Heat: How to Stop the Planet From Burning

“A dazzling command of science and a relentless faith in people.”—Naomi Klein

“The most powerful treatise yet on the gravity of global warming. . . . I defy you to read this book and not feel motivated to change.”—The Times (London)

“If you care about the future of the planet, you should read Heat, and then give a copy to a friend.”—Elizabeth Kolbert

Today virtually none of us ask, “Is climate change actually happening?” Only one question is worth asking, “Can it be stopped?”

George Monbiot thinks it can. And with Heat: How to Stop the Planet From Burning, he offers us a book that just might save our world. For the first time, Heat demonstrates that we can achieve the necessary cut—a 90 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030—without bringing civilization to an end. Though writing with a “spirit of optimism,” Monbiot does not pretend it will be easy. Our response will have to be immediate, and it will have to be decisive.

With dazzling intellect and ample wit, Monbiot supports his proposals with a rigorous investigation into what works, what doesn’t, how much it costs, and what the problems might be. And he is not afraid to attack anyone—friend or foe—whose claims are false or whose figures have been fudged. There is no time to waste, Monbiot observes, “We are the last generation that can make this happen, and this is the last possible moment at which we can make it happen.”

George Monbiot is one of the world’s most influential thinkers. Nelson Mandela presented Monbiot with a United Nations Global 500 Award for outstanding environmental achievement. He is a weekly columnist for the Guardian.