IRREVERSIBLE

Smith and Fletcher explain the past, present, and future of the global warming phenomenon that’s affecting us all.

The authors provide a complete overview of global warming and climate change that explains the science involved and provides details on how contemporary global events influence the possibility and potential of action. The book opens with an elucidation of seven key pieces of evidence that prove global warming is real, from rising earth and ocean temperatures to melting ice sheets and rising sea levels. From there, the authors offer a comprehensive list of the consequences of climate change, from insect infestations to conflicts caused by mass migration. They explore both the history of the drivers of climate change and how policy is shaped by current geopolitics. The U.S. has fewer incentives to switch from fossil fuels thanks to its large oil reserves and the use of fracking, while China is beginning to find success embracing renewable energy sources. For efforts to slow the damage of climate change to be successful, a huge amount of global cooperation is required. Smith and Fletcher offer a 15-point action plan for what needs to be achieved, including making changes in agriculture and adapting to higher global temperatures. They forecast that eliminating greenhouse gas emissions and stopping global warming should be possible this century. The world is not moving fast enough, they say, but renewables are increasingly the cheapest form of energy, and attendant technology is constantly improving. If nothing is done, they forecast that the temperature increase could be as high as three degrees Celsius by 2100. The question then becomes what governments, companies, and individuals can do about the problem.

The authors assure us that achieving climate goals is possible, even while preserving economic growth and raising global living standards. The book as a whole works to explain all the concepts the authors describe in depth so it can be understood by any reader, regardless of expertise. The authors offer chapter summaries and list key points that can be used to make study guides. Such accessibility is vital for ensuring that the science is clear and misinformation is quashed, though there is a risk that some readers might feel the book’s tone is slightly condescending. The use of a cartoon carbon dioxide molecule to describe specific topics may help some readers easily grasp the subject, but others will likely reject the idea that such a gesture is necessary. While the book offers a useful overview, it rarely delves into the intricacies of any subject deeply enough to offer any true level of expertise. Its message of hope is certainly well intentioned, but the authors fail to consider many experts’ view that radical adaptation is what this climate emergency requires. The end result is a book with a solid up-to-date scientific grounding but an incomplete picture of what the future may hold.

Despite being limited in its vision for the future, a useful overview of the science of climate change and the need for action.