World Book Feature on Global Warming Adds Context and Understanding to Hotly Debated Topic.

CHICAGO -- For all the debate over global warming, there is no debate that decisions made by politicians, environmentalists, and ordinary citizens today about use of nonrenewable resources will have an impact within our own lifetime and on future generations. Because of the importance of this topic, World Book has introduced a new feature to help students and their parents better understand the issues around global warming, from the science to the politics. The online feature, "Causes and Effects of Global Warming," is available through the World Book Online Reference Center for schools and libraries (www.worldbookonline.com) and consumers (www.worldbook.com).

"We know kids are very concerned about global warming. They see the attention-grabbing headlines and they hear the debates," said Paul Gazzolo, president of World Book. "The single most important achievement of our global warming feature is helping to put this very broad, often difficult-to-understand issue into context for students to give them a foundation of knowledge from which to explore further, ultimately forming their own opinions and potentially making a difference in the future impact of global warming."

From Why to What Next: A Straightforward Presentation of Global Warming

The World Book Global Warming feature offers students a comprehensible overview of global warming, addressing its causes, expected impacts, and what has been done about it so far.

The feature takes an in-depth look at how the production, transportation, and use of fossil fuels, as well as associated environmental pollution, each contribute to global warming. It also examines the damaging effects continued global warming could have, from the greenhouse effect to weather pattern changes, which may cause further flooding, droughts, and more damaging storms. The impact of global warming on the ocean as well as on plants and animals also is explored. The feature also discusses how climatologists and other scientists are studying ways to limit global warming, including reducing carbon dioxide emissions and increasing fuel efficiency. The Kyoto Protocol also is discussed in detail, from its terms and history to its controversy in the scientific community.

Additionally, the feature includes dozens of hyper links to key terms covered in further detail in the World Book online encyclopedia, from acid rain to the World Health Organization, reinforcing concepts addressed in the feature by providing detail through related information, charts and graphs.

The Global Warming feature also provides students with a variety of editor-reviewed links allowing them to explore further, including links to government agencies and organizations in the U.S., Canada and abroad.

"The Global Warming feature is a good example of one of World Book's key strengths, namely covering highly charged, controversial topics in a straightforward, impartial manner," said Gazzolo. "Our intent is never to sway readers one way or another, but to present the information they need to understand concepts so that they can first understand the topic and then make their own informed decisions."

About World Book Online

The World Book Online Reference Center (www.worldbookonline.com) is the premier online general encyclopedia for students in classrooms and libraries. It includes more than 26,000 articles as well as more than 12,000 pictures and maps, and 7,000 links to editor-approved Web sites useful in helping the reader constructively explore topics further. The World Book Online Reference Center is continuously updated to incorporate new and important developments relevant to students and their families. The World Book Concise Encyclopedia (www.worldbook.com) provides students and their families with ready reference from home.

The "Causes and Effects of Global Warming" feature is one of dozens World Book Content Spotlight features, available at no charge at www.worldbook.com. (This feature also is available directly at www.worldbook.com/wb/Students?content_spotlight/global_warming.) Content Spotlight features are designed to bring alive topics for students, prompting them to explore areas that they may not have known they had an interest in. The information is presented in an age-appropriate, balanced format using text as well as media to heighten the experience.

About World Book

Since 1917, World Book, Inc. has set the standard in publishing accurate, current, and reliable reference and learning materials for both children and adults. Based in Chicago, Ill., World Book is committed to creating learning materials that meet the highest standards of editorial excellence while also leveraging the advantages of online and interactive learning platforms. This commitment has culminated in a wide range of products that include the number-one selling The World Book Encyclopedia, and leading electronic products such as the World Book Online Reference Center. World Book is a part of the Scott Fetzer company, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.