Originally published in 1995, this book brings together material from many sources and offers a balanced appreciation of the ways in which climatic changes can interact with society. The questions it discusses are as relevant now as when the book was published: how far should governments go in taking expensive and unpopular measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions? Will the warming trend produce results as dire as have been predicted? It does not presuppose a background in science and extensive use is made of case studies drawn from around the world to put scientific principles into context. An invaluable book for those approaching the subject for the first time.