Making America Green and Safe: A History of Sustainable Development and Climate Change
Since history is a critical part of future planning, the eight chapters of this book offer both academics and the general public a historical perspective of the evolution of science and policy actions on climate change and steps toward building a resilient and sustainable society, especially at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Reflecting the world today, especially at the EPA, the author, who is a long-time academic and government policy maker and researcher, acknowledges that as David Barry once said (March 22, 1999) “We live in troubled times, but I feel good about myself, about my homeland and about all nations, and yes, about the future of humanity. And I will tell you why; I am on painkillers.”
Pain killers are not what we want for the future. Given the pressures of many megatrends, business and government must take bipartisan actions to move toward a resilient and sustainable world.
The book provides detailed insights into how best to deal with the nexus of environmental, social and economic problems and how to ensure strong economic growth while protecting the environment.
Dr Alan Hecht has a long career of advancing climate science and policy and building a resilient and sustainable society. From 1970 to 1976, he was Professor for Geosciences at West Georgia College, USA, before becoming the first Director of the Climate Dynamics Program at the National Science Foundation in 1976. He has also served as the Director of the National Climate Program Office at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, where he worked with federal agencies in developing US policy on climate research and negotiating the first climate change agreement. In 1989, he moved to the Environmental Protection Agency to help advance international activities, and helped prepare for the 1992 Rio Earth Summit and the negotiating team for the environmental side agreement to the North American Free Trade Agreement. From 2001 to 2003, Hecht was on detail to the National Security Council and the Council on Environmental Quality, and was the White House Coordinator in preparing for the 2002 Johannesburg Earth Summit. In 2003, he returned to EPA’s Office Research and Development (ORD), and, since then, has led EPA research activities on sustainability. His publications include over 30 papers on climate history and sustainable development.
"This is a highly readable book aimed at a broad audience, filled with intriguing anecdotes from the author’s personal experiences. For students of climate change science and policy it provides a valuable reference. For concerned citizens it offers an honest and insightful overview of a critical, often misunderstood topic. The book concludes with a compelling overview of global megatrends, including not only climate change but also socioeconomic changes that represent both challenges and opportunities for sustainability."
Joseph Fiksel Professor Emeritus, Ohio State University
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