Introduction

Abstract

This chapter introduces the basic concept of this book, that is, a balanced approach. First the author reviews the current situation. Global temperature has increased steadily even under the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol, and will increase further unless stringent policies and measures are introduced. The author attributes one of the main reasons for this is that there is not any consensus as to what extent we should cope with climate change. The author proposes to review the issue from two aspects: vertical balance and horizontal balance. Vertical balance means we need to take into consideration the benefit and cost of climate response measures, as well as their science and feasibility. Then, once we agree on the appropriate level of concentration, that level should be revisited from the view point of horizontal balance, i.e., efficient allocation of scarce resources among other globally urgent issues such as poverty, disease, unemployment, etc. Finally, this chapter briefly introduces the contents of the following chapters.