{"product_id":"0262195860-global_catastrophes_and_trends-_the_next_fifty_years","title":"Global Catastrophes and Trends – The Next Fifty Years","description":"\n\u003cp\u003eFundamental change occurs most often in one of two ways: as a \"fatal discontinuity,\" a sudden catastrophic event that is potentially world changing, or as a persistent, gradual trend. Global catastrophes include volcanic eruptions, viral pandemics, wars, and large-scale terrorist attacks; trends are demographic, environmental, economic, and political shifts that unfold over time. In this provocative book, scientist Vaclav Smil takes a wide-ranging, interdisciplinary look at the catastrophes and trends the next fifty years may bring. Smil first looks at rare but cataclysmic events, both natural and human-produced, then at trends of global importance, including the transition from fossil fuels to other energy sources and growing economic and social inequality. He also considers environmental change--in some ways an amalgam of sudden discontinuities and gradual change--and assesses the often misunderstood complexities of global warming. \u003ci\u003eGlobal Catastrophes and Trends\u003c\/i\u003e does not come down on the side of either doom-and-gloom scenarios or techno-euphoria. Instead, Smil argues that understanding change will help us reverse negative trends and minimize the risk of catastrophe. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003eCategories:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul class=\"category-tree\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eScience \u0026amp; Math\u003cul class=\"category-tree\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEarth Sciences\u003cul class=\"category-tree\"\u003e\u003cli class=\"category-tree\"\u003eGeology\u003c\/li\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n","brand":"The MIT Press","offers":[{"title":"Used - Good","offer_id":48234156949694,"sku":"0262195860-4","price":12.97,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0640\/9689\/5166\/files\/41Ws_Ica5qL._SL500.jpg?v=1785430449","url":"https:\/\/shop.sustainablebooks.com\/products\/0262195860-global_catastrophes_and_trends-_the_next_fifty_years","provider":"Sustainable Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}