Climate Change Book Review

Andrew Weaver, Keeping Our Cool, Canada in a Warming World (Viking Canada, 2008), 323 pages

This is a book by Canadian climate scientist who has been at the forefront of climate science in Canada. Weaver is passionately concerned about what humans, particularly Canadians, are doing to our climate.

Elements in the book include a brief history of climate science and the greenhouse effect, the climate change debate of scientists versus the skeptics leading to a public perception of doubt when the scientists themselves are not in doubt, a brief history of climate science, a perspective on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change from a scientist who has been part of the process, the role of humans in changing the climate through the combustion of fossil fuels, an explanation of the key elements of climate science including climate modeling (which is Weaver's specialty), the impacts of climate change, the response of the Canadian government to the climate change issue, and some suggestions about options for dealing with climate change.

The most powerful section of the book is in a section called "How much can we burn". It appears on page 250. Here, Weaver poses the question how much carbon dioxide can the world burn before we end up with a long-term temperature increase of 2 degrees C over pre-industrial levels (or any other increase). He notes that ultimately all policy options need to get to zero emissions. He uses the University of Victoria climate model to calculate the world's emission budget. His point is that once the emission budget is used up, the world is committed to a long-term temperature increase of over 2 degrees C. It is all very simple.

Of course, it makes sense because carbon dioxide persists in the atmosphere for long periods. If emissions are not brought to zero, annual emissions of carbon dioxide will eventually increase atmospheric concentrations and push up temperatures.

This is not the best written book on the subject - not surprising because Weaver is a scientist first. However, if you are looking for a book that covers all issues intelligently, with passion, from a Canadian perspective, this is your book.

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