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The epic phenomenon of the 21st century, with which this book is concerned – climate change – was originally designated, or rather started, as a concern for global warming. A distinction is now maintained between the two terminologies. Global warming is restricted to the measurable rapid warming of the Earth’s surface identified from a study of worldwide temperature records since 1880 attributable to human activities (Pielke et al., 2004; Pielke, 2005; Nodvin, 2010; Riebeek, 2010). Climate change conversely now signifies ‘changes in the state of the climate that can be identified by changes in the average and/or the variability of its properties ... that persists [sic] for an extended period, typically decades or longer’ (Nodvin, 2010). Climatic events associated with global warming include volatility and extremities of climatic events such as rainfall, sea level rise, drought, volcanic activities, hurricanes, loss of biodiversity, heightened storm intensity, frequent heat waves, altered precipitation patterns, reversal of ocean current and flooding, amongst others (Goulder, 2006; Tamirisa, 2007; American Institute of Physics [AIP], 2010). Because the climate of the earth is driven by the surface temperature of the earth (Lindsey, 2009), global warming is the prime cause of variation in global climate. To this end, the two phenomena cannot actually be decoupled in any serious sense; anything that influences global warming ultimately influences climate change. There are areas of substantial uncertainty about climate change. What scientists agree on is that climate change is real and that if not curbed could result in catastrophic consequences (Stern et al., 2006). As a result, the past two decades have seen unprecedented concern about the consequences of climate change and the cost of reducing its long-term impact. Climate

The task of drawing lessons from, or ascertaining the meaning of, recent historical events is not easy. The Falklands War of 1982 is no exception. As David Gompert and Dov Zakheim have indicated, one can see this conflict in at least two different ways. In the realm of political and military strategy several important lessons emerge. The skill with which Sir Anthony Parsons steered Resolution 502 through the Security Council without a Soviet veto and with the passive approval of many Third World states has been noted by United States (US) Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick and others as evidence that it is possible for a Western power to score a victory at the United Nations, as long as the right circumstances are present and they are combined with a vigorous, creative diplomacy. A British transfer of sovereignty over the Falklands to Argentina could be accomplished gracefully, honorably, and with due regard for the long-term interests of Great Britain.