Clearing the air - Hannah Ritchie

This is the second book that we have read by this author, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. To quote one of our group "if I had a Christmas card list I might just add her to it!"

Hannah Ritchie is using data to fight climate pessimism / denial / fatalism etc. She knows that we have to act, and fast, but that this is possible. We know what needs to be done, we have the tools already and we need to do it now

The book is laid out as 50 questions that are often heard, with straight-forward answers. They are intended to be long enough to give the full picture, but restricted to the essential information, with an extra section for a deeper dive. And of course there are full references and endnotes as the author is at heart a data scientist.

We found this book easy to read, broken into bite-sized chunks, and written for the lay-person to understand. There were clear graphs that showed information in a dramatic and vivid style. The question and answer style makes it easy to dip into, and use to refute the story we are told by the media.

This book is hopeful, inciteful and encourages us to take action where we can. You read it and feel optimistic - a rare thing at the moment. If only I could remember all that I have read in this book and have the facts to the forefront of my mind! To solve climate change we need to "stop burning stuff", be it for energy, transport, food, heat and homes. It does need change, and humans are instinctively resistant to that, but the climate-friendly options are often the better ones. An insulated home is easier to be warm and comfortable in. Rooftop solar and a battery is cheaper in the long run and avoids power cuts. Electric cars are quiet, smooth and a joy to drive. Legumes are good for our health as well as the soil. The list goes on.

Your problem will be finding this book in the ERA library. Those of us who bought it are keeping it! It is going to be kept at hand in our homes, though it may come with us to events when we may need to use its facts.

I would highly recommend this book - and if you ask nicely and promise to give it back I might just lend it to you.