Description

The definitive history of the modern climate change era, from an award-winning writer who has been at the centre of the fight for more than thirty years

In 1979, President Jimmy Carter was presented with the findings of scientists who had been investigating whether human activities might change the climate in harmful ways. “A wait-and-see policy may mean waiting until it is too late,” their report said. They were right — but no one was listening. Four decades later, we are haunted by the consequences of this inattention, and the years of complacency, obfuscation and denialism that followed. Today, the staggering scale and scope of what we have done to the planet is impossible to ignore: the seasons of fire and flood have crossed into plain view.

Fire and Flood is a comprehensive, compulsively readable history of climate change from veteran environmental journalist Eugene Linden. Linden retells the story of the modern climate change era decade by decade, tracking the progress of four ticking clocks: first, the reality of climate change itself; second, advances in scientific understanding; third, the spread of public awareness; and fourth, the business and finance response. Like no previous writer, Linden has drawn together the elements of the biggest story in the world, in a book that it is gripping as history, as economic investigation, and as scientific thriller.

Publisher Review

Fascinating ... This will be a telling story for a long time to come (assuming we're around to hear it) -- Bill McKibben Urgent, meticulous ... Linden pulls no punches * Publishers Weekly * Praise for The Winds of Change * - * Beautifully written ... a very thought-provoking volume. Linden manages to weave history, science, and narrative together in a compelling way * Science * Impressive ... Linden takes a penetrating historical view * The New York Times * Fascinating * NPR * Invaluable * Washington Post * Linden expertly and succinctly describes the natural cycles that control climate and the many ways they interact * Nature * Should be required reading for policy makers across the globe -- Doug Macdougall * Chronicle of Higher Education * Fascinating-a tour de force. Linden has accumulated a greater comprehension of paleo-climatic and oceanographic issues than all but a very few scientists. I have nothing but admiration for this book -- George Woodwell, founder of the Woodwell Climate Center and former president of the Ecological Society of America In-depth, expertly researched, eminently readable ... Linden combines analysis with solutions as to where humanity should and may go, and those solutions should surprise, enrage, and enlighten readers... Fire and Flood should be on every person's bookshelf -- Laure Hiatt * Library Journal *