Book excerpt: With a Foreword by Dr Fatih BirolHirst provides a wide-ranging account of international energy strategies designed to counter climate change. He argues that six policies hold the key to addressing this global problem: accelerating action on renewables and energy efficiency; making bold investments in new technologies; persuading the public to adapt; taking firm regulatory action; supporting the developing world; and raising the level of global cooperation.Six Energy Policies to Save the Planet takes stock of the situation today, reviews the potential of available technologies, and examines the interlocking roles of business, public opinion, and government. It considers the geopolitics of climate change, in particular the relations between rich and poor countries and between China and the West. Additionally, it outlines the perspectives of some of the key decision makers, including an increasing number located in the developing world. The final chapters assess the current state of international energy governance and propose reforms.Encouraging us to understand underlying trends and significant levers for change, this book is a topical and fresh insight into one of the most pressing issues we face today.