Summary for A Bright Future: How Some Countries Have Solved Climate Change and the Rest Can Follow (from Amazon):
As climate change quickly approaches a series of turning points that guarantee disastrous outcomes, a solution is hiding in plain sight. Several countries have already replaced fossil fuels with low-carbon energy sources, and done so rapidly, in one to two decades. By following their methods, we could decarbonize the global economy by midcentury, replacing fossil fuels even while world energy use continues to rise. But so far we have lacked the courage to really try.
In this clear-sighted and compelling book, Joshua Goldstein and Staffan Qvist explain how clean energy quickly replaced fossil fuels in such places as Sweden, France, South Korea, and Ontario. Their people enjoyed prosperity and growing energy use in harmony with the natural environment. They didn't do this through personal sacrifice, nor through 100 percent renewables, but by using them in combination with an energy source the Swedes call kärnkraft, hundreds of times safer and cleaner than coal.
Clearly written and beautifully illustrated, yet footnoted with extensive technical references, Goldstein and Qvist's book will provide a new touchstone in discussions of climate change. It could spark a shift in world energy policy that, in the words of Steven Pinker's foreword, literally saves the world.
Reviews of A Bright Future:
1. NY Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/05/books/review/bright-future-joshua-s-goldstein-staffan-a-qvist.html
2. Kirkus Review: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/joshua-s-goldstein/a-bright-future/
(yaleclimateconnections.org)
Interviews for A Bright Future:
1. Nuclear Focus: https://www.nuclearfocus.com/community/interview-joshua-s-goldstein-and-staffan-qvist
2. Video - C-Span: https://www.c-span.org/video/?457382-1/a-bright-future
Website for A Bright Future: http://www.brightfuturebook.com/
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + ++ + + + ++
Summary for No One is Too Small to Make a Difference: This small book includes the speeches that Greta to the United Nations.
Reviews for Greta's Book:
1. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FURf5abn-o
2. teenvogue: https://www.teenvogue.com/story/greta-thunberg-book-review-no-one-is-too-small-to-make-a-difference-climate-rebellion
3. Kid's Rights: https://kidsrights.org/advocacy/international-childrens-peace-prize/winners/greta-thunberg/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAsbrxBRDpARIsAAnnz_P816fQ4SLSOjJEMbck3J5OWXMorW0zlHfYxPIkiAovrY5GIk5WWWoaAi8iEALw_wcB
Greta's TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2QxFM9y0tY
Time's Person of the Year 2019: https://time.com/person-of-the-year-2019-greta-thunberg/
Our local student activist groups and actions and others:
1. Bscape: https://www.facebook.com/bscapeorg/
2. Bscape Website: https://www.bscape.org/about
3. Article: https://www.theintell.com/lifestyle/20191129/you-know-greta-thunberg-meet-15-other-young-climate-activists-taking-on-world-leaders
4. Article: https://www.buckslocalnews.com/news/students-to-lead-climate-change-strike-in-doylestown-on-september/article_d63dce9a-d562-11e9-91d6-a79397dbbfb3.html
Local Event: Everything Eco: An Inconvenient Summit: Feb. 23, 2020, 12:00 - 4:00 p.m.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/everything-eco-an-inconvenient-summit-tickets-89656269315
Discussion Questions: (Donna will be leading the discussion and using some of these questions, that John composed)
1. How is Greta Thunberg creating awareness of the urgency of preventing global climate change?
2. Thunberg says that Sweden has one of the worst records of carbon dioxide generation. Is this statement at odds with the “A Bright Future” authors? She also states that we already know how to prevent climate change but need to implement the changes/technologies required? Is she right? Is this consistent with “A Bright Future” also?
3. What is the role of activism in combating carbon dioxide emissions? What are some of the ways activism has been successful? How has activism likely also detracted from its goal?
4. Of the three major categories of energy usage responsible for producing most carbon dioxide (electricity generation, transportation, heat for buildings and industrial processes) why did the authors focus on electricity generation?
5. Why is switching from coal to methane (natural gas) not enough to prevent catastrophic global warming?
6. Why doesn’t meeting the Paris Agreement targets for maintaining carbon dioxide emissions at current levels not enough to prevent climate change?
7. What country has already reduced carbon dioxide generation by ~50% while increasing energy production by 2X? How was this accomplished? Name several other countries that have made significant carbon dioxide reductions? What do they have in common?
8. Why do the authors conclude that increasing nuclear power usage is critical for avoiding /limiting global warming? What are the limitations of solar and wind power which, while important alternative to fossil fuels, require a role for nuclear power?
9. In what ways did Germany and France respond differently to the catastrophic earthquake/tidal wave that led to nuclear plant closures in Japan? What were the implications of their reactions?
10. Compare the waste generation resulting from coal-based power plants with nuclear plants in terms of types of wastes, quantities, disposal, environmental and health impacts.
11. What effects did nuclear plant accidents and diasters (TMI, Chernobyl, Japan) have on nuclear power development and reliance? What lessons were learned and not learned?
12. How does Russia currently promote expansion of nuclear power? Why and how may China and India participate in the future?
13. What makes new generations of nuclear plants different from those we grew up with?
14. How do the terms we use to describe energy sources ascribe some bias to how we perceive them, e.g., “natural gas” vs. methane and “nuclear power” vs. “nuclear bombs”?
15. Do electric cars make things worse by increasing electrical usage?
16. Has this book changed your opinion or perception of nuclear power? If yes or no, why?
(newrepublic)
