Book Review: How We Can Save the Planet

Mayer Hillman's book is a sobering update on the current state of play with global warming. Hillman outlines the seriousness of the sitiuation. Did you know that we don't have to worry about oil reserves: the global warming will get us before we use it all anyway. The remedy is a global setup involving "contraction and convergence". This means we gradually end up generating less co2 per person, and also gradually move to a situation where there is an even distribution across the worlds population, in other words rationing per individual. This is only fair, but the collective political action required seems unlikely. Look at how the fairly minimalist Kyoto agreement was unceremoniously dumped by the US a few years back [ kyoto has been saved in recent days; Gordon Brown playing his part offering WTO membership in exchange for Russia's signature of Kyoto]. Global warming is just one more area where issues of global governance [ and lack thereof] come into sharp relief. Hillman doesn't really offer a roadmap to new institutions, but is just buildng the consitituency. Relying on individual conscientiousness will not be enough for this issue - however plenty of advice to individuals on lifestyle is proffered. This is one of those issues that requires individual and social action. In my own view, political activists need work hard to nurture the nascent "global civil society" which builds the pressure for reformed and accountable institutions necessary for dealing with such common global concerns.
Reflecting on the recent reversal of plans for a carbon tax here on the basis of cost, one wonders if it would not have been better to at least make a start, just to get climate change on the agenda. We need to start getting people acclimatised to thinking in terms of their fossil fuel use. Cultural learning has to start, and tax is the only tool that works on some people (remember the plastic bag tax). Another issue being conveniently ducked by the government is our national energy self sufficiency. We will soon have another "Irish solution to an Irish problem". We will rail against Sellafield and keep Ireland nuclear free, while connecting in with the UK electricity grid to feed the growing needs of the Celtic Tiger.
This book is not fun, but to avoid this issue is to bury one's head in the sand. One goes through stages of being environmentally conscientious, followed by stages of a sense of powerlessness. We drift in and out of denial. But a book like this is a wake up call.
I bought my copy in Dubray in Grafton Street. Also available from this link at Amazon.co.uk

posted by Daniel @ Sunday, October 03, 2004