Global Warning
October 1st 2006

Our plundering of the earth's natural resources to maintain our high standard of living has brought the planet to the brink of disaster,threatening all life as we know it.The technology and know-how exists to combat this problem; all that is now required is the people's will to succeed in making it happen.Global Warning promotes understanding and insight into the issue of climate change and shows how all of us can save our planet

Global warning – the last chance for change' by Paul Brown, is a new book which examines the evidence for global warming and looks at how things might be if we are to continue along the lines of business as usual.A sobering read, it explains the current science, politics and potential technologies and lifestyle changes that can be implemented to overcome potential disaster.

Over his 20 year career as a journalist and Environmental correspondent for the Guardian, Paul Brown, has gone from reporting on climate change when it was 'just another story', to reporting on what has fast become the most urgent story of our time. Although several books already detail the science of climate change,having followed the issue closely for two decades, Paul was in the rare position to bring into the public domain the story of climate change, and to promote the urgent message that accompanies it.

The book complements its body text with plenty of shorter captions and quotations from global figures, such as Bill Clinton, David Attenborough,Mahatma Gandhi, Vladimir Putin,making it accessible to the general public, yet thorough enough to be of use to business leaders and people who already have an understanding of the issues.

Brown explains what is happening around the world, what political decisions are being made, what business is and can be doing and what individuals can do to avert runaway temperature increases.The arguments are explained evenly and clearly without the hectoring or didactic tone that can sometimes be found environmental polemics.

Interesting and thought-provoking, the book is visually impressive with many high quality images illustrating key points along the way; and for anyone who feels slightly uncomfortable about a 320 page hardback about the environment, Brown assures the reader that its production has been duly offset.

Global Warning makes the important point that although the science for climate change now seems irrefutable,a reduction in emissions is achieveable and affordable. In his portrayal of each countries response to the challenges of reducing energy use and moving away from fossil fuels, he highlights that as yet we are not united in our response;the USA ignores it, the UK looks towards green generation (ever so slowly) and Germany has focussed on small-scale solar power and energy efficiency in buildings.Consider Germany's policy seems particularly enlightened with the aim that: "Over a 20 year period all older housing will be brought up to modern standards at the rate of 5% a year,until every home in the country is both warm and energy efficient.At a stroke she [Angela Merkel] has created employment for thousands of people in the former East Germany where jobs were in short supply, and cut out the need for new nuclear build."

Whereas: the United States and Britain:"show a preference for the giant and wasteful technologies of the last century. It always seems easier to go for grand design of some future plan than adopt immediate small and practical solutions."

There are many tough choices to made and you could do a lot worse than choosing to read this information new book.As Sir David Attenborough says,"How could I look my grandchildren in the eye and say I knew about this and I did nothing?"