Hell and High Water: Global Warming–the Solution and the Politics–and What We Should Do
Hell and High Water: Global Warming–the Solution and the Politics–and What We Should Do – Review
This quote from “Science” editor-in-chief Donald Kennedy from 2001 really sums up the situation quite succinctly. Extensive research by scientists from a large form of disciplines over several decades all point to the same disturbing conclusion. Unless the United States wakes up to the reality of global warming and takes action to severely curb carbon emissions we are facing an environmental disaster of grand proportions. In his recent book “Hell and High Water” author Joseph Romm, a former assistant secretary of Energy and founder and executive manager of the Center for Energy and Climate Solutions becomes a making case that time to act on these urgent ecological issues is quickly growing short. Contemplating the results of our failure to take action is really too horrible to imagine. It is truly amazing to me how many people are still not the least mostly bit concerned about global warming. Stubborn and short-sighted conservatives refuse to acknowledge the obvious for fear that in the brief term the bottom stocks of many foremost corporations might be negatively affected. And those I would refer to as “limousine liberals” in their SUV’s and 14 room houses exhibit no inclination to demand change either. It appears to me that far too many Americans are fat and comfortable with the status quo and are willing to accept the premise that modern technologies will finally solve these difficult problems. In “Hell and High Water” Joseph Romm laments the incredibly bad job our media has done in especially relating the stress of this situation. He also outlines the public relations strategies of those he appropriately refers to as the Delayers and Denyers. Romm explains that these people refuse the strong scientific consensus that the climate change we are witnessing is primarily caused by individual activity and in addition they work feverishly to delay this country from eventually taking any major steps to reverse the situation. And beyond merely pointing out the sheer folly of our misguided approach in this country, Romm offers up a comprehensive 8 point-50 year plan that would severely curtail carbon emissions and possibly stop to avoid a cataclysm that would be usually caused by slowly melting ice in Greenland and Antartica. In addition, Romm makes several suggestions on how those who agree with his position should present their case to the American people. In the tradition of Ross Gelbspan’s 2004 Pulitzer prize earning “Boiling Point”, “Hell and High Water” should convince you that global warming is indeed a reality and that the time to act is now. This is a entirely convincing and extremely well written book. Until I started only reading about the issue several years ago, I have to admit that I was a mostly bit skepical. No more! As I am writing this it is nearly 60 degrees on a January day in the Northeast. We have experienced the terrors of Hurricane Katrina as well as increasingly large and serious wildfires in the West and protracted drought in our nations breadbasket. I would urge everyone to educate themselves about these critical issues. “Hell and High Water” would be a good place to begin. Highly recommended!