to pay for a comprehensive risk assessment of ship accidents and spills in the Aleutians and for the conduct of projects identified to minimize those risks.
This colorful 225 page report examines data related to the risk of oil, chemical, and other hazardous cargo spills from vessel traffic through the Aleutian Islands and identifies key information needed to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment.
Reducing Climate Impacts in the Transportation Sector. Edited by Daniel Sperling and James S. Cannon. Dordrecht, Springer, 2009. (HE147.65 .A85)
More than 250 experts from around the world gathered at the Asilomar Transportation and Energy Conference in August 2007 to tackle what many agree is the greatest environmental challenge the world faces: climate change. This 230 page book includes chapters by leading presenters at the conference.
They examine increasing worldwide emissions of greenhouse gases, uncertain oil supply, evolving climate change science, public attitudes toward climate change, and the implications for the U.S. of growth in China, India and elsewhere. They propose methods to reduce growth in vehicle travel through alternative fuel, new technologies, and land use planning, and examine the costs and the potential for greenhouse gas reduction.
The Limits to Travel: How Far Will You Go? By David Metz. London, Earthscan, 2008. (HE151 .M474)
David Metz is visiting professor at the Centre for Transport Studies, University College London and former Chief Scientist at the Department of Transport, UK. He has had extensive experience of scientific research and public administration, in particular in the areas of virology, energy policy, transport studies, aging and health, and financial services.
David Banister, professor of transport studies, Oxford University:
"David Metz again challenges conventional thinking in transport through a fundamental reinterpretation of the limits of travel time and human mobility, arguing that there should be maximum limits set for mobility if we are to avoid unacceptable environmental damage."
David Quarmby CBE, chairman of the Independent Transport Commission:
" ... this is not a dry technical book. David's conversational style takes the reader easily through the fascinating tour d'horizon of topical transport issues, from the innate demand for personal mobility to the growth of cities, from road pricing and congestion management to the explosive growth of travel in India and China, from global warming and energy supplies to road safety and technical change in transport."
A New Era of Responsibility: Renewing America's Promise. By the Office of Management and Budget. Washington, D.C., Government Printing Office, 2009. (HJ2051 N38)
This 134 page book provides a high-level forecast of the President's budget priorities and a description of Administration economic policies, including major budgetary initiatives.
Paul Krugman in a February 27 New York Times op-ed wrote: "And these new priorities are laid out in a document whose clarity and plausibility seem almost incredible to those of us who grew accustomed to reading Bush-era budgets, which insulted our intelligence on every page. This is a budget we can believe in."
Ecological Impacts of Climate Change. By the National Research Council. Washington, D.C., The National Academies Press, 2008. (QC981.8 .C5 E56)
The world's climate is changing, and it will continue to change throughout the 21st century and beyond. Rising temperatures, new precipitation patterns, and other changes are already affecting many aspects of human society and the natural world.
This 55 page book provides a broad overview of the subject.
