1st Edition
Agricultural Dimensions of Global Climate Change
This important book, written by recognized leaders in their fields, discusses agricultural dimensions of global climate change. Research and policy issues are covered and a multidisciplinary view of global climate change and agriculture is presented.
Major sections cover the contribution of agriculture to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (including an investigation as to whether monitoring and verification of such emissions would work) and the impact of global climate change on agriculture.
The book examines such important issues as global food availability, distributional effects between developing and developed countries, agricultural adaptation possibilities, and whether CO2 enrichment will benefit agriculture.
A unique feature of this publication is that it addresses communication difficulties between researchers and policy makers and suggests solutions.
Nature of the Problem
Sources of Greenhouse Gases
Agricultural Impact of Global Warming
The International Response
The Role of Agriculture
2. Is Climate Change Occurring? Evidence from the Instrumental Record, P.D. Jones
Data
Temporal Variation in Hemispheric Mean Temperature
The Spatial Pattern of Warmth During the 1981-1990 Decade
3. Some Issues in Detecting Climate Change Induced by Greenhouse Gases Using General Circulation Models, Benjamin D. Santer
Climate Models and Greenhouse Warming Experiments
Model Signal Uncertainties
Natural Variability Uncertainties
The Attribution of Problem: Establishing the Causal Link
4. Current Climate and Population Constraints on World Agriculture, R. Gommes
Climate Constraints
Human Population Constraints
5. Potential Impacts of Climate Change on World Food Supply: A Summary of a Recent International Study, Cynthia Rosenzweig & Martin L. Parry
Crop Yield Methods
Crop Yield Results
World Food Trade Methods
World Food Trade Results
6. Impacts of Climate Change on the Agriculture and Economy of the Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas (MINK) Region, Pierre Crosson
Impact of the Analog Climate on 1980s Crop Production
Impacts on the 1980s Regional Economy by Way of Crop Production
Impacts in 2030: Agriculture
7. Adaptation to Global Climate Change at the Farm Level, H.M. Kaiser, S.J. Riha, D.S. Wilks & R. Sampath
The Integrated Model
Adaptation Scenarios
Results
8. Carbon Dioxide Effects on Plants: Uncertainties and Implications for Modeling Crop Response to Climate Change, David W. Wolfe & Jon D. Erickson
Plant Physiological Response to CO2
Optimum Yield Response to CO2 in Controlled Environments
Interactions between CO2 and Other Environmental Factors
Crop Models and the CO2 Effect
9. Distributional Effects of Global Warming and Emissions Abatement, Steven Kyle
Distributional Aspects of Climate Change
Distributional Issues and Policies for Emission Abatement
Prospects for an International Abatement Treaty
10. After Rio: The Status of Climate Change Negotiations, Thomas E. Drennen
The Agreement
Obstacles to Implementation
Effectiveness of the Agreement
11. Four Questions of Justice, Henry Shue
Four Kinds of Questions
Two Kinds of Answers
Two Kinds of Grounds
12. Status and Issues Concerning Agricultural Emissions of Greenhouse Gases
John M. Duxbury & Arvin R. Mosier
Global Annual Budgets of CO2, CH4, and N2O
Significance of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Agriculture
Selected Issues Regarding Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Agriculture
13. Agricultural Emissions of Greenhouse Gases: Monitoring and Verification, Owen Greene & Julian E. Salt
The Relevance of Monitoring: Verification and Scientific Review
Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Context
Monitoring Agricultural Sector GHG Emissions
Comments and Verification
14. Bridging the Gap between Policymakers and Academics, Susan Offutt
What Defines a Gap?
How Big is the Gap?
Closing the Gap: The Lessons of Experience
The Peculiarities of Agriculture
Bridging the Gap
15. Communications between Decision Makers and Researchers: An Overview of the Joint Climate Project, J.C. Bernabo, P.D. Eglinton & C. L. Cooper
Unique Approach
Findings
Continuing the Process
Glossary
Index
Biography
Harry Kaiser (Cornell University), Thomas Drennen (Cornell University)
