Awareness and interest in the meaning of civilisation and the extraordinary heritage for which humanity is the trustee is on the rise. If the current rate of carbon dioxide emissions continues unabated, scientists are increasingly warning of the threat it poses to civilisation. The less to least developed countries have already experienced impacts that have been scientifically attributed to global warming. Bringing together a range of subjects - from science, energy and sustainability to aesthetics theory and civilization theory - this book uniquely deals with climate change and the ensuing catastrophes in relation to cultural factors, urbanism and architecture. It links the evolution of civilisation, with special emphasis on the dynamics of beauty as displayed in architecture and urbanism, to climate change. It then considers both the historic and predicted impacts of climate change and the threat it poses to the continued viability of civilisation when survival is the top priority. This book gives students, researchers and professionals in architecture and sustainable design as well as anyone interested in the threat of global warming to civilisation, new insights as to what could be lost if action is not taken at a global level.