No hope from hard science when social science is not considered.

Dr Karl is a hero of mine, however I give his Little Book of Climate Science a very poor review.
Dr Karl frames climate change as something politicians must act on, despite decades of inaction we have all witnessed. He presents hard science with no reference to social science. Has he conducted any review of theories of change or consulted and social scientists?
Surely the scientific method precludes doing the same thing and expecting a different result. Surely the stakes are too high for unscientific methods? Social scientists do have something to say about how change can proceed, and we can see the historical results of change making campaigns.
But instead of this, Dr Karl tells us the sources of climate change and minimises the role of individual action (other than voting).
He promotes the first stage of development of hydrogen airplanes which are a decade off when the Climate Council says 75% of emissions reduction must happen this decade.
He spruiks engineering improvements to concrete and steel production which can happen any time, just as we can improve our building standards, without any attention to why this hasn’t happened already, when information on this was available.
He offers little to a generation losing hope in leaders tech solutions in the future, when fires and floods occur now.
Yes this book is excellent in summarising the deliberate PR campaigns of big fossil fuel and the inaction of governments and the importance of both in changing their actions.
But Dr Karl neglects to show any hint on how we can get to the “war footing” he suggests need to happen. At the same time, he dismisses individual actions on carbon footprint as following in the tracks of a BP PR campaign. We know Dr Karl flies to the UK to attend media appointments, as he frequently discusses his experience on planes in interviews and his programs. Why does he not personally model behaviour that shows the seriousness of the disaster our world is hurtling towards? Why does he hope for action by others without showing he is taking action himself? We absolutely require a circuit breaker, and Dr Karl has the prestige to break through to the minds of the generations who respect him. Yet he fails to frame the problem as a demand problem and sees all the technological solutions as worth spruiking, even if we are threatened with imminently crossing tipping points before they are realised.
We need new thinking in Australia, and Dr Karl is consolidating old thinking in place of hope, when it has been unsuccessfully promulgated so far and the political change makers are not framing the conversation in the way that is required.
No Dr Karl, we absolutely do need individuals who understand the crisis to take a personal stand and for citizens to show the way not as consumers, but as tenants. Only then can the collective will be achieved to change the way we vote and our leaders act.

12 people found this helpful

Dr Karl makes everything much clearer

Dr Karl has a wonderful knack of making complicated things much easier to understand. To the point where I was screaming “just get on with fixing climate change!”

Highly recommended for anyone keen to understand more about our most pressing problem. Would be a good gift for a denialist who is a little bit open.

3 people found this helpful

the best book on climate science I have heard yet

This book provides a quick and clear understanding of the facts. it highlights the need to take action based on facts. This book has informed me, educated me, and inspired me to step up and do more. I'm going to do my best to help big fossil fuel companies to start paying back their fair share for the damage they have caused and start fixing the problems they are responsible for. I'm going to stop thinking it's someone all my fault that the planet is dying, now that I know that actually "carbon footprints" was invented by big fossil fuel and is actually a type of victim blaming. I am so sick of being lied to and mislead so some small group of old rich people can get rich. I agree our country should be taking a war footing on climate change, especially considering the significant evidence provided in this book. This book should be required reading for all politicians in all parties.

1 person found this helpful

Good read / listen

An enjoyable listen to much of the science covering causes and effects of climate change. Also identifies many ways of physically reversing the trends but gives virtually no consideration of the costs and effect on lives of doing so. These are the hindrances to the solutions. Most of the world's population barely get by each day and so can't afford to pay more for all the products produced greenly. But when the real economics changes consumers will flock to the more economic green products. Big business and governments are blamed for not changing but Dr Karl forgets that business only produces most cheaply what consumers want and in democracies the voters choose the government. Australia has a recent history of not voting in favour of climate change eg voted in Abbott to abolish the carbon tax, liberals got rid of Turnbull twice on climate change issues. It's not the government... it's the electorate. It is up to the individuals.... government and business will follow.

1 person found this helpful

Thank you Dr Karl

Dr Karl does a great quick fire job of explaining techniques of reducing emissions and reversing climate change. While he talks about the economics, there is also an important recognition that without a liveable an workable climate, there can be no economy.

1 person found this helpful

Climate change explained for the non scientist

Enlightening book with an inspiring positive end including credible sources of further information
Thanks Dr Karl

1 person found this helpful

Clear and easy to understand science.

Doctor Karl explains in easy to understand language how climate change happens, who is responsible for producing dangerous emissions and then cover g it up, and most importantly how we can save the planet.
Interesting, educational and very entertaining.

1 person found this helpful

Utterly essential reading

Easy read.
Gives an exceptional account of the vital elements of the climate crisis while remaining brief and intriguing.
would love some extra detail on ways individuals can influence dramatic shifts from ignorant or immoral governments and businesses, particularly the 90 businesses most significantly contributing to the problem, beyond reconsidering who we vote for.

1 person found this helpful

insightful

insightful and an important message all Australians should hear. doctor Karl has presented facts all Australians should be aware of and learn from.

exceptionally worthwhile

amazing
well explained and informative
every politian should read this. 15 words words words more words