Because climate change involves a wide range of interlinked problems, solutions must be pursued in an interdisciplinary manner. This book adopts just such a holistic approach in examining various aspects of global warming, offering a comprehensive overview.

First, the mapping of knowledge about global warming is presented as a framework for addressing the issue. This is followed by a discussion of risk in relation to global warming and of the communication of risk between academia and society. Impacts, adaptation strategies, the institution of a low-carbon society, and other policy concerns are then reviewed. Because human behavior is a critical factor in the move toward a low-carbon society, issues involving quality of life are also presented, with an emphasis on philosophy. Finally, the book considers the integration of three scenarios—a low-carbon society, a resource-circulating society, and a society in harmony with nature—and presents a comprehensive vision of the future.