Several years ago the Open University in Heerlen and Maastricht University decided to launch a course on ‘Climate and the Environment’, with a diverse team of authors. Both natural and social scientists, from several regions of the world, contributed to this book. Initially, the book was intended as a textbook within this course for students of Environmental Sciences programmes at the Open University and Maastricht University. As the book developed it became clear that it would be an excellent source to anyone professionally engaged in the wide area of the enhance greenhouse effect
