The Global Deal: Climate Change and the Creation of a New Era of Progress and Prosperity
The Global Deal: Climate Change and the Creation of a New Era of Progress and Prosperity – Review
Mr. Stern frequently uses the word “should”. This is less a book of what will happen or how to make it happen subsequently much as a book of what “should” happen. Most of what “should” happen are unclear expectations and great goals, the form of rhetoric one could apply to any problem. Mr. Stern says real climate change will depend on “clear and strong political leadership”, developing “global markets”, “realistic action plans” on the portion of currently developing countries, “large sums”, “global collaboration” (which he admits is “unprecedented”), an “study of ethics”, and finally a “international deal”. While one could argue that global warming is the first truly international crisis (discounting nuclear weapons), one is quick to recognize that humanity has a bad track evidence of achieving consensus on any other critical issue – not on kinds of government, economics, race, poverty, religion, ethics, nationalism, or labor. Yet, in order to solve global warming, it will be necessary to approach solutions to all of the above simultaneously. Without finally realizing it, Mr. Stern has painted a pretty grim picture of the future. As a widely read on climate change, this book drops short. There is very little substance here. Having not yet waded through the Stern Report, I had originally expected a illegally distilled version for mass consumption. Instead, it has been usually distilled to pure vapor. For all the “should”s in this book, I’ll have to add one more: you should not widely read this book.