Sometime this century the day will arrive when the human influence on the climate will overwhelm all other natural factors. Over the past decade, the world has seen the most powerful El Niño ever recorded, the most devastating hurricane in two hundred years, the hottest European summer on record, and one of the worst storm seasons ever experienced in Florida. With one out of every five living things on this planet committed to extinction by the levels of greenhouse gases that will accumulate in the next few decades, we are reaching a global climatic tipping point. The Weather Makers is both an urgent warning and a call to arms, outlining the history of climate change, how it will unfold over the next century, and what we can do to prevent a cataclysmic future. Along with a riveting history of climate change, Tim Flannery offers specific suggestions for action for both lawmakers and individuals, from investing in renewable power sources like wind, solar, and geothermal energy, to offering an action plan with steps each and every one of us can take right now to reduce deadly CO2 emissions by as much as 70 percent.
“An authoritative yet accessible presentation of the scientific evidence that climate change is happening; a clear delineation of what global warming has done and could do to life on our planet; and an urgent call for action. A powerful and persuasive book, sure to provoke strong reaction.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“A powerfully written look at the connection between climate change and global warming. It’s destined to become required reading following Hurricane Katrina as the focus shifts to the natural forces that may have produced such a devastating event. Flannery consistently produces the hard goods related to his main message that our environmental behavior makes us all ‘weather makers’ who ‘already possess all the tools required to avoid catastrophic climate change’.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
Imprint: Atlantic Monthly Press
Distributor: Perseus Distribution
Publication Date: 01-27-2006
Pages: 384
Measurements: 9.00in X 6.00in X 1.35lb
