Abstract
Based on a historical review of the so-called Ozone crisis in the late 1970s and global climate changes since the 1980s, this paper examines the role of sciences and policies in the international community in dealing with the global environmental issues. Lessons show that a multi-discipline, multi-organizational and multi-national UN agency which remains relevant, assisting rather than guiding the process of climate negotiations is important.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ahmad Q K, et al (2001). Climate Change 2001: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability- Summary for Policymakers. A report of working group II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC
Albritton D L, et al (2001). Climate Change 2001: The Scientific Basis-Summary for Policymakers. A report of Working Group I of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC
Cicerone R J, Barton E J, Dickinson R E, Fung I Y, Hansen J E, Karl T R, Lindzen R S, McWilliams J C, et al (2007). Assessing Progress in Climate Science, Climate Change Science: An Analysis of Some Key Questions. Washington D C: National Academies Press.
Glantz M H (2008). Resilient Adaptation: Adjusting to a Changing Climate over Time. http://www.fragilecologies.com/apr28_08.html
Houghton J (1997). Global Warming-The Complete Briefing. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 382
Marland G, Boden T A, Andres R J (2007). Global, regional, and national CO2 emissions. In Trends: A Compendium of Data on Global Change. Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge, Tenn, USA
Rowland F S, Molina M J (1994). Ozone depletion: 20 years after the alarm. Chemical and Engineering News, 72: 8–13
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Usher, P., Ye, Q. A historical review on the roles of science and politics in addressing global environmental issues. Front. Earth Sci. China 3, 57–62 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-009-0020-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-009-0020-x