Unwanted climate change is resulting from the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) into the atmosphere by human activity. To avoid the serious and potentially catastrophic environmental, economic and health consequences associated with an increasing global temperature, global emissions of GHGs must be slowed, stopped and reduced. Emission reductions will require changes in energy policy, sustainable development, as well as market-based policies for reducing GHG emissions. Therefore, a climate change policy is more accurately defined as a portfolio of policies largely aimed at reducing GHG emissions. Some proposals can be implemented immediately at little or no cost, while others will require structural changes to our economic and energy systems and changes in the way we think and live.
