It’s Gettin’ Hot Out Here (So Hot). Let’s Learn About Climate Change.

"a outdoor thermometer with a high temperature"

It is. Getting. So Hot. Let’s learn about climate change.  

That reference, most likely, only spoke to my fellow millennial peers, but I digress. Nelly parodies aside, climate change is a pressing issue that affects the entire planet. You may want to learn more about this subject for a variety of reasons, but now you can learn about it AND earn an ARO badge.  

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What We Know About Climate Change by Kerry Emanuel

Do you feel like you have no idea what climate change is? Emanuel, an MIT atmospheric scientist, has you covered. This authoritative book outlines the basic science of global warming and how the current scientific consensus has emerged. He also outlines the dangers involved with a warming climate, like increased intensity of hurricanes and flooding and more rapidly advancing deserts. This is a well-researched and through look at the climate crisis and is a great starting point on your learning journey 

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Nowhere Left to Go: How Climate Change is Driving Species to the Ends of the Earth by Benjamin Von Brackel

Climate change is often framed through the lens of its damage to earth’s ecosystems. Von Brackels book falls into this category. He looks at the journeys of plants and animals as they find new homes in our warming world. This book outlines the urgency of the climate emergency through the prospect of massive species die-offs. It’s awe-inspiring how the flora and fauna adapt, but soon they’ll be left with no place to go.

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The Great Displacement: Climate Change and the Next American Migration by Jake Bittle

With its compelling writing style and thought-provoking tone, Bittle examines the impact climate change has already had on the American populous. His interviews document the experiences of people impacted by hurricanes, wildfires, soil erosion, flooding, and other disasters caused or worsened by climate change. By analyzing how economic disparity, institutional racism, and other factors contribute to the impacts of climate change, he expertly outlines varying levels of displacement and instability further warming could cause.  

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Fire and Flood: A People's History of Climate Change, from 1979 to the Present by Eugene Linden

Award-winning science journalist, Eugene Linden, takes a hard look at the last forty years of climate change. By plotting major events, like when the rise in global temperatures distinguished itself from annual variations, Linden depicts a timeline of major government failures, missed opportunities, and misinformation campaigns. In-depth and expertly researched, Linden punctuates this history by using his analysis of events to provide solutions on what society should do moving forward.  

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All Hell Breaking Loose: The Pentagon's Perspective on Climate Change by Michael T. Klare

Feel like you’ve heard every perspective of the climate change issue Well, have you heard the pentagon’s views on the matter? If not, this book is for you. The military often serves as first responders in natural disasters, so climate change is on their radar. But it also plays into conflicts abroad they may need to respond to. Take a fresh look at this issue through the eyes of the military in this compelling and thought-provoking book.  

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Climate Justice: Hope, Resilience, and the Fight for a Sustainable Future by Mary Robinson

Former president of Ireland, Mary Robinson, takes a crack at the climate crisis in this concise and engaging book. She highlights communities across the world that are most affected by climate change, showcasing climate changes’ real consequences. Robinson remains hopeful by providing examples of ordinary people who have stepped up to save the planet 

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The Parrot and the Igloo: Climate and the Science of Denial by David Lipsky

Sobering yet witty and accessible is the best way to describe this entry to the list. Lipsky dives deep into the history of climate change denial. Starting with descriptions of inventors who created the technological advances that inadvertently triggered climate change, he weaves a story of the scientists who discovered climate change and the industry leaders who sought to seed doubt in the name of greed. Best summed up by a LibraryReads review, this book is a “surprising and enlightening look at how easily public perception can be shaped”. 

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The Carbon Footprint of Everything by Mike Burners-Lee

Everyone talks about their carbon footprint, but how do know how big yours is? Berners-Lee breaks down commonly purchased items by the amount of carbon they produce. It’s almost like a calorie counting guide, but with carbon! This is the newest edition of the book with updated calculations based on recent research and includes new items like cryptocurrencies.  

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The Big Fix: 7 Practical Steps to Save Our Planet by Hal Harvey & Justin Gillis Blurb

While it’s great to make you and your home more environmentally friendly, that’s only a fraction of the climate crisis picture. This is where The Big Fix comes in! In this persuasive, well-researched book, Harvey and Gillis focus on 7 areas where big picture, practical changes can be made: electricity production, transportation, buildings, industry, urbanization, use of land, and investments in green technologies. They also provide a practical guide to get involved on a larger scale to make sure climate-conscious decisions are being made.  

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Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming by Paul Hawken

Rounding out this list is another book with ideas to address this issue. Winning the Green Prize for Sustainable Literature in 2018, Hawken taps into knowledge from 200 scientists, policymakers, business leaders, activists and more to create an accessible list of 100 ideas on combating and reversing climate change. It’s an optimistic and comprehensive look into solutions  

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