July eBook of the Month demystifies global warming
Climate Change to be available online through more than 14,000 libraries

DUBLIN, Ohio, USA 22 June, 2006— Is climate change really happening and does it matter? The answer from the scientific community is a resounding yes, yet debates about the reality of climate change and what measures to take are slowing our response. In NetLibrary's July eBook of the Month, leading climate researcher Barrie Pittock argues that we need to act urgently to avoid increasingly severe climate change.

Climate Change: Turning up the Heat looks at the controversy around global warming and other predicted changes, examining the scientific basis of the changes observed to date, how they relate to natural variations and why the evidence points to larger changes later this century. The effect of these changes on our natural systems and our lifestyles will be considerable and could include wild weather, shifts in global ocean circulation, decreases in crop yields and sea-level rises. But the impacts won't be distributed evenly: some countries will suffer more than others.

Pittock explains how our attitudes to risk and uncertainty — constant companions in life — influence our decision making and, ultimately, how much we and future generations stand to lose from rapid climate change. Our climate takes a long time to alter so what we do now will have impacts decades later; we must encourage market forces to think long term.

A valuable resource for students, policy makers and anyone interested in environmental issues, this eBook outlines the current concerns of the major international players and reviews the response to date, detailing national interests. Importantly, it shows there is real hope of managing climate change and minimizing the risk of disaster if we step up efforts to develop and apply innovative technological and policy solutions.

Provided through the generous support of CSIRO PUBLISHING, Climate Change: Turning up the Heat will be available through more than 14,000 participating libraries July 1-31. To help libraries promote the July eBook of the Month, NetLibrary has developed a tool kit of free promotional resources that includes print-on-demand bookmarks, a sample press release, and electronic support materials. More information is available at:

http://library.netlibrary.com/eBookOfTheMonth.aspx

About the Author

Dr A. Barrie Pittock is one of the world's leading scientists in atmospheric research and the author of over 200 scientific papers. He was a senior scientist with CSIRO for over 30 years where he lead the Climate Impact Group in the 1990s until his retirement in 1999. He was awarded an Australian Public Service Medal for his leadership and visionary approach to identifying, researching and communicating a range of global climate science issues.

About CSIRO PUBLISHING

CSIRO PUBLISHING operates as an independent science and technology publisher with a global reputation for quality products and services and a publishing program that covers a wide range of scientific disciplines, including agriculture, the plant and animal sciences, and environmental management. CSIRO PUBLISHING is an autonomous business unit within Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization.

About NetLibrary

Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, NetLibrary (www.netlibrary.org) is a division of Online Computer Library Center, Inc., a worldwide library cooperative. NetLibrary provides content and technical delivery solutions to institutional libraries, corporations and government agencies that facilitate the purchase, management and distribution of research, reference, digital learning, and general interest content via Web-based technologies. NetLibrary's eContent solution is the most broadly adopted in the market, making the content of more than 400 publishers and eContent providers available through more than 13,000 libraries worldwide.