Level-headed look at climate

The book attempts to dispel misconceptions about climate change by examining the matter in a level-headed manner.

Rather than focusing on ways in which the individual can reduce their carbon footprint, David King and Gabrielle Walker look at the wider picture. 

The text takes a logical look at the problem and at solutions that are already available and, while many of these are in the hands of governments, they make it clear that consumer power can bring about great change.

The text is broken into small chapters that are easy to digest and the technical data is largely accompanied by explanatory graphs. 

The information is bang up to date, especially with regard to the analyses of new technologies such as biofuels and, although passionate, their argument that global warming is real is rarely didactic. 

Their faith in technology is hard to support given the pages of pessimistic statistics, model forecasts and the slowness of governments to act, but their optimism is nonetheless essential if green fatigue is to be overcome.

SUSAN DARLINGTON