The Earth’s temperature has been rising. To limit catastrophic outcomes, the international scientific community has set a challenging goal of no more than two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) average temperature rise. Economists agree we will save trillions of dollars by acting early. But how do we act successfully? And what’s the backup plan if we fall short?

Setting politics aside, Two Degrees reviews the current science and explains how we can set practical steps to reduce the extent of warming and to adapt to the inevitable changes, all while improving the bottom line, beautifying our communities, and increasing human health. The book is a practical guide intended for a broad audience of those who occupy and shape our built environment. The authors provide a clear framework for communities, policy makers, planners, designers, developers, builders, and operators to help manage the impacts and capture the opportunities of our changing climate.

Two Degrees is divided into three sections—Fundamentals, Mitigation, and Adaptation—covering a diverse array of topics ranging from climate-positive communities and low-carbon buildings to the psychology of choice and the cost of a low-carbon economy. After a foreword by Amory Lovins, more than 10 contributing authors share knowledge based on direct experience in all aspects of built environment practice. This book clarifies the misconceptions, provides new and unique insights, and shows how a better approach to the built environment can increase resilience and positively shape our future.

Contents

Foreword. Preface. Acknowledgments Part 1: Fundamentals 1. The Science of Climate Change 2. Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Built Environment 3. Policies to Mitigate Climate Change 4. Sustainability and Climate Change Chapter 5. Mitigation and Adaptation. Part 2: Mitigation Strategies 6. Approaches to Zero Energy and Carbon 7. Low-Carbon and Zero-Carbon Buildings 8. Low-Carbon and Climate-Posmmunities 9. Getting to Zero for Existing Building Stock 10. Integrated Design 11. How We Choose: Evaluating Strategies and Trade-offs 12. Can We Afford a Low-Carbon Economy? 13. Corporate Leadership 14. The Walmart Story Part 3: Adaptation Strategies 15. Introduction to Adaptation and Resilience 16. Planning for Adaptation and Resilience 17. Designing for Warmer and Wetter Climates 18. Designing for Hotter and Drier Climates 19. Designing for Coastal Communities 20. Designing for Inland Communities Glossary Author Biographies