Global Warming Is Real Caused By Us
We Have to
Using Fossil Fuels
Heat: How to Stop The Planet From Burning
by George Monbiot
South End Press, 2007 (U.S. Edition), $22.00
ISBN 978-0-89608-799-8
Starting with “The only means … by which we can ensure that there is a high chance that the temperature does not rise to this point [where major ecosystems start to collapse] is for the rich nations to cut their greenhouse gas emission by 90 percent by 2030. This is the task whose feasibility Heat attempts to demonstrate.” (p. xi) and ending effectively with “I have sought to demonstrate that the necessary reduction in carbon emissions is – if difficult - technically and economically possible. I have not demonstrated that it is politically possible. There is a reason for this. It is not up to me to do so. It is up to you.” (p. 212). In between he briefly reviews the evidence that global warming is real, and the highly successful disinformation campaign wages by American energy, automobile and chemical companies, to confuse Americans as to the validity of global warming. He then reviews in depth existing technologies, and how far they could be expected to go in allowing us to retain our current standard of living while greatly reducing our use of fossil fuels.
This is an excellent book. It gives a very informative look at current alternative technologies, and how with some behavior modification on our part, we could continue to aspire to a rich-country standard of living. From the perspective of 2008, the author’s assumption that we can wait until 2030 to achieve only a 90% reduction in emissions, appears unduly optimistic. We now realize the IPCC climate models do not include tipping points or de-stabilizing positive feed-back loops; and James Hansen has announced that he believes the safe level of atmospheric carbon dioxide was (parts per million) when we are already at 385 and rising 2-3 ppm per year.
One can only wish that Heat were to be made compulsory reading for policy makers in China, India and other fast growing developing countries. It is incredibly stupid and destructive of the environment, that these countries are investing huge amounts of money in obsolete fossil fuel dependent technologies, when they could by-pass the West and invest directly in the fossil-free technologies and life styles, reviewed in Heat.