Examines the possible impact of climate change on our ability to feed the world's people, avoid water shortages, conserve biodiversity, improve health, and preserve cities and cultural treasures. It also reviews historical contributions to greenhouse gas levels, progress in meeting Kyoto commitments, and local efforts to meet the challenge of climate change. The atlas covers a wide range of topics, including warning signals, future scenarios, vulnerable populations, health impacts, renewable energy and emissions reduction. With more than 50 full-colour maps and graphics. Index, 112pp, UK. EARTHSCAN.

This book presents the issues of most relevance to Africa, such as past and present climate, desertification, biomass burning and its implications for atmospheric chemistry and climate, energy generation, sea-level rise, ENSO-induced drought and flood, adaptation, disaster risk reduction, the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol (especially the Clean Development Mechanism), capacity-building, and sustainable development. It provides a comprehensive and up-to-date review of these and many other issues, with chapters by the leading experts from a range of disciplines. 411pp, UK. CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS.

Quantitative analysis and assessment of the extent of potential economic impacts of future climate change, and value of adaptation measures in Africa for different zones, regions, countries and farm types. Researchers developed and applied multipliable analytical methods and procedures to assess quantitatively how climate affects current agricultural systems in Africa, predict how these systems may be affected in the future by climate change under various global warming scenarios, and suggest what role adaptation could play. Index, tables, charts, maps, 189pp, UK. EARTHSCAN.

Global warming and climate change pose a dire threat to life, demanding urgent global action. The Kyoto Protocol is the United Nations treaty committing signatories to dealing with climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This is a non technical account of what inspires people to transform the dry language of this international climate change treaty into measurable improvements in four countries (Brazil, Bangladesh, Indonesia and South Africa). These projects show how the elegant creativity of science merges with the complexities of politics and human behaviour. These stories come to life through a kaleidoscope of photographs and children's artwork. 107pp, UK. ITDG PUBLISHING.

Now in paperback. As in Guns, Germs, and Steel, Diamond weaves an all-encompassing global thesis through a series of fascinating historical-cultural narratives. Moving from the Polynesian cultures on Easter Island to the flourishing American civilizations of the Anasazi and the Maya and finally to the doomed Viking colony on Greenland, Diamond traces the fundamental patterns of catastrophic societal failure. Extensive discussion of Rwanda. Index, bib, b/w photos, 575pp, UK. PENGUIN BOOKS.

In light of the recent food shortages in Southern Africa, this collection of essays looks at the way climate forecasting can benefit the agricultural community. BNS, 236pp, UK. ASHGATE PUBLISHERS, 0754617661

Now in paperback. From South Sea islanders to Alskan Eskimos and British flood victims, the author tells the first hand stories of people across the globe experiencing the effects of global warming and climate change today. Index, notes, 27 clour photos, 349pp, UK. HARPER PERENNIAL.

Based on analysis of the evidence for climate change and the vulnerability of poor people, this book develops a framework for action and makes clear the link between consumer and political choices in the North, and impacts in the South on the most vulnerable people on the planet. Bib, app, 123pp, UK. PRACTICAL ACTION PUBLISHING.

Heatwaves, hurricanes, droughts, floods - recent years have seen in increase in 'record-breaking' instances of extreme weather. Caught up in this whirlwind of extremes it's no wonder that speculation about more deep-rooted climatic change is a constant of today's news. This guide sifts scientific theory from scientific fact and presents the impacts on health, farming and wildlife, along with an analysis of political negotiations on the issue and potential solutions to it. Index, 144pp, UK. NEW INTERNATIONALIST.

A study of climate instability and global warming discussing the science and the politics behind the issues, the difficulties of concerted action and the conflicts be-tween the countries of the economic North and South over rising temperatures. Index, app, refs, 178pp, UK. ZED BOOKS, 1842770799