Table of Contents
Introduction xi
Chapter 1 Technical Questions 1
Can technology solve climate change? 1
What are greenhouse gases? 3
What are the main sources of GHG emissions? 5
How can we clean up our energy grid? What exactly are "clean," "renewable," and "zero-emission" energy sources? 13
What's the difference between "zero-" and "net-zero" emissions? 21
Can forests serve as a carbon sink? 22
What is carbon capture? Is it a viable solution? 24
Does LEED certification mean that our buildings are using less energy? 27
Conclusion 30
Chapter 2 Policy Questions 31
What was the Kyoto Protocol? 32
What is the Paris Agreement? 36
What are the advantages and disadvantages of putting a price on carbon? 37
How does a cap-and-trade system work? 38
How does a carbon tax work? 43
What about carbon offsets? 49
How does the United States subsidize the fossil fuel industry? 52
Is natural gas a bridge fuel? 54
How have the fossil fuel and other industries influenced policy discussions? 57
What kinds of policy solutions do environmentalists propose? 64
What is the Green New Deal? 66
Conclusion 73
Chapter 3 What Can I Do as an Individual? 75
Should I buy a Prius? 77
What about giving up my car and using Uber and Lyft? 80
Should we all stop flying? 84
Should we all be vegetarians? 86
What are strengths and weaknesses of pipeline protests as a strategy? What about divestment from fossil fuels? 93
Do we need to consume less? 97
Conclusion: What kinds of individual actions can make the most difference? 99
Chapter 4 Social, Racial, and Economic Justice 100
What's the relationship of inequality to climate change? 101
What do race and racism have to do with climate change? 104
How will different people-and different parts of the world-be affected by climate change, now and in the future? 105
How are pandemics related to climate change? 108
How can we fairly hold different countries, people, and institutions accountable for their contributions to climate change? What methods for calculating emissions best show who is emitting the most, and where to target our efforts for change? 112
What do workers and the labor movement have to say about climate change? Is climate change a union issue? 123
What is a "just transition"? 130
What is "energy democracy"? How is it related to the struggle to confront climate change? 134
Conclusion: Should social, racial, and economic justice issues be linked to the fight to stop climate change? 138
Chapter 5 Broadening the Lens 141
Is population growth the root of the problem? 141
Is immigration bad for the environment? 147
What is economic growth? How important is it, and how does it affect the environment? 151
Can we have economic growth without increasing emissions? 154
Do we even need growth? What is degrowth? Is it a good idea? 159
Is degrowth compatible with the Green New Deal? 173
Are we making progress? 175
Conclusion: Reasons for optimism 179
Conclusion 180
Acknowledgments 186
Notes 187