The Carbon Almanac: It’s Not Too Late
Genres: Science Engineering
Book Preface
This is a book about energy.
For more than a hundred years, we’ve had the opportunity to pump energy out of the ground virtually for free. We’ve used that cheap fuel to build the world around us, and we’ve created amazing things, wasted valuable resources, and made a mess while we were at it.
At the same time, this is a book about a different sort of energy. The energy of hope and connection. The ability that humans have to solve problems and to make things better.
It’s not too late to make a difference.
But we’re going to have to hurry. We can’t waste a moment arguing about the size of our problem or mourning what used to be. Instead, we can lean into hope and connection.
The hope that comes from realizing that it’s not too late.
And the power, nearly unlimited, that comes from coordinated action and community reinforcement. Connected we are far more effective than each of us acting individually.
This Almanac was created by more than 300 volunteers. Most of us had never met before committing to take coordinated action. Based in more than forty countries, from Benin to the Netherlands, from Australia to Singapore, we worked literally around the clock (time zones!) to build the book you have in your hands.
And if this book inspires you enough to share a copy with a friend, it will have been worth it. If it causes you and your friend to organize a circle of ten people, it will have made a difference. And if your ten people coordinate with ten other groups to cause organizational and cultural change to happen, it will be a success.
We live in an era of convenience, shortcuts, and sound bites. None of these are going to help us create a better tomorrow. Instead, we have the opportunity to focus on the things that really matter, and to do it with grace and urgency.
If not now, when?
Thank you for leading.
Seth Godin
Table of Contents
Foreword
Introduction
The Four Horsemen of the Carbon Apocalypse
Change Is Here
The Tyranny of Convenience
Understanding Carbon Lock-in
The Wizard, the Prophet, and the Ostrich
Beyond the Polar Bear—Animals on the Edge of Extinction
Should You Opt In or Opt Out?
Game Theory
A Brave and Startling Truth
Climate Change for Rookies
What Is Climate Change?
The Greenhouse Effect
What’s All This Talk About Carbon?
Weather vs. Climate
Invisible Carbon Emissions
How Much Is a Metric Ton (Tonne)?
Fast Facts and Definitions
Climate Change in Front of Your Eyes
What Is Net Zero?
10 Myths About Climate Change
20 Truths About Climate Change
The Diffusion of Innovations
Climate Change Actions from Large to Small
Here’s What’s True
What Is Carbon?
Natural Sources of Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere
How Much Carbon Are We Talking About?
What Is the Carbon Cycle?
Balance in the Earth’s Carbon Cycle
The Exxon Climate Memo from 1982
Jean Senebier’s Carbon Discovery
Carbon Dioxide on Earth over Time
Temperature Change on Earth
CO2 Equivalents
The Relationship Between Population Growth and Emissions
The History of Systematic Measurement of CO2
What Is an Ecosystem?
Planetary Boundaries: Limits of the Natural World
Understanding the Greenhouse Effect
Why Are the Greenhouse Emissions Numbers So Confusing?
Our Choices Can Have a Lethal Impact
Carbon Feedback Cycles
What Do I Get for 1kg CO2?
CO2 Emissions by Country
Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Sector
Where Does All the Carbon Go?
Energy Production and Carbon
The Energy Cost of Plug Loads
Construction’s Carbon Debt
Agriculture and Meat Production’s Role in Climate Change
Urban Heat Islands
The Plastic Lifecycle
The True Cost of Plastic
The Dust Bowl: Lessons Learned for Farmers Everywhere
Carbon Inequality, Climate Change, and Class
Paving the Planet
CO2 Emissions from Global Shipping
The Domino Effect in Action: Urea
Effects of Carbon-Based Cooking Fuel
Short-Lived Climate Pollutants
Smoke Signals: A Global Warning from Australia
Computing and Carbon
Recycling Paper
The Climate Cost of Gas-Powered Leaf Blowers
Heating the Outdoors with Patio Heaters
Scenarios
The Five Scenarios Outlined by the IPCC
Understanding the Five Scenarios
10-, 50-, 100-, and 1,000-Year Climate Events
Shifts in the Atlantic Ocean’s Currents
Who Suffers Most?
Ocean Acidity
Impacts
Threats to Coastal Communities
Population Growth
Human Migration Away from Inhospitable Land
The Impact of Climate Change on Indigenous Peoples
Race, Fairness, and Climate
Displaced Human Communities
2020 Covid Lockdown and Climate
Food Production and Availability
Agricultural Pests and Diseases
Food Insecurity
Land and Soil Degradation
Soil Loss
Reductions in Major Crop Yields
Food Price Spikes
The Economics of Rising Temperatures
Effects of CO2 on Crop Nutrition
Flooding
Contaminated Water and Debris from Flooding
Water Stress
Dust Storms
Hot Droughts
Desertification
Loss of Wetlands and Marshes
Extreme Precipitation
Wildfires
What is Biodiversity?
Biodiversity Loss and Climate Change
Impact on Forests
Ground-Level Ozone
Increased Ozone Inhibits Photosynthesis
Impact to Peatlands
Carbon and the Oceans
Bleaching and Loss of Coral Reefs
Shoreline Erosion
The Impact of Thawing Permafrost
The Shrinking of Glaciers
Snowfall and Melting Arctic Ice
Marine Heat Waves
Hurricanes, Typhoons, and Cyclones
Energy Production and Negative Health Impacts
Human Health Impact: An Overview
Heat and Health
Long-Term Wildfire Impacts: Effects of Smoke
Food and Waterborne Diarrheal Disease
The Impact of Global Tourism
The Costs of Sea Level Rise
Impact of Carbon Exports & Imports
Impact of Commercial Space Travel
Eco-Anxiety
Solutions
The Drawdown Rankings
Greenwashing & Recycling Theatre
Bioplastics
Fast Fashion and Carbon
A Carbon Dividend and Fee
Mass Transit
The Rise of E-Bikes
Electric Vehicles
How Roundabouts Help Lower Emissions
Energy-Efficient Cars
The Changing Cost of Power
Energy Payback for Renewables
Wind Energy
Solar Energy
How Much Land Would It Take to Power the US Through Solar?
Advances in Solar Power
Hydroelectric Power
Generating Energy from Ocean Tides
Nuclear Energy by Fission
Nuclear Energy by Fusion
Geothermal Energy
Hydrogen for Energy Storage
Energy from Biomass and Trash
Carbon-Neutral Fuels: Ammonia
Carbon-Neutral Fuels: Hydrogen
Job Transition from Fossil Fuels
The Challenges of Critical Mineral Needs for Clean Energy
Surprising Facts About Meat
Food Loss and Waste
Using Agriculture as a Carbon Sink
Developing Plant-Based Alternatives
Drip Irrigation
Does Farm Size Matter?
Chocolate and Climate
About Milk and Its Alternatives
Edible Insects
Backyard Regeneration
Composting
Forests Support Food Security
Carbon Labeling
Footprints and Labels
Green Steel
Low-Carbon Concrete
Reducing Embodied Carbon in Building Materials
Building Materials That Sequester Carbon
Zero-Emission Homes
Cross-Laminated Timber
Wool & Hemp: Allies in Construction
Green Building Certifications
What Is Carbon Offsetting?
Direct Air Capture
Storing Carbon Naturally
Replenishing Forests
The Limits of Reforestation
Blue Carbon
Using Soil to Store Carbon
Restoring Soil Health
Geoengineering
Geoengineering with Sulfur Dioxide
Whose Job Is It?
Glasgow Breakthrough Agenda
What Is the UNFCCC / Kyoto / Paris Agreement?
Indigenous Youth Represent Their Culture to Demand Action
What Are Cities Doing? (The C40)
Schools and Solar Power
The State of Climate Change Litigation
The Positive Impact of Sustainability on Investor Returns
Youth-Led Climate Litigation
Share of Global GHG Emissions Covered by Carbon Pricing Systems
Role of Finance
ESG Reporting Frameworks
Global Companies Committing to Science-Based Net-Zero Targets
Where You Bank Makes a Difference
The 20 Largest Fossil Fuel Producers
10 Publishers Promoting Climate Change Denial Content Online
Oil Subsidies
Cloud Seeding
Wealth and Greenhouse Gases
Individual Carbon Footprint and Collective Action
Talking About Climate Change
Saint Kateri Habitats
Top Donors in Climate Philanthropy 2020–2021
Leading the Way
30 Leading Climate Scientists
Countries Leading Climate Change Action
African Reforestation Initiative
Leaders Championing Climate Policy
Global Climate Youth Activists
NGOs Working to Address Climate Change Around the World
Leaders of Civics Programs Addressing Environmental Issues
Top Global Universities for Studying the Environment, Ecology, and Climate
Influential Artists and Climate
Principles for Responsible Investing
A Corporate Race for Sustainability
Ranking the Greenest Companies
Resources
The Educators Guide
Read, Watch, Listen, Act
Getting Started with Climate Action
Glossary
Acknowledgments
Contributors
Index
It’s Not Too Late
Things to Do Today
| Download Ebook | Read Now | File Type | Upload Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Download here
|
Read Now | Epub | July 23, 2022 |
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