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A journey through climate literature: Finding facts and reasons to hope
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s an energy and climate professional, I have a comprehensive understanding of some scientific facts about the climate crisis, but I still struggle to navigate the intricate web that it has spun. The interplay of scientific data, political machinations and societal apathy often leaves me perplexed about the true scope of the challenge we confront. Nonetheless, I have discovered solace and inspiration in four indispensable books that provide insightful perspectives on the climate crisis and stimulate meaningful actions.
I was drawn to The Climate Book not because of Greta Thunberg’s name on its warming stripe cover (no offense, Greta), but more for its wealth of knowledge – a collection of bite-sized essays from prominent scientists, experts and activists. It is not a singular manifesto, but a multifaceted perspective on the urgency of the crisis.
It is easy to ask, ‘do we really need another book telling us that we’re doomed?’ But by laying out the climate crisis in a chronological approach (starting from understanding carbon dioxide emissions) to acknowledging the closeness of its impact (wildfires, decreased biodiversity, permafrost thawing and climate refugees), the book truly provides insights on “the greatest threat that humanity has ever faced.”
Read also: Long Live Print: Physical books thrive in the digital age
I had mixed emotions while reading the book: I felt somewhat angry that most impacts are borne by those not contributing much to the crisis (Part 3) and that we are not on the right track (Part 4), but also hopeful that despite the gloomy situation, we can overcome climate apathy and promote social transformation (Part 5).
Katharine Hayhoe, a climate scientist, contributed an essay in The Climate Book on the warming world and its impact. She herself also wrote Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World – which is unique as a climate book because it puts heavy emphasis on “talking about climate crisis”.
She pointed out that we are often mistaken in thinking that there are only two groups of people: those accepting the climate crisis and its corresponding science, and climate deniers. Based on research in the United States, “belief” on the issue is on a spectrum. It goes from The Alarmed (convinced that climate crisis is a serious threat) to The Dismissive (rejecting climate crisis existence altogether), and Hayhoe offers the way to talk about the issue to just about everybody.
