The Future Earth: A Radical Vision for What's Possible in the Age of Warming

In the long-term, the climate crisis is the most daunting challenge we face and perhaps the greatest challenge we have ever faced. Leading climate journalist Eric Holthaus has written a unique and hopeful book addressing this challenge and the future of our planet. “The Future Earth” is meticulously researched, beautifully written, and deeply personal.In part one of the book, Holthaus describes the “living emergency” of climate change, weaving together (1) a clear and sobering picture of the science of climate change, and (2) inspiring stories about courageous individuals on the front lines of the climate emergency. My favorite story was about his visit from the remarkable young Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg. Greta and her father Svante stayed overnight at the author’s home while they were traveling around the United States and Greta was speaking and meeting with other climate activists. After a night’s rest and breakfast, Greta, her father, Holthaus, and his young sons went for a walk and chat in his neighborhood. Holthaus was deeply moved by her moral clarity, sense of urgency, and her “clear vision of a world that’s not just survivable but thriving” (p. 39).Part two is a set of three decade-by-decade scenarios that together describe a hopeful climate future and how we could actually get there. The scenarios are: (1) 2020-2030: Catastrophic Success, (2) 2030-2040: Radical Stewardship, and (3) 2040-2050: New Technologies and New Spiritualities. Holthaus uses a technique similar to one often used by futurists and strategic planners, starting with a preferred future in mind—a vision of what we aspire to and want to achieve—and identifying actions over time needed to succeed. Using this approach, he draws us into a positive future and demonstrates that transformational change is possible.Unlike almost all other books about climate change, “The Future Earth” covers both the dire seriousness of the crisis and realistic grounds for hope. It is an audacious vision of a positive future.

I have to admit that I struggled through some parts of this book, but it’s an important read. This is a painstaking explanation of the climate change crisis and real solutions on how we can begin to fix it. There are practical steps that need to be taken and radical ideas that might work if the whole world can work together.

I really enjoyed The Future Earth. It starts with a glimpse at the climate disruption we have already experienced and then gives an good educated guess at the actions humanity can take to get to where we would all prefer to be 30 years from now.I've been aware of climate change and taking action to reduce emissions since 2008. I'm part of multiple organizations focused on limiting climate disruption and have also greatly transformed my personal life over the past 12 years. It is not often that I read something related to climate emergency that shifts, or expands my understanding. This book impacted me deeply. I knew that life is going to be different when I'm older no matter whether we as humans make the changes necessary to limit warming to 1.5C of warming or not but I had not fully let it really sink in. This book made it glaring clear for the first time, just how much and how rapidly everything is going to change.I've read the Unhabitable Earth and The Future We Choose and have heard what will happen if we continue on the path we are currently on but actually going through the decades a few years at a time was different.I know how important it is for us to act now and to make far-reaching changes to our society and I am so anxious for this massive undertaking to really begin. I am spending the majority of my free time trying to figure out how I personally can help drive this change to happen as soon as possible.Thank you Eric for this motivating book! I am starting a book study of it at work and in one of the environmental organizations I am a member of. My coworkers are very excited about a climate change book that gives hope.

The book arrived promptly and was in excellent condition.....looked brand new to me.

Eric Holthaus is a passionate climate change advocate who cries out that the world needs to wake up to the reality that the climate apocalypse has started, "the next 30 years will be among the most transformative in all human history. Collapsing ice sheets, rising sea levels will force people to leave their homes and migrate...this means in some places conflict is inevitable." He starkly highlights what has happened, is happening, and will happen, but this is not a book about despair, but about facing this reality and taking action to achieve the change that is needed: It is imperative. That said, Holthaus joins a boatload of environmental cheerleaders who proclaim that we can substitute capitalism & unbridled consumption (a leading cause of environmental pollution) with empathy for the earth and concern for those that will be impacted. He writes that if we do that and act, then, "by 2040 we will achieve a carbon-free society in the US, Europe, and in many places throughout the world". Whoa, cowboy, carbon-free? Part of me cheers and the other part shakes my head, 'not gonna happen'. You decided.

BRings great perspective when it comes to global warming

It was an okay book... Had to read it for class. But it really made me thing about some things. From what I got from it is that we need to take care of the earth or there isn't going to be one as well as many other things...

This book on climate change is too important not to read. It is a guide to our future as well as the planet’s future. It encourages each of us and the world to take action in a collective way that rewards and protects all of us from the damaging affects of a dangerously warming climate.

Eric Holthaus makes the strong argument that the only way we can fight climate change is by being bold and imaginative and also by collective action.

Loved the style of this book- which looks back from a more positive point in the future- outlining all the changes that were 'made' that led to this positive stage.This then could be used as a checklist or handbook on how to achieve this Future Earth- once where the threat of climate issues is reduced and managed.I particularly enjoyed the epilogue stage of this book, so make a point of reading this as well.Transformative and mature approach to what is needed in terms of moral clarity and cooperative stewardship. Would highly recommend.

I bought this book after listening to the audiobook, so it's easier to come back to it.If everyone reads this book, we'll be able to solve climate change.