A Short, Hopeful Guide to Climate Change

by Oisín McGann

Overview

Author Oisín McGann explains Climate Change science, and encourages young people to be part of positive change by getting involved in the global movement to fight humanity’s biggest challenge. This book does not sugarcoat the current climate change crisis, but nor is it all doom and gloom. It gives young people a route to positive change, without putting too heavy a burden on their shoulders.

Relentless negative news stories about Climate Change are a source of anxiety for many young people, while others simply disengage from what seems like a hopeless situation. This book presents an optimistic, hopeful vision of a world engaged in a huge collective effort to build a better, more sustainable future for everyone. Published in collaboration with Friends of the Earth Ireland. Vegan inks, sustainably produced with all recycled materials and fully recyclable: this book is part of the solution.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781912417742
Publisher:	Little Island Books
Publication date:	05/24/2022
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	1,117,283
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.80(h) x (d)
Age Range:	11 - 15 Years

About the Author

Oisín McGann is a best-selling and award-winning writer and illustrator. He has produced dozens of books and short stories for all ages of reader, including twelve novels. In 2014 and 2015, he was the Irish writer-in-residence for Weather Stations, an EU-funded project where writers from five different countries were tasked with finding ways to use storytelling to raise awareness of climate change.

Table of Contents

Foreword 1

Introduction: Why this Matters to You 4

1 Pure Luck 9

Earth's Early History

2 Then, Along Came the Humans 18

Humans and Fire

3 Our Animal Needs 25

Fossil Fuels

4 A Planet-Sized Fuel Tank 32

Climate Crisis

5 Understanding the Chaos 42

Weather vs Climate

6 Maybe it's Not Just Us? 49

Other Causes of Climate Change

7 The Skin of the Apple 59

The Earth's Thin Skin

8 Beneath the Surface 67

The Sea

9 The Ice Giants 78

Glaciers, Icebergs and Sea Ice

10 Turbo-Charging the Weather 85

Extreme Weather

11 Saving Lives 100

Extinction and Biodiversity

12 The Need to Eat 109

Farming

13 Control of Supply 117

Water

14 Power Struggles 126

Generating Power

15 The Lesser of Two Evils? 142

Nuclear Power and Damage to Health

16 Getting Somewhere 154

Transport

17 Wasted 166

Waste and Cement

18 Hurt First, Hurt Worst 172

Climate Justice

19 Tipping Points 177

Climate Feedback Loops

20 Why Do People Deny the Science? 183

Climate Change Sceptics

21 This is a War We Win by Doing Good 191

Solutions

22 Reasons for Hope 205

Global Co-operation

Acknowledgements 215

Donors 216

Editorial Reviews

"The book is a delight, and not just for kids. It's informative, conversational, full of wonder at the beauty of our planet and also full of practical tips on what we can do and how we can help." Anne Cunningham, The Meath Chronicle

From the Publisher

2022-02-09
This accessible volume describes how humans have altered the world and its climate.

The book takes a historical look at “the acts of brilliance and absurdity” that have impacted the existential challenge posed by climate change. Writing in a conversational and engaging style, Irish author McGann provides answers to how the tipping point has been reached on land, air, and sea. Through memorable analogies (“If the Earth was an apple, all the life that ever existed on it would have lived within that single layer of skin around the outside”), each chapter boils down the issues to their essences. Topics covered include the human demand for fossil fuels, extreme weather, devastating agricultural practices, plastic waste, and climate justice. There are sections that address political power struggles over water, oil, and gas that are ripped straight from the headlines. Throughout there is clear compassion for all the nonhuman species on this planet and the ways human activities threaten all life on Earth. Although the title is filled with hope, the author addresses the anxiety produced by this crisis and recommends skipping a particularly negative chapter if readers find things too distressing. The topic is certainly bleak, but hope comes from the fact that the Earth can heal itself, if only humans just get out of the way. An endnote refers readers to the publisher’s website for sources and further reading.

A good choice for those wanting to understand and tackle climate change. (Nonfiction. 8-14)

Kirkus Reviews