Beyond hysterical headlines lies a wealth of knowledge about climate change. Here are a few books that go deeper, offering answers and solutions. Two are available through the Valnet library system; those published in 2017 will be arriving soon.
“Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming” ed. by Paul Hawken (2017)
“Drawdown” describes the 100 most substantive solutions to global warming already in place around the world, looking at how they work, their histories, carbon impact, costs and savings and path to adoption. The book’s goal is to determine if the buildup of atmospheric carbon can be reduced within 30 years.
“The Inquisition of Climate Science” by James Lawrence Powell (2011)
Modern science is under attack. Despite overwhelming, vetted scientific evidence, climate change denial persists. This meticulously researched book explores the denial movement, from how the public has been bamboozled by anti-science ideologies, to the front groups and fossil fuel interests funding the misinformation. It also arms readers with facts to argue against common misconceptions.
“The Archipelago of Hope: Wisdom and Resilience from the Edge of Climate Change” by Gleb Raygorodetsky (2017)
Climate change is obvious to indigenous people who have developed intimate relationships with their native ecosystems over generations. Raygorodetsky takes readers around the globe to explore the traditional practices of people living close to the earth. Along the way, he shows how they are adapting and how their resilience could provide solutions to modern challenges.
“A Conservationist Manifesto” by Scott Russell Sanders (2009)
In a series of wide-ranging essays, Sanders looks at how a mindset of conservation can shift the culture of consumption that dominates American life and lead to long-term solutions to preserve the planet and its resources.
IF YOU GO WHAT: Climate Change Forum WHEN: 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30 WHERE: Lewiston City Library, second-floor meeting room COST: Free