6 degrees - read this book

Mark Lynas, in this book sets out to suggest what our future on the earth might be if the global temperature increases by between 1 and 6 degree C. There are individual chapters for 1 degree, 2 degrees etc. All the potential changes from around the world are based on published science. The book is well researched and has been well received by the scientific community. For example there is a favourable review on RealClimate.



The book is pretty frightening - indeed so it should be - a recent conference held in Exeter stated that if the world is to avoid 'catastrophic climate change', global temperature increases need to be kept below 2 degrees C which equates to ensuring that CO2 levels do not rise above between 450-550ppm. We are currently at 380ppm. The following table summaries Mark's book.

This book is a must must read. The aim of the 60% cut in CO2 emissions by 2050 in the UK Climate Change Bill is supposed to ensure that this country plays it part in ensuring that global temperatures do not rise by more than 2 degrees C. The problem is that since the climate change bill was published last year there is a growing consensus that an 80% cut in CO2 will be needed. If we cant achieve this then you will have read about the consequences in Mark's book first. Buy it here.