Introduction
Introduction
The scientific consensus on global warming is sobering: It's real, it's happening now and carbon-dioxide emissions caused by the burning of fossil fuels are almost certainly responsible. Predicting what the exact effects will be on humanity and the planet's living resources is trickier, but a growing body of evidence suggests they will be profound. The international community generally — and the European Union in particular — take the threat very seriously, and most wealthy industrial nations have adopted mandatory limits on carbon emissions under the 2005 Kyoto Protocol. The United States — the world's largest carbon emitter — has refused to sign the protocol or adopt mandatory limits, and is seen by other nations as obstructing progress on the issue. Kyoto expires in 2012, and ...