William L. Steffen Knihy

Global Change and the Earth System describes what is known about the Earth system and the impact of changes caused by humans. It considers the consequences of these changes with respect to the stability of the Earth system and the well-being of humankind; as well as exploring future paths towards Earth-system science in support of global sustainability. The results presented here are based on 10 years of research on global change by many of the world's most eminent scholars. This valuable volume achieves a new level of integration and interdisciplinarity in treating global change.

This volume compiles plenary presentations from the Challenges of a Changing Earth conference held in Amsterdam in July 2001, which gathered around 1400 scientists from 105 countries. The conference focused on the latest scientific understanding of both natural and human-driven changes to our planet, examining their impacts on societies and envisioning future scenarios. Presentations encompassed a diverse range of disciplines, addressing critical societal issues such as the food system, air quality, the carbon cycle, and water resources from both policy and scientific perspectives. Many talks highlighted significant scientific advancements from the past decade of international research on global change, while others posed challenges for the scientific community regarding future inquiries. The volume aims to encapsulate the urgency and enthusiasm of the science shared in Amsterdam. Plenary speakers faced the challenge of conveying their complex ideas accurately and in detail while ensuring accessibility to a broad audience beyond their specific fields, all within a limited page count.