This volume investigates the multifaceted implications of rising atmospheric carbon dioxide levels on global climate systems and human infrastructure. W. C. Clarke compiles a series of expert essays and technical notes to synthesize the state of climate research as it stood in the early 1980s. The work provides a structured framework for understanding the intersection of geophysical changes and the socio-political energy landscape of the era.

Experts recognize this text as a significant historical snapshot of early climate science discourse. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a foundational reference for understanding the evolution of modern climate policy.