The Down-to-Earth Guide to Global Warming

對抗全球暖化 教育實用指南

全球暖化是2007年最發燒的議題，卻也是讓各界最措手不及的難題！每天新聞持續報導油價的飆升、氣候的變遷所造成的乾旱、淹水、颶風、熱浪…等災難。地球的生存握在每一個人的手上，但艱深的知識如何轉化成生活中的常識？專家學者的語言如何簡化成大家都聽得懂的白話文？

Laurie David是與高爾一同撰寫【不願面對的真相】之共同作者，她決定跳出來為孩子寫一本實用的指引，讓未來的主人翁透過豐富的圖片、幽默有趣的舉例和簡化的文字來共同對抗全球暖化！

全書共分四大章節:
Part 1: It’s Getting Hot in Here 探討全球暖化的成因
Part 2: Weird, Wacky Weather 全球暖化所帶來的災難
Part 3: Extinction Stinks 全球暖化造成的物種滅絕
Part 4: What You Can Do to Stop Global Warming 減緩全球暖化的生活指南

Irreverent and entertaining, DOWN TO EARTH is filled with fact about global warming and its disastrous consequences, loads of photos and illustrations, as well as suggestions for how kids can help combat global warming in their homes, schools, and communities. Engagingly designed, DOWN TO EARTH will educate and empower, leaving readers with the knowledge they need to understand this problem and a sense of hope to inspire them into action.

Right now we are waking up to the reality that the effects of global warming are upon us. From extreme changes in weather patterns, to melting glaciers and polar ice caps, to endangered plant and animal species, global warming touches every aspect of our lives.

The Down-to-Earth Guide to Global Warming is the comprehensive resource readers can look to for understanding why global warming happens and the ways it impacts our planet, and how we can work together to stop it. Irreverent and entertaining, and packed with essential facts and suggestions for how to effect change, The Down-to-Earth Guide to Global Warming offers a message of hope. Kids and adults alike can help prevent the full consequences of global warming - we all have a part to play. There's never been a more crucial time to come down to Earth and stop global warming!

Authors' Note x
Letter to the Reader xiii
It's Getting Hot in Here
So What Exactly Is Global Warming? 2
A Greenhouse Gas Is Not Caused by an Orchid Grower Who Ate Too Many Beans 4
Were Fossil Fuels Once Dinosaurs? 6
You Say You Want a Revolution? 10
CO[subscript 2]: The Big Kahuna 12
CO[subscript 2] and Temperature: Like Peanut Butter and Jelly 17
I'm Melting! 19
The Bald and the Beautiful 22
The Oceans Are Carbon Sponges 24
What Is Your Carbon Footprint? 26
Says Who? 28
Weird, Wacky Weather
Hurricanes Flex Their Muscles 32
Flooded! 34
A Thirsty Planet 38
Heat Waves: The X-Games of Summer 41
Beach Bummer 44
A Walk in the Park? 46
Backyard BBQ 48
Extinction Stinks
Connect the Dots 52
Walrus, Penguins, and Polar Bears, Oh, My! 54
Don't Put Bleach in the Colors, Um, Corals! 59
Kiss This Toad Good-bye 62
Up, Up, and Away 64
What You Can Do to Stop Global Warming
Clean Up Your Room! 70
How Many Concerned Kids Does It Take to Screw in a Lightbulb? 74
Gulp! 76
Paper or Plastic? Neither! 78
The Carbon (Re)Cycle 80
Reading, Writing, and Saving Energy 82
Become Famous (All You Need Is Energy) 85
Hybrid (hi-bred) 86
The Alternatives Rock 87
We've Got the Power 89
What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up? A Sustainable Career 94
What Else You Can Do 97
Words to Know 100
Suggestions for Further Reading 102
Cool Web Sites to Check Out 102
Source Notes 103
Selected Bibliography 106
Photo Credits 108
Index 109
About the Authors 112