Poles Apart
Gareth Morgan & John McCrystal
Poles Apart has been named a finalist (one of three) in the Royal Society of NZ Science Prize
'In a perfectly informed world, there would be no need for Poles Apart. Tragically, the quality of public information, the nature of debate, and the understanding of issues involved in climate change and the human contribution to global warming, is being conducted at a depressingly low level. The fundamental conflict is between an evidence-based approach and a faith-based one. Vested interests are active in promoting confusion, and a refusal to take action. Poles Apart is thoughtful, comprehensive, open and provocative. It should be read as a model of explaining the most complex physical challenge, so far, in the 21st Century. '
Barry Jones'Poles Apart is a breath of fresh air ... It takes an open-minded approach, weighs up the evidence from a range of indices, examining the arguments of both the anthropogenic case on climate change and those of the sceptics.The authors skillfully — and rigorously — blend hard science, statistics and anecdote to end up with a final chapter appropriately titled "The Verdict." '
Rod Moran (West Australian)'It's a clever approach with undeniable appeal for those of us who'd rather not wade through the thousands of scientific papers and reports published on the subject. And the verdict? Read it and find out.'
(The Age)Global warming – the result of human activity or just another environmentalist bandwagon?
His interest piqued by the profound policy implications of global warming, and by evidence he’d seen on his motorcycle tour of the world, Gareth Morgan decided to find out the answer to the above question.
His method was to hire the finest international scientists available to present their best arguments. Some were staunchly of the view that human beings are damaging the delicate climatic balance; others were equally convinced the evidence suggests that nothing out of the ordinary is under way.
Far from an orderly discussion of the evidence from the natural world, Morgan and co-author John McCrystal found themselves stuck in the middle of a fractious, at times catty, but always mesmerising debate between two sides that are poles apart.
Over the next eighteen months, the authors’ task was to sift through the arguments and counter-arguments, the mud-slinging and the name-calling, the distractions and the distortions — much as a jury must, in a trial involving expert testimony from both sides.
Slowly, painfully, the weight of evidence began to favour a single verdict.
Poles Apart sets out the authors’ conclusions as well as the path that led them there — because, after all, getting there was half the challenge.
'Poles Apart is an excellent summary of the current state of climate science knowledge, warts and all.'
(Natural Hazards Observer)Gareth Morgan
Gareth Morgan is an economist and investment portfolio manager. He is also a well-known columnist, public speaker and writer, and has written a number of books on investment matters as well as travel stories from his motorcycle circumnavigations of the globe.
John McCrystal
John McCrystal is a Wellington writer and researcher.
Buy from Readings
Extent: 288 + 2 x 8pp colour sections
Size: 234mm x 153mm
ISBN (13): 9781921640094
RRP: $35.00
Pub date: August 2009
Australia
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