Climate change presents perhaps the most profound challenge ever confronted by human society. This volume is a definitive analysis drawing on the best thinking on questions of how climate change affects human systems, and how societies can, do, and should respond. Key topics covered include the history of the issues, social and political reception of climate science, the denial of that science by individuals and organized interests, the nature of the social disruptions caused by climate change, the economics of those disruptions and possible responses to them, questions of human security and social justice, obligations to future generations, policy instruments for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and governance at local, regional, national, international, and global levels.

John S. Dryzek is the author of a number of books on democracy and environmental politics. He is Professor of Political Science in the Centre for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance at the Australian National University, and Australian Research Council Federation Fellow.
Richard B. Norgaard is an eclectic ecological economist and Professor of Energy and Resources at the University of California, Berkeley.
David Schlosberg's work focuses on environmental political theory, environmental justice, and environmental movements. He is Professor of Government and International Relations at the University of Sydney.