Is there an energy crisis on the horizon and what can we do to the keep the world moving?
Energy is probably the defining topic of our age. Uncertainty over the long-term availability of some hydrocarbons and nuclear fuels are increasingly prompting volatility in energy prices on world markets. Meanwhile, no serious scientist doubts that the unabated atmospheric emissions of carbon dioxide associated with traditional forms of energy use are (at very least) exacerbating natural variations in climate in undesirable ways. For either reason or both, few commentators of any stature argue that "do nothing" is a credible option in the world of energy management. The technical challenges are legion, yet energy is just as much a socio-economic issue. Surprisingly, there are no authoritative books giving an overall introduction to energy for general readers, students, engineers, geographers, or architects, offering adequate coverage of the scientific, engineering, environmental, social, and economic dimensions in a single, reasonably-sized, and easily-readable volume. This book seeks to fill that gap.
