Includes bibliographical references (pages 447-452) and index.

Bali, December 2007 -- The Deniers' Convention -- True believers -- An uneasy alliance -- Breaking the veto -- Disaster training -- Repower America -- Save the planet? Save the economy! -- The path -- Copenhagen, December 2009. Journalist Eric Pooley takes us behind the scenes and into the hearts and minds of the most important players in the struggle to cap global warming pollution--a fight in which trillions of dollars and the fate of the planet are at stake. Why has it been so hard for America to come to grips with climate change? Why do so many people believe it isn't really happening? Powerful interests are threatened by the carbon cap that would speed the transition to a clean energy economy, and their agents have worked successfully to deny the problem and delay the solutions. Pooley spent three years embedded with an extraordinary cast of characters: from CEOs to radical activists, media gurus and presidential advisors. He captures the quiet determination and even heroism of climate campaigners who have dedicated their lives to an uphill battle that's still raging today.--From publisher description.