By Bill McKibben
Publisher: Times Books
ISBN: 978-0805090567
Although the recent disruption caused by the Icelandic volcano was not connected to global warming as such, it did demonstrate to all who cared to stop and consider the event just what nature in a bad mood can do to our way of living. Although aviation was hardest hit, the consequences rippled through society and hit kiwi growers tens of thousand of miles away as well as car makers in Europe who ran out of parts normally delivered by air in a just-in-time operation.
The normal posture of environmentalists, and politicians lusting for the votes of the environmental lobby, is that we must restrict things now, change the light bulbs to the eco variety and change to bicycles in order to reduce carbon emissions which will, hopefully, start having an effect in a couple of decades.
In all the hot air scant attention (and even less money) is being expended on getting prepared for, and mitigating the effects of, climate change that is already upon us. This is a big mistake and the cost of the certain damage will be many times the amount of possible and uncertain savings three decades down the road.
But finally here is a book from Bill McKibben, entitled Eaarth (the second ‘a’ is there to signify ‘extra awful’) which does not simply extol the virtues of hybrid cars and wind turbines, this book actually talks about how to survive what is coming, a here and now survival guide of global warming.
McKibben has no doubts about the fact that we have already tipped the scales and there is no going back whatever we do to cripple whole industries in the name of carbon emission reduction. His convictions are supported by a myriad of easy to see facts, written up in what eventually becomes a numbing recital of evidence showing clearly that we are beyond the proverbial 24th hour. In terms of global warming, it is already tomorrow.
The picture he paints is particularly grim for the transports sector. A life-style much more limited to a local area may not sound very exciting but it may be the only one available once the effects of centuries of abuse finally catch up with us in full force.
The book is convincing and the message is clear. Unless we learn how to survive the upcoming effects now, all investment in future improvements is of doubtful value. There will be precious little to be saved…
Order your copy here.