The New Climate War, Michael E. Mann
The New Climate War, Michael E. Mann
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The New Climate War
The Fight to Take Back Our Planet

Author: Michael E. Mann

Narrator: Tim Campbell

Unabridged: 9 hr 48 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: PublicAffairs

Published: 01/12/2021


Synopsis

Shortlisted for the FT/McKinsey Business Book of the Year award

A renowned climate scientist shows how fossil fuel companies have waged a thirty-year campaign to deflect blame and responsibility and delay action on climate change, and offers a battle plan for how we can save the planet.

Recycle. Fly less. Eat less meat. These are some of the ways that we've been told can slow climate change. But the inordinate emphasis on individual behavior is the result of a marketing campaign that has succeeded in placing the responsibility for fixing climate change squarely on the shoulders of individuals.
Fossil fuel companies have followed the example of other industries deflecting blame (think "guns don't kill people, people kill people") or greenwashing (think of the beverage industry's "Crying Indian" commercials of the 1970s). Meanwhile, they've blocked efforts to regulate or price carbon emissions, run PR campaigns aimed at discrediting viable alternatives, and have abdicated their responsibility in fixing the problem they've created. The result has been disastrous for our planet.

In The New Climate War, Mann argues that all is not lost. He draws the battle lines between the people and the polluters-fossil fuel companies, right-wing plutocrats, and petrostates. And he outlines a plan for forcing our governments and corporations to wake up and make real change, including: A common-sense, attainable approach to carbon pricing- and a revision of the well-intentioned but flawed currently proposed version of the Green New Deal;Allowing renewable energy to compete fairly against fossil fuelsDebunking the false narratives and arguments that have worked their way into the climate debate and driven a wedge between even those who support climate change solutionsCombatting climate doomism and despair-mongering With immensely powerful vested interests aligned in defense of the fossil fuel status quo, the societal tipping point won't happen without the active participation of citizens everywhere aiding in the collective push forward. This book will reach, inform, and enable citizens everywhere to join this battle for our planet.

Reviews

Goodreads review by David on October 14, 2020

Climate change has evolved its own universe, complete with leading characters, heroes, villains, critics, trolls, bots, character assassins, misinformation, misdirection and backroom plots. It is a world largely unknown to most readers, who probably think of it as an argument among scientists. Micha......more

Goodreads review by Rhys on May 11, 2021

Based on this book, if the author were on the design team for the Titanic, he would be arguing against the inclusion of life-boats: that they represent a ‘doomist’ attitude that might upset the passengers and simply validate the opinions of those who believe the ship will sink on its maiden voyage. M......more

Goodreads review by Martin on May 13, 2021

At it's best when taking on climate deniers and explaining the science, this attempt to be optimistic in the face of the climate threat by a renowned climate scientist fails to get to the heart of the problem. Mann's solutions focus on shifting public opinion to pressure fossil fuel corporations and......more

Goodreads review by Steve on September 09, 2022

5 stars for the brief (but punchy and persuasive) introduction; then another 5 stars for the author's career, research, and important roles in public education and advocacy... After that, everything else is gravy and, so, any reservations or quibbles I might have with the book's thes......more

Goodreads review by Leah on November 11, 2020

In a surprisingly optimistic take on progress and potential for slowing the climate crisis, Michael Mann highlights a four point plan to generate political and social momentum in this comprehensive and sharp critique of climate propaganda and uninformed discourse. 1. Disregard the Doomsayers: I never......more


Quotes

"Fossil fuel companies have, for decades longer than I have been alive, been the largest contributors to the climate crisis that affects my generation today--all in pursuit of profits and growth. In The New Climate War, Michael Mann holds them to account, and shows us how we can take the bold steps we must all take together to win the battle to save this planet."—Greta Thunberg, climate activist

"This book takes the reader behind the front lines into the decades long information war waged by the fossil fuel industry and those that share their interests. From his perspective as a leader in the battle for scientific reason, Michael Mann provides hope and a roadmap for all of us to address the systemic issues fueling climate change, and shows how we can come together to wage a new war in the fight for our future."
Leonardo DiCaprio, actor and environmental activist

"Few people bear more scars from the climate wars than Michael Mann--and few have fought longer and harder for a basic, rational approach to dealing with this greatest of crises. Because of his persistence--and that of so many others--we are finally making progress!"—Bill McKibben, author of Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out?

"With this book, Michael Mann details the challenges we face from enemies ("inactivists") both without and within while dropping critically important breadcrumbs for us to follow to lead us out of the forest of despair and set us on the path of victory in a battle we must win. We need an army of Michaels, stat!"
Don Cheadle, actor, activist, UN global goodwill ambassador

"Pulling no punches, Michael Mann lays out our predicament and tells the shocking story of persistent climate denial and corporate deception. We are in a war for the planet, but one we are now on the verge of winning. And he deftly cuts through the propaganda and shows us the path forward."—Jerry Brown, California governor, 1975-1983, 2011-2019

"Mann shows that corporations and lobbyists have been successful in convincing us that climate change will be fine, if we just recycle our bottles and turn out the lights. Instead, he says, global warming is a problem way too hot for any one person to handle. He's optimistic though, because he sees what we really can and will do. Read his book, and let's get to work."—Bill Nye, Science Educator, CEO The Planetary Society

"For over two decades, Michael Mann has been our Janus at the gates, defending climate science from corporate-funded insinuations of confusion and suspicion. We would not have progressed this far had it not been for his unflinching and brilliant rejoinders to the traffickers of doubt. This chronicle of ongoing climate injustice may make you mad, but hopefully it will make us act. This is the only civilization we have. Mann is its resolute champion once again."—Paul Hawken, Founder, Project Drawdown

"The New Climate War is an insightful treatise on how the polluting fossil fuel industry and their right-wing allies have deflected the blame for the climate crisis. The book charts a common sense course for collective actions to force government and corporations to make real solutions to the climate crisis-an existential threat to humanity and the planet."—Robert D. Bullard, Professor of Urban Planning and Environmental Policy at Texas Southern University