[Oz-envirolink] Another review of "Heat" (George Monbiot - UK)

[hugh spencer]

George Monbiot - Heat, How To Stop The Planet Burning

http://resolutereader.blogspot.com/2006/10/george-monbiot-heat-how-to-stop-plane
t.html


The greenhouse gases that humans have emitted into the atmosphere since the
industrial revolution will lead to an almost certain temperature rise of 1
to 2 degrees Celsius. Already the temperature changes that we have seen are
having catastrophic effects around the world - melting polar ice, shrinking
glaciers and an increase in hurricanes being amongst some of the most
obvious of these.

The human consequences (never mind those to fragile eco-systems around the
world) have already been catastrophic. The suffering in New Orlean's
Superbowl may have been just the most visible of these, but no less is the
suffering of those facing crop failures and flooding elsewhere. Even a
small increase beyond the 2 degrees mentioned previously will have even
more dramatic consequences. George Monbiot points out that one piece of
research shows that rice yields drop by 15% for every degree temperature
increase, and a 2.3 degree temperature rise will expose around 200 million
new people to the threat of malaria.

In this context, Monbiot sets himself the task of showing how Greenhouse
gas emissions can be reduced to minimise a temperature rise beyond 2
degrees Celsius. He argues that the UK (and by extension) the US and other
industrial nations need to implement strategies to reduce our Carbon
Dioxide emissions by 90%. This startling, and frightening figure offers
perhaps humanity's greatest challenge over the next few years.

Monbiot starts controversially - he points out the hypocrisy and double
standards of some who claim to lead green lifestyles, yet still regularly
fly around the globe. But he will also upset other Green apple carts - some
of his research has led him to believe that previously accepted practices -
such as arguing for localised wind turbines on home roofs will have limited
effect.

What Monbiot does offer are concrete strategies in a variety of areas -
power generation, transport, housing and retail for example. He proves,
though sometimes it is hard, that we could achieve a 90% cut. In some cases
(like transport) this is easy - a rapid switch towards public transport in
the UK would lead to an almost immediate 90% cut in emissions. Proper
insulation of homes and offices would do similar.

What he doesn't prove is how we get it done. In my mind, such dramatic
changes to energy, transport and housing policies will require government
and state intervention - investment to make the technology a reality and
legislation to force companies to make the changes.

This is unlikely to happen if left to the politicians who have vacillated
long enough, rather we need a political movement to force them to do it.
Monbiot explicitly doesn't attempt to describe his vision of that movement
and this I think is the books real weakness - the reader is left with a
desire to save the planet, but with limited options (other than the
campaign groups listed in the books appendixes) about how to do it.

I do believe we can build the political movements required, and Monbiot's
book is a manifesto for the sort of strategies we need - to this end, every
activist should read the book and take its themes and arguments into their
Trade Union branch, their community group and their environmental
organisation. This is a call to arms, and comes very highly recommended.