Overheated: The Human Cost of Climate Change

The theory that human activity is causing the earth to warm is broadly known. Yet while the vast majority of scientists who study the issue think that global warming is both real and dangerous, nations have done very little to halt-much less reverse-the process. The main reason for this is that crafting policies to reduce global warming presents a serious collective action problem: the threat today seems minor, yet taking it on alone puts nations at a competitivedisadvantage with those who simply elide the issue. Moreover, amidst this environment of buck passing, there is a vocal minority that contends that global warming is not even occurring. And there are others who admit that while it might be occurring, it is an entirely manageable threat.