Nicholas Stern, former chief economist of the World Bank, was asked by the British government to direct the largest study ever conducted into the reality of global warming and the possible ways of remedying it. The result, the Stern Report, made headlines around the world and is far and away the deepest and most far-reaching exploration of the crisis and—in particular—of solutions to it. There have been many worthy books elucidating the problem of global warming. This, now, is the first great book to grapple profoundly with costing and affecting the solution, from one of the greatest economists and public intellectuals of our day.

SIR NICHOLAS STERN was adviser to the United Kingdom government on the economics of climate change and development from 2005 to 2007. He was also chief economist and senior vice president of the World Bank. His research and publications have focused on the economics of climate change and the role of the state and economies in transition.