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Hello all you rabbit huggers (see later) 👋
It's the grumpy optimists back again for your weekly environmental news recap. We've also got you covered with some book recommendations if you're feeling inspired by Earth Day. So let's get on with it. ✌️
Articles to read 🗞️
🇺🇸 US targets decade of action on climate change. The US has pledged to cut carbon emissions by 50% below 2005 levels by 2030. We question how much of these emissions have been offshored.
🇫🇷 2030 is the new 2050. Oh oui oh oui. That is our response to Macron stating the world needs to move quickly to tackle climate change.
🇬🇧 Boris Johnson calls for the climate emergency to be treated as one. The person in charge of the country has quickly realised action is needed to combat climate change with 78% reductions by 2035 now announced.
🦘 Scomo doesn't care that much. On the other side of the world in Australia, neither covid nor climate change seems to be a problem. Scott Morrison (Scomo) has set 'ambitious' climate targets to get there when he can.
🐰 Greta 'Rabbit Hugger' Thunberg. After Boris Johnson recently claimed his climate proposals are not for rabbit huggers, Greta Thunberg changed her Twitter bio in light of the news. Speak about (Chris) Witty.
🏭 Environmental racism in southwest Detroit. The fossil fuel industry intersects with - and (re)produces - structural racism. The residents of '48217' are a stark reminder that those living closest to the industrial sites which help fuel our cars and heat our homes are overwhelmingly People of Colour. Could there ever be a bigger plug for climate justice than this?
🌱 Google makes it easier to be green. Google has three new ways to support eco-friendly places on Maps by putting sustainable businesses on the map, helping you find recycling points, and actively promoting green business. Climate action is becoming easier.
Earth Day Books 📚
With it being Earth Day last week, we thought we'd give you some good books to help you feel inspired. Let us know what your best reads are in the comments. 👇
🍩 Doughnut Economics, Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st Century Economists, Kate Raworth.
Doughnut Economics is born out of the failures of traditional economic theory and the realisation we need to live within our environmental means, in that sweet spot of the doughnut. This is the perfect book for someone who doesn't want wishy-washy degrowth but instead to understand how a new economic system could work for both society and the planet.
The key takeaway? We need a new economic system to live within the means of the planet.
🌳 The Hidden Life of Trees, Peter Wohlleben.
“Slow down, breathe deep and look around.” Wohlleben, a forester in Germany’s Eifel mountains shares his love and stories about the hidden life of trees. The book is full of fascinating information about the forests around us.
Key takeaway? You'll never have a boring walk in the woods again.
🌏 The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis, Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac.
Make no mistake, this book is a very stark warning of what could happen if we don't transition to a green economy and paints a pretty grim picture of business as usual. But this is not about doom and gloom. Figueres and Rivett-Carnac strike a compelling tone which marries immediacy with patience, and fear with hope, as they share their excitement about the future we can still build if we choose to.
This is for those of you who want to stretch your imagination and learn more about a world where we take climate action and seize opportunities to address social and economic justices in the process. As with any book I (Will) recommend you to read, expect intersectionality to be at the heart of it. It's also great for those of you who are looking for some clear actions to help you negotiate your own personal climate fight, and build the much-needed resilience we all need if we're to be part of the change.
The key takeaway? Not only do we still have time to stave off the worst of the climate crisis, but we also have an opportunity to create a much fairer and more prosperous society than we have now. It's cliché, but what do you expect from a blog called the Grumpy Optimists.
🦋 Adventures of a Young Naturalist: The Zoo Quest Expeditions, David Attenborough.
For those missing being in the wild outdoors (perhaps the daily walk isn't cutting it) this one’s for you. Attenborough is back at it again, this time in Guyana, Paraguay, and Indonesia. If you love his shows, you’d better believe the books are even better - we get the behind-the-scenes version, with stories of the locals and close encounters with his infamous animals. I also haven’t laughed so much at a book in a long time. 10/10 David, hats off.
The key takeaway? Attenborough is forever a national treasure.
🖼 Climate Crisis and the Global Green New Deal, Noam Chomsky and Robert Pollin.
We hear lots about a Global Green New Deal, but what actually is it? This book will solve that problem. Allow Chomsky and Pollin to walk you through a plan for a global socio-economic transition which will reshape how we think about growth, progression, and critically, the natural world. The Global Green New Deal is essentially just a snazzy term for a movement, which if embraced by everyone will allow us to steer clear from the worst-case climate scenarios and address other social, racial, and economic injustices which are intimately tied to our extractive, fossil-fuel economy.
Perhaps what this book does best is explain the how. Often one of the staunchest critiques of the Green New Deal, or in fact any proposed alternative to the current status quo, is that it's too idyllic and that it is ultimately unachievable. Chomsky and Pollin systematically break down all these arguments to show why this vision is not only desirable but crucially that it's financially viable and politically sound. This is a huge breakthrough for the climate movement - a polished manifesto which has answers to many of the big questions. A real win-win for all.
The key takeaway? There is a way out of the climate crisis, the Green Deal could be it.
Enjoy the week folks and as ever, leave a comment and let us know your go-to book recommendation.
George and Will 👋