Nothing as big and universal as climate change could be all bad. An ecological catastrophe was not necessarily a financial catastrophe for everyone.
-- Author (Introduction paragraph 1, Page 2)

Importance: The author is setting up his premise that as bad as climate change promises to be for millions of people all over the world, there are people who are poised to benefit from it financially.

Only Russia would say out loud what the other Arctic nations were beginning to recognize. 'Global warming is not as catastrophic for us as it might be for some other countries,' declared a spokesman for the Ministry of Natural Resources. 'If anything, we'll be even better off. More of Russia's territory will be freed up for agriculture and industry.
-- Author and Russian Spokesperson (Chapter 1 paragraph 1, Page 37)

Importance: This speaks to the concept that Greenland, Russia, and other Arctic countries stand to gain from global warming. As ice melts, more usable land will appear.

Oil companies are future oriented...
-- Author (Chapter 2)