• Hengeveld, Henry et al. ed. An Introduction to Climate Change: a Canadian Perspective. Environment Canada. Ottawa: Ministry of Public Works and Government Services. 2005. Also available at  www.msc.ec.gc.ca/education/scienceofclimatechange A very good overview of the scientific background to the issue.

• Gore, Al. An Inconvenient Truth. (DVD) Paramount Pictures, 2006. www.climatecrisis.net  The former American Vice-President's presentation on global warming. The website has a downloadable education guide.

The following two books lay out the case for global warming and give suggestions for action:

• Monbiot, George. Heat: How to Stop the Planet from Burning. Toronto: Doubleday, 2006.

For a discussion of this important book by Lynn McDonald, click here.

• Flannery, Tim. The Weather Makers: How We are Changing the Climate and What It Means for Life On Earth. Toronto: HarperCollins, 2006.

Other Resources

• The website for the UN-sponsored Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
• "The Stern Report" A very important report from the UK on climate change
• Action in the United States on climate change
• Ontario government's website on climate change: www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/air/climatechange/index.php
  
• biblio.pacinst.org/biblio/ A good climate change resource library search engine
• www.nrdc.org/globalWarming/fgwscience2006.asp An annotated bibliography on climate change for 2006

Environmental organization websites, government agencies with relevant information on climate change, activities

• National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy
• Pembina Institute
• Climate Action Network Canada
• Sierra Club Canada
• Greenpeace Canada
• David Suzuki Foundation
• Science for Peace
• Post Carbon Toronto
• International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)
• Earth Charter
• Clean Energy Alliance
• Alternatives Journal
• Global Alliance
  

What would the world look like if the average temperature increases by 4 degrees (C)?

Professor John Beddington, the UK Government’s Chief Scientist said, “This map developed by the Met Office Hadley Centre, based on the latest climate modelling and peer reviewed science, shows a truly frightening picture of a possible future world in which mankind has failed to act on climate change. It is a world we must do all we can to avoid. A 4degC rise globally would mean temperature rises far higher than 4degC in many countries and regions, with potentially devastating impacts for people across the planet.“