John J. Berger Ph. D

John Berger’s book, Climate Peril, goes a great way in not only explaining the science of climate change and the role we play in it but clearing up many of the misconceptions surrounding it. The book begins by positing a possible future if nothing is done: increases in deadly heat waves, droughts, hurricanes, wildfires, dust storms, loss of coastal areas (the US alone is losing 80,000 acres of coastal wetlands every year) and island nations, and widespread extinctions. Deadly diseases, once limited to the tropics will spread far beyond their normal areas – diseases like cholera, malaria, meningitis, Dengue fever.

Although these are just possibilities, he gives examples showing that many of these things are occurring already: loss of wetlands and drought in California, the destruction of coral reefs leading to ‘dead zones’, dust storms in Iran, melting in the Arctic and the loss of permafrost, the extinction or near-extinction of many species including frogs and lizards. It may see unimportant if these species disappear but, as he shows they matter very much because the loss of one small creature can lead not only to the loss of others that depend on it for food, some of which we may depend on for food, but to the increase of others like disease carrying insects:

“Even if one had no moral about wiping out supposedly unimportant species, it is obviously a bad idea to condone the loss of any part of nature’s intricately interwoven, multifaceted architecture to which we ourselves belong.”

He also explains the science behind climate change and, although I admit I didn’t understand it all, it certainly gave me a better grasp. He discusses the different conferences that have been held and what they have produced in real terms which he shows is very little. He gives examples of some of the arguments against action and he gives rebuttals to these arguments. He talks about the economics of climate change: what it would cost to try to fix it and what it will cost if we continue to do nothing. And he talks about the politics of climate change and why, despite all the talk, governments refuse to act in any meaningful way.

But, despite the lack of will by our leaders, Berger, who holds a PhD in Ecology, remains hopeful:

“Fortunately, many global studies confirm that we have the technology, financial capabilities, and renewable energy resources to successfully transition to an energy economy largely free of fossil fuels. But this will require some hard technological and political choices.”

He suggests that, if the leaders won’t lead, then it will be up to us to act through Grassroots and Social Justice movements:

Climate Peril is a well-researched, well-documented and well-written look at the science of climate change, the consequences if it continues unchecked, and the cost to the planet and to it inhabitants including us humans. I can’t recommend this highly enough for anyone interested in better understanding this important issue.… (mehr)

I took a long time reading this book, about 3 weeks. It is densely packed with information documenting how man made climate change is affecting our planet. The author lays out in great detail that climate change is man made and the serious ill effects on the Earth. Among other things, sea level rise--flooding coastal cities around the world, as evidenced by hurricane Sandy's storm surge into NY city., The sea level rise is the result of melting polar ice caps/glaciers. Ninety per cent of Arctic summer ice has already disappeared. In addition, rising temperatures have the potential to turn current farmland into near deserts, with disastrous effects on the US great plains .

I am encouraged by the recent China-US agreement on carbon dioxide emissions, but much more must be done if we are to avoid the"tipping point" described by the author as a point of no return.

I urge all people concerned about this planet to read this book. The book has extensive footnotes, with references to a huge number of scientific studies proving that climate change is man made and that it is a very real danger to our planet. There are 2 minor faults--all temperatures are in Fahrenheit, and I could not enlarge the charts on my kindle version… (mehr)