July 25, 2024
By Charlotte Gilmour
I’m often asked what books are my ‘top choices’ for learning about the climate sector and climate communications. That’s why I’ve pulled together a few of my favourites (*not exhaustive!) and have intentionally included those books that not only resonated at the time, but stayed with me long after the book had been put down.
- “How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: the solutions we have and the breakthroughs we need,” by Bill Gates (2021). This is an excellent starter into understanding the pressing need for climate action and the sectors we most urgently need to transform to achieve it. It’s accessible & digestible, and quantifies the potential of each industrial sector to cut our carbon emissions. While it’s predictably tech focused, it provides an excellent foundation for building knowledge on climate solutions and their potential impact.
- “A Bigger Picture: my fight to bring an African voice to the climate crisis,” by Vanessa Nakate (2021). This book looks at the climate crisis through the lens of Vanessa Nakate, a Ugandan-born activist: it shines a light on the discrepancies between the lived experiences of activists in the global north vs the global south. If you’re based in the global north, this is a must-read to understand the silencing of global south voices on the international climate stage, despite the south bearing disproportionate consequences of the crisis itself. Nakate’s fearless energy is sure to double down your commitment to accelerating equitable climate action.
- “Drawdown: the most comprehensive plan ever proposed to reverse global warming,” edited by Paul Hawken (2017). This book is unique for exploring the interconnection of climate and social systems, and thereby throws up unexplored, yet impactful, solutions. A great example is how promoting family planning and education can slow population growth, which is an excellent lever for steading the carbon trajectory. It’s the most thoughtful roadmap yet for implementing effective climate action.
- “The Case for Climate Capitalism: economic solutions for a planet in crisis,” by Tom Rand (2020). This book puts innovation at the heart of the climate transition. It takes a pragmatic look at solving the climate crisis – e.g. focusing our efforts on the limited time we have to accelerate the climate transition vs upending the full capitalist system. It also argues strongly for putting aside differences in political and economic beliefs in favour of focusing on the biggest challenge of our time – climate change. This book creates hope and a belief in all possibilities.
- “An Uninhabitable Earth: a story of the future,” by David Wallace Wells (2019). This book received heavy criticism for being too shocking in its portrayal of potential climate scenarios: however, it’s the first raw and realistic portrayal of what future possibilities we face, paired with how our actions can help avert them. The writing is compelling and beautifully crafted. And yes, while it arguably has the potential to incite despondency, it also includes threads of hope and action-orientated takeaways for readers.
Hoping this is a resource for sustainability PR professionals and climate communicators alike!
What climate book had the greatest impact on you? I’m on the lookout for new inspiration on climate action & perspectives on solving our climate problem. Suggestions welcome – contact me at charlotte@yulupr.com!