Review by Choice Review
In this work, Gergis (Australian National Univ.) provides a meaningful perspective on climate science and climate solutions. As a leading authority on climate science, Gergis possesses deep knowledge about the physical workings of the climate system and the historical evolution of the climate in recent decades. Her narrative provides an accessible summary of the primary findings and positions of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which produces regular scientific synthesis reports, to which Gergis has contributed as a lead author. The primary contribution here, however, is the interweaving of scientific content with honest personal storytelling. The author demonstrates her understanding of the despair that readers might feel when faced with the facts of anthropogenic climate change. She also expresses an unmistakable sense of optimism, grounded by the reality that sustainable solutions are currently available, and already making a difference. Cited examples of successful historical environmental outcomes requiring international cooperation (e.g., stratospheric ozone recovery following the Montreal Protocol of 1987) bolster the author's conclusion that we can address global climate change if we are willing to undertake and continue the difficult, and collective, work required to do so. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers. --Justin T. Schoof, Southern Illinois University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
