'Whether the reader is a proponent of greenhouse-gas induced climatic change or a sceptic, the weight of evidence presented, the authority that IPCC commands and the breadth of view can hardly fail to impress and earn respect. Each of the volumes is essentially a remarkable work of reference, containing a plethora of information and copious bibliographies, mostly of post 1995 papers. There can be few natural scientist who will not want to have at least one of these volumes to hand on their bookshelves, at least until further research renders the details outdated by the time of the next survey.' The Holocene

Climate Change 2001: Mitigation is the most comprehensive and up-to-date scientific, technical and economic assessment of options to mitigate climate change and their costs. The report: • Makes clear there are strong inter-linkages between climate change policy and policies towards sustainable development. • Assesses information on technological options to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or enhance their sinks. • Analyses technologies and practices available to achieve the targets of the Kyoto Protocol and stabilise atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases. • Evaluates barriers impeding implementation of these options and methods available to overcome them. • Summarises the economic literature on costs of climate change mitigation at global, regional and national levels. • Evaluates the other benefits that climate policy can deliver or the climate benefits of other socio-economic policies. • Assesses how this information can be used to support climate policy decision making, acknowledging various decision-making frameworks. This latest IPCC assessment will again form the standard scientific reference for all concerned with climate change and who want to be informed of ways to address this important global problem: including students and researchers in environmental and social sciences, and policymakers and analysts in governmental and non-governmental organisations and the private sector world-wide.

Summary for policy makers
Technical summary
Introduction
1. Scope of the report
2. Greenhouse gas emissions: mitigation scenarios and implications
3. Technological and economic potential of GHG emissions reduction
4. Technological and economic potential of options to enhance, maintain and manage biological carbon reservoirs and geo-engineering
5. Barriers, opportunities and market potential of technologies and practices
6. Policies, measures and instruments
7. Costing methodologies for mitigation
8. Global, regional and national costs and ancillary benefits of mitigation
9. Sector costs and ancillary benefits of mitigation
10. Decision making frameworks
Index.

Subject Areas: Environmental monitoring [TQD], Environmental science, engineering & technology [TQ], Regional & area planning [RP], Social impact of environmental issues [RNT], Pollution & threats to the environment [RNP], Environmental management [RNF], Meteorology & climatology [RBP], Environment law [LNKJ], Energy & natural resources law [LNCR], Environmental economics [KCN]