Clean energy entrepreneur and ”thought leader” punches solidly with “Saving the Planet Without the Bullshit: What They Don’t Tell You About the Climate Crisis,” tackling in over two dozen info-packed, straight-talking chapters aspects of the climate crisis and its possible solutions. Mostly he confirmed a view I have held for five years, namely that ”it’s all about zeroing fossil fuels, forget everything else, period.” Individual actions and accountability are important, he preaches (in this case, to the converted), but often deliberately distracting, and under this rubric he includes plastics recycling, tree planting, offsets, veganism, flight shaming, corporate ESG, and so on. Pour opprobrium on cruise ships, fight for insects, ride a bike, hit the top ninety sinners, and so on. Employing a sizzling, fact-laden style, the author makes every chapter a revelation or helpful synthesis. Even if you think you know it all, Saving the Planet Without the Bullshit is a delightful ride and essential companion.
It’s clear many know what the problem is, its likely causes and the actions we should take. Are enough of the 7.5 billion of us ready, willing and able to act? For example, when well informed, educated Australians face personal health issues, essentially as a result of poor lifestyle choices, how many act to save their own lives? 2/3 of us are overweight or obese, 50% have a chronic health issue and the NDIS is showing signs of completely swallowing the budget. The existential threat of climate change will keep being kicked down the road while so many households struggle with energy bills and health issues as their immediate, every day reality. Even floods and bushfires won’t fundamentally change where, and how we live our lives.