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This article reviews, from a socio-economic perspective, the current state of knowledge and controversies around the causes and consequences of global climate change. It considers the prospects for reducing global emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) which, according to the scientific consensus, are the key anthropogenic drivers of climate change. The focus is on two major areas of economic activity, the agriculture, forestry and other land use sector and the energy sector, which together account for around 60% of global GHG emissions. Total global emissions almost doubled in the 40-year period since 1970 and the annual rate of increase rose sharply in the 2000-2010 period. In the medium-to-long term, the emerging and developing economies will have a growing influence on global emissions given their populations and anticipated rates of economic growth. The extent to which the Paris COP21 Agreement can be considered binding on the parties is open to question. It is concluded that there are neither easy nor simple solutions for reducing global emissions. Reductions in emissions intensities should be possible, but it is argued that a stabilization path for total future emissions seems more likely than significant reductions.
