Arising from the 1st Interdisciplinary Nobel Laureate Symposium on Global Sustainability in Potsdam, this book brings together Nobel Laureates in Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Economics and Peace - top-level representatives from politics and NGOs, and renowned experts on sustainability. In an unparalleled attempt to address humankind's transformation to global sustainability, the authors explore the best scientific and political strategies for reconciling our civilization with its physical and ecological support systems. The book features a radically interdisciplinary approach through a broad range of contributions, covering the latest insights from climate impact research, environmental economics, energy resource analysis, ecosystems science, and other crucial fields. It is for everyone interested in sustainability issues. Intellectually stimulating articles address the complex challenges arising from the need to avoid dangerous climate change, covering both advanced mainstream concepts and novel transformational approaches.

This Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report (IPCC-SRREN) assesses the potential role of renewable energy in the mitigation of climate change. It covers the six most important renewable energy sources - bioenergy, solar, geothermal, hydropower, ocean and wind energy - as well as their integration into present and future energy systems. It considers the environmental and social consequences associated with the deployment of these technologies and presents strategies to overcome technical as well as non-technical obstacles to their application and diffusion. SRREN brings a broad spectrum of technology-specific experts together with scientists studying energy systems as a whole. Prepared following strict IPCC procedures, it presents an impartial assessment of the current state of knowledge: it is policy relevant but not policy prescriptive. SRREN is an invaluable assessment of the potential role of renewable energy for the mitigation of climate change for policymakers, the private sector and academic researchers.