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Heat by George Monbiot

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Heat book cover

Even though Heat: How To Stop The Planet From Burning pulls no punches in its damning account of the trouble we now face as a planet, Heat also argues that we can still save the planet, but we need to act fast. Award-winning British author George Monbiot explains the need to reduce global carbon emissions by 60% by 2030 or face much more serious consequences of climate change. A 60% global reduction means the more wealthy nations will need to bare the brunt of their energy-consuming ways and reduce greenhouse gases by 90%.

Heat outlines practical solutions to reach this seemingly unattainable global goal by carbon rationing, decarbonizing our energy supplies, utilizing alternative energy sources (wind, solar, etc.), reconfiguring the transport system to include bus-based systems as opposed to individual car ownership, reduce or eliminate all air traffic and also change the way we purchase most everyday products including food.

Perhaps what makes Monbiot’s take on the future so compelling is how he deconstructs many of the long held ‘savior’ mechanisms such as relying on improving energy efficiency, alternative energy replacing conventional green house gas belching power plants and allowing market forces plus simple carbon taxation to save the planet. Rather, he proposes tough government guidelines on energy efficient housing, nuclear power, high voltage direct current electricity transmission, and cleaning up the existing power generating industry.

A must read for everyone looking for practical, fact-based solutions on how to mitigate the negative effects of climate change. The Guardian Unlimited offers high praise for Heat with: ‘Heat is a solidly researched manifesto for change. Monbiot regards the threat as so obvious and the need for action so urgent that he wastes little time combating the arguments of skeptics…’.

The best climate change book on the market.

Order this book on Amazon.com  Heat: How To Stop The Planet From Burning

Visit: http://www.monbiot.com/
Publisher: Doubleday Canada
304 Pages

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Trevor Williams is a University of Victoria Mechanical Engineering PhD candidate specialising in renewable energy, power grid modelling and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. He has a bachelors in Aeronautical Engineering, a Masters in Management Science and over 23 years international experience in the space industry, having worked on Earth observation and telecommunications satellites. 

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Comments (2)Add Comment
Dear Gentle reader, if it is now man's responsibility to regulate the climate that is simply another indication of how close we are to the end, our instincts guide us to ever greater exploitation while our minds are flexible about our personal responsibility for the destruction our, Collective, behavior causes.

Case in point; there is an article on this page about the damage Encana, among others is causing to the ground water by their practice of fracking, yet millions of "good" people own shares in Encana and while they might express dismay about the harm which is being caused to anonymous strangers, very few will sell their shares while the chance of a payoff seems real, It is something in the way our minds are constructed-- Many "good" people bought shares in slave ships, because the suffering of the others "slaves" didn't seem real and anyway, "everybody was doing it and everybody wants to be rich"- this is the bottom line! Everybody wants "More" They don't know why they want more but instinct not reason, controls all life on Earth, including people. Mankind is now where instinct has brought us!
written by John Russell , April 22, 2010
Heat is a fantastic book. The most compelling and well-researched book on climate change I've read, it's had a huge impact on my career decisions and changed how I think about energy and the world around me. I've recommended it to friends and it's been really illuminating for them as well, even the ones who were already quite educated about climate change. In short, whether you're a climate change expert or someone in need of a wake up call, Heat is a must read.
written by Matt Hall , January 20, 2011

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Last Updated ( Thursday, 04 December 2008 )  

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