Best of the books
Many of the books on climate change are pretty hard going. I’ve picked out seven very different books which, in my opinion, stand out from the crowd. Of course, you’ll have to buy the books for this to be of any use. I’ve made that easy for you with a link by each book.
Inspirational
No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference
Greta Thunberg, 2019, Penguin Random House.
A small book of her big speeches. Clear, simple, challenging, direct, brilliant. Don’t listen to her naysayers. This is dynamite, and an inspiration to us all.
Practical
The Sustainable(ish) Living Guide
Jen Gale, 2020, Green Tree Publishing.
Jen Gale goes into more depth on many of the topics I have covered briefly. Although in some ways it is a book of lists, it is organised and communicated with energy and clarity and comes straight out of Jen’s extensive personal experience of ‘doing stuff’. Just my kind of person!
How bad are bananas? The carbon footprint of everything
Mike Berners-Lee, 2020, Profile Books.
NOTE: make sure you get the new edition of this, published in 2020.
Does what it says on the tin. The go-to place to find out more about how different aspects of our lives compare regarding carbon footprints. Mike is the guru of carbon footprint science; you may have seen him on television.
12 Small Acts to Save Our World: YOU can make a difference
World Wildlife Fund, 2018, Penguin Random House.
Clearly written, and has an additional international perspective. You have to hunt in the text for the actions, but they are not too difficult to find! Inevitably has a slight slant towards wildlife issues, but covers the rest of the ground pretty well.
Educational
Drawdown: the most comprehensive plan ever proposed to reverse global warming
Edited by Paul Hawken, 2018, Penguin Random House.
The results of an awesome international multidisciplinary research project, Drawdown explains how 80 ready-to-go solutions, if deployed widely, could solve the climate crisis. The presentation of each solution is informed, and above all clearly presented and illustrated. A must-go-to book if you want to understand more about the solutions in the pipeline.
Zero Carbon Britain
CAT, Centre for Alternative Technology, 2020.
The latest in an outstanding series of research reports which set out in detail how the UK can reach Zero Carbon. Aimed primarily at national and local government, and based on impeccable research by the CAT team, this report is clearly written and comprehensible, and makes a persuasive case for government action.
Get your copy (links to CAT store)