Book Review - "Heat"

Heat (How to stop the planet burning) by George Monbiot.

Many years ago I had a significant dream in which everything I did was tempered, in a resigned way, by the fact that I would be dead soon. I would think, "that doesn't matter now, because I'll be dead soon". Or it could be, "that's important now, because.....".
Having avidly read Heat, I have a similar feeling about our earth's ecology and all that it encompasses.
Many of us don't realise that the Titanic has hit the iceberg; and many of us are busily re-arranging the deck chairs, hoping that it will be enough. Many of us are discussing whether we should swing the lifeboats out so that they can be boarded. Some of us are trying to do that, but with woefully inadequate support.
It would be very easy to give up hope, though what would that say for our appreciation of people, other animals, plants, and the rest of nature? Despite his initial pessimism, George Monbiot shows that it is possible to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the rich countries by 90% by 2030! Yes, that is what has to be done, and he has all of the necessary facts, with copious references to scientific papers, etc., to show that it has to be and can be done.
In his introduction Monbiot writes: "Ours are the most fortunate generations that have ever lived. Ours might also be the most fortunate generations that ever will. We inhabit the brief historical interlude between ecological restraint and ecological catastrophe".
In "The Denial Industry" chapter, he roundly refutes the claims of the oil companies (and Philip Morris!) and their proxy organisations, quoting many sources. He claims, in response, that fossil fuel companies can easily buy "politicians' suits, with the politicians still in them".
Monbiot castigates the U.K. Dept. of Transport White Paper: "The Future of Air Transport"(2003), for the "remarkable evasion" that there "is no international agreement yet" on responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions from international flights. It suggests that the aviation industry should "pay the external costs its activities impose on society at large". Monbiot: "This is an interesting proposal, but unfortunately the department does not explain how it could be arranged. Should a steward be sacrificed every time someone in Ethiopia dies of hunger? As Bangladesh goes under water, will the government demand the drowning of a commensurate number of airline executives? The idea is strangely attractive. But the only suggestion it makes is that aviation fuel might be taxed".
What struck me most about this book was the urgency of significant action to stabilise the global climate. There are several "tipping points" which are likely to happen when the global temperature is about 2oC hotter than pre-industrial levels, but it will probably be sooner. There is already evidence that the Amazon forest is beginning to die, and that will be a self-accelerating process. Then there is the danger of ice caps sliding into the sea, the Gulf Stream stopping (thereby freezing Europe), and deadly acidification of the sea. There are others.
Mid-way through Heat we are told about the Pearl Harbour effect, which, for example, galvanised car manufacturers into making weapons in only a few weeks. We are now facing a much greater crisis, and when it is widely enough recognised we can deal with it. We have already done this with depletion of the ozone layer.
In the final chapter, "Apocalypse Postponed", Monbiot writes that, although difficult, he has demonstrated that it is possible technically and economically to reduce greenhouse gases in time. "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." Because people generally dislike change, sub-consciously we want the politicians to fail to make the vital changes. He warns us of the illusion that much discussion, especially on the Internet, is achieving something. "Action means moving your legs. Indeed, if this book has not encouraged you to want to do something, then I urge you to return it to the shop and demand your money back, for it has proved to be useless."
The last paragraph: "For the campaign against climate change is an odd one. Unlike almost all the public protests which have preceded it, it is a campaign not for abundance but for austerity. It is a campaign not for more freedom but for less. Strangest of all, it is a campaign not just against other people, but also against ourselves."
This may be the most thought-provoking and challenging book that I have ever read; yet its eloquence, honesty, and humour made it a pleasant experience. I especially appreciated the enhancement of George Monbiot's personal concerns for the future by the birth of his daughter, who arrived when the book was nearly finished.

George Monbiot won the U.N. Global 500 award for outstanding environmental achievement, presented by Nelson Mandela.
He has written several books, and writes regularly for The Guardian Weekly.
www.moniot.com gets 250,000 hits a month. (2006)
Many years ago I had a significant dream in which everything I did was tempered, in a resigned way, by the fact that I would be dead soon. I would think, "that doesn't matter now, because I'll be dead soon". Or it could be, "that's important now, because.....".
Having avidly read Heat, I have a similar feeling about our earth's ecology and all that it encompasses.
Many of us don't realise that the Titanic has hit the iceberg; and many of us are busily re-arranging the deck chairs, hoping that it will be enough. Many of us are discussing whether we should swing the lifeboats out so that they can be boarded. Some of us are trying to do that, but with woefully inadequate support.
It would be very easy to give up hope, though what would that say for our appreciation of people, other animals, plants, and the rest of nature? Despite his initial pessimism, George Monbiot shows that it is possible to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the rich countries by 90% by 2030! Yes, that is what has to be done, and he has all of the necessary facts, with copious references to scientific papers, etc., to show that it has to be and can be done.
In his introduction Monbiot writes: "Ours are the most fortunate generations that have ever lived. Ours might also be the most fortunate generations that ever will. We inhabit the brief historical interlude between ecological restraint and ecological catastrophe".
In "The Denial Industry" chapter, he roundly refutes the claims of the oil companies (and Philip Morris!) and their proxy organisations, quoting many sources. He claims, in response, that fossil fuel companies can easily buy "politicians' suits, with the politicians still in them".
Monbiot castigates the U.K. Dept. of Transport White Paper: "The Future of Air Transport"(2003), for the "remarkable evasion" that there "is no international agreement yet" on responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions from international flights. It suggests that the aviation industry should "pay the external costs its activities impose on society at large". Monbiot: "This is an interesting proposal, but unfortunately the department does not explain how it could be arranged. Should a steward be sacrificed every time someone in Ethiopia dies of hunger? As Bangladesh goes under water, will the government demand the drowning of a commensurate number of airline executives? The idea is strangely attractive. But the only suggestion it makes is that aviation fuel might be taxed".
What struck me most about this book was the urgency of significant action to stabilise the global climate. There are several "tipping points" which are likely to happen when the global temperature is about 2oC hotter than pre-industrial levels, but it will probably be sooner. There is already evidence that the Amazon forest is beginning to die, and that will be a self-accelerating process. Then there is the danger of ice caps sliding into the sea, the Gulf Stream stopping (thereby freezing Europe), and deadly acidification of the sea. There are others.
Mid-way through Heat we are told about the Pearl Harbour effect, which, for example, galvanised car manufacturers into making weapons in only a few weeks. We are now facing a much greater crisis, and when it is widely enough recognised we can deal with it. We have already done this with depletion of the ozone layer.
In the final chapter, "Apocalypse Postponed", Monbiot writes that, although difficult, he has demonstrated that it is possible technically and economically to reduce greenhouse gases in time. "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." Because people generally dislike change, sub-consciously we want the politicians to fail to make the vital changes. He warns us of the illusion that much discussion, especially on the Internet, is achieving something. "Action means moving your legs. Indeed, if this book has not encouraged you to want to do something, then I urge you to return it to the shop and demand your money back, for it has proved to be useless."
The last paragraph: "For the campaign against climate change is an odd one. Unlike almost all the public protests which have preceded it, it is a campaign not for abundance but for austerity. It is a campaign not for more freedom but for less. Strangest of all, it is a campaign not just against other people, but also against ourselves."
This may be the most thought-provoking and challenging book that I have ever read; yet its eloquence, honesty, and humour made it a pleasant experience. I especially appreciated the enhancement of George Monbiot's personal concerns for the future by the birth of his daughter, who arrived when the book was nearly finished.

George Monbiot won the U.N. Global 500 award for outstanding environmental achievement, presented by Nelson Mandela.
He has written several books, and writes regularly for The Guardian Weekly.
www.moniot.com gets 250,000 hits a month. (2006)

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