Fall Focus on Books

Talking about the Weather

limate change is occurring, and lit- Picturing the Science, by Gavin Schmidt the reader to the literature on these Ctle is being done to mitigate, man- and Joshua Wolfe, and The topics. A related issue arises earlier in age, or adapt to it. The international Crisis: An Introductory Guide to Climate the book when the authors assert that consensus, forged in the heady days of Change, by David Archer and Stefan acidification is enough reason Rio and encapsulated in the Frame- Rahmstorf, aim to do something about “to halt the further rise of atmospheric work Convention on Climate Change, this. Schmidt, Archer, and Rahm- CO2 [carbon dioxide] concentrations, which commits virtually every country storf are distinguished scientists who even if CO2 did not also cause climatic in the world to the objective of stabi- regularly contribute to RealClimate changes” (p. 148). This is an important lizing “ concentrations claim, but the authors simply state in the atmosphere at a level that would their opinion. The problem is not prevent dangerous anthropogenic that they make such claims but that interference with the ,” they fail to develop or defend them, or is in tatters. The US government, which even guide readers to more extensive has the power to invade countries half- discussions. The result is a truncated way across the world in defiance of account of what the authors call “the international opinion, seems unable to climate crisis.” impose more than token restrictions Gavin Schmidt and Joshua Wolfe on the energy-consuming habits of have coedited a beautiful book that its own population, many of whom does an excellent job of explain- reject the reality of anthropogenic ing the diversity of activities that climate change, despite the scientific constitute climate science, giving the consensus. Meanwhile, global carbon reader a sense of how complicated dioxide emissions increase about 2 to this science really is. One strength 3 percent each year, and atmospheric (www..org). All have done of Picturing the Science is that most cabon concentrations grow by 1 to yeomen’s work in trying to explain of the contributors emphasize the 2 parts per million. The underlying climate science to anyone who will tentativeness of their findings and causes—population growth and large listen, and they continue their efforts how little is really known in their increases in consumption—are hardly in these books. fields. This is terrific for convey- discussed in polite company, except In The Climate Crisis, Archer and ing the feel of really doing science, perhaps as “other people’s” problems. Rahmstorf condense the nearly 3000 but it plays into one of the deniers’ Against this backdrop it is becoming pages of the 2007 IPCC (Intergov- favorite tropes: Simply repeat in a increasingly difficult even to define the ernmental Panel on Climate Change) loud voice and with a bad attitude the problem of climate change, much less report into a book of less than 250 uncertainties that already have been to determine a solution. pages. They do an excellent job, with identified in the mainstream litera- Into these murky seas more and better writing than anyone has a right ture. (who contributes a more books are being launched each to expect of such a project. The book foreword) praises the book “as a tour year. Every book I discuss in this article is amply illustrated with well-chosen de force of public education,” but is valuable, instructive, and worth read- graphs and figures. When they must, he doesn’t say who exactly this book ing. However, the issue they address is, the authors go beyond the IPCC is meant to be educating. Because by their own lights, so urgent and reports to make their points. The book of the beautiful photographs, short important that it is reasonable to hold really comes alive in the last chap- essays, and first-person accounts, the these books to a very high standard. ter when they state their own views book poses as a coffee table book, This is no time for modest contribu- about climate policy. However, the but I doubt that many of the peo- tions and polite self-congratulation. discussion is short and oversimplified ple who would display this book We need a game changer, wherever we (e.g., someone who says “an ethicist would actually understand much that can get it. would say” doesn’t know many ethi- is in it. The real audience for this A little Internet surfing shows how cists, the discussion of discounting on book, in my opinion, is a particular prevalent crank views about climate p. 219 is provocative but hardly satis- variety of science geek and not the science really are. Climate Change: fying, etc.). Although good as far as it “general,” “educated,” or “attentive” goes, the discussion would have been public. The book does an excellent doi:10.1525/bio.2010.60.8.10 much improved by citations guiding job of “picturing science,” which is www.biosciencemag.org September 2010 / Vol. 60 No. 8 s "IO3CIENCE 639 Fall Focus on Books its main purpose, but for those who While Schneider focuses on the Schneider and Hansen were col- simply want to know whether climate international context, Hansen writes leagues for a short time at the God- change is going to kill us or is really in Storms of My Grandchildren from dard Institute for Space Studies, and a conspiracy of the elite against the the perspective of a US government their books invite comparison for this masses, the book will be frustrating. scientist. Hansen is concerned mainly and other reasons. Both books are For decades, more than any other two with events occurring from 2001 to conversational in tone, but Schneider’s Americans, Stephen H. Schneider and 2009, though there are digressions that is centered on events while Hansen’s have been working the take us back further in time. The sto- revolves around his scientific papers. science and alerting the public to the ries of Bush administration political Schneider introduces the science with dangers of climate change. Now they appointees attempting to censor him a deft touch, but only when it is neces- have each written moving, personal ac- are by now familiar. What is more sary to the story he is telling. Hansen counts of their work as climate change surprising is Hansen’s access to senior is so in love with the science that he scientists and advocates. Both Schneider officials in the administration. In 2001, can’t resist lecturing us. Schneider is and Hansen are controversial figures, intensely interested in planet Earth and their books, Science as a Contact and all of its inhabitants. Hansen is Sport: Inside the Battle to Save Earth’s also interested in Earth, but he is more Climate and Storms of My Grandchil- interested in planets (plural) and their dren: The Truth about the Coming Cli- long-term histories. Both Schneider mate Catastrophe and Our Last Chance and Hansen are deeply value commit- to Save Humanity, respectively, will give ted, but in very different ways, and their fans and enemies more reasons to neither with sufficient reflection in love or hate them. These are books that my view. Schneider is sensitive about will harden attitudes, not sway them. the roles that values play in the climate I loved them both. change issue, but he often speaks of In Science as a Contact Sport, Sch- values as if they were entirely subjec- neider gives us an up-close and personal tive: We all have our own personal look at the development of the climate values, we should make them clear change issue from the time he entered and put them on the table. Schneider the scene (around 1970) to the present. Hansen briefed Vice President Cheney tells us that he values equity and the There is no pretense of this being an along with several cabinet officers. avoidance of irreversible changes. I objective history. Some meetings are High-level contact continued, though agree with these values, but there are made to sound more important than becoming less frequent, through- a variety of different concepts im- they were, and some people who mat- out the Bush years. I wish I could plicit in these words, and some people ter to the story barely get a mention, have been a fly on the wall when the would say that they do not share these but that’s all OK. What we get from (self-described) “shy,” “awkward,” and values in any form. Is there nothing Schneider is the feeling of what it is “tactless” Hansen was attempting to we can say to them? The challenge is to do this kind of science in the pub- convince high-level members of the not just to announce our values, as if lic eye (especially in his discussion of Bush administration of the serious- they were preferences for one flavor of the “global cooling” episode). He also ness of climate change. Rather than ice cream over another, but to mobi- provides a remarkably insightful look coming to agreement during those lize resources of reason, temperament, at the struggle to establish a new inter- years, Hansen and the Bush adminis- and shared perspectives to show how disciplinary field within the hidebound tration moved steadily in diametrically we can make progress in resolving institutions that constitute the scientific opposed directions. While Hansen was our deepest differences. Hansen often establishment. Schneider (famously) radicalizing, the administration was writes as if values can simply be read was a quick learner, shrewd observer, hardening. The political independent from the science (e.g., “The science and talented storyteller. There are pro- from Iowa with a conservative streak demands a simple rule: Coal use must vocative discussions on a wide range of came to see coal trains as “death trains” be prohibited…” [p. 174]). But sci- topics, including balance versus per- after visiting the graves of his parents ence tells us what to believe, not what spective in the media and the limits (p. 239), and he subsequently became we ought to do. Science can show the and biases of orthodox microeconomic involved in direct-action campaigns consequences of our actions, but we theory. And although most of us know against coal producers (there are must decide, guided by our values, that the IPCC is a political institution, important lessons here for activists). what to bring about. Perhaps because Schneider’s account is eye opening and Meanwhile, the Bush administration of their different attitudes toward val- often distressing. His book takes on went from promising to regulate CO2 ues, Schneider seems more politically special meaning in light of his sudden under the Clean Air Act to flirting with astute than Hansen. Hansen some- death on 19 July 2010. climate change denial. times seems astonished that political

640 "IO3CIENCE s September 2010 / Vol. 60 No. 8 www.biosciencemag.org Fall Focus on Books leaders have not adopted the policies (e.g., disciplinary rivalries and per- an overcaffeinated kid who likes to that he thinks are required by science. sonal prestige), do too little. Moreover, invent words (you can almost hear His explanation is the dominance the cold war physicists at the center of the soundtrack). However, once you of “special interests,” and corporate the story come off as a little too card- get used to this, you begin to see how “greenwashing.” But these explana- board, with fixed attitudes and beliefs the book hangs together. Each chapter tions, at least in this form, do not go that fail to develop through time. Nev- begins with a short tale as various as very far. Everyone (even scientists) is ertheless, this book has the potential to fish stocking in Queensland, mesquite a member of “special interest groups,” reboot the debate over climate change, introduction in Kenya, and managing and corporate “greenwashing” can also shedding new light on where we are agricultural runoff in the San Joaquin be seen as a market response to rising and how we got here. Valley. At first these stories seem environmental consciousness. Many people involved with cli- irrelevant to geoengineering, but then If you really want to know why we mate change are sounding increas- you come to see them as caution- have failed to act on climate change, ingly desperate, especially after the ary tales. Kintisch is a sophisticated read Merchants of Doubt: How a Hand- failure of the Copenhagen climate observer of the scientific and politi- ful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on conference. The idea of geoengineer- cal milieux and a reliable guide to Issues from Tobacco Smoke to Global ing climate, which has been discussed some of the proposed technologies Warming, by Naomi Oreskes and Erik since at least the 16th century, is and their champions. His discussion M. Conway. (Full disclosure: I am being taken more and more seriously. of how geoengineering figures in the a principal investigator on a multi- The advocates typically argue in favor conservative political narrative about institutional grant from the National of research rather than deployment, climate change is especially canny and Science Foundation with Oreskes.) but to some extent this is misleading. illuminating. Although there are other accounts of Large, mission-driven projects (e.g., Goodell is a writer with whom it the politics of climate change, they do the Strategic Defense Initiative) are is easy to feel comfortable. He likes not display the same depth of histori- typically marketed as research pro- people, and it is easy to feel that cal or scientific understanding as this grams, but once a large investment he likes you, too. But this human book. Oreskes and Conway situate cli- has been made and interest groups virtue can be an occupational vice. mate change denial against the broad activated, deployment often becomes One would like more critical distance background of the antienvironmental irresistible. Eli Kintisch and Jeff between the author and those who are backlash that began in 1980 with the Goodell are science writers who have exploring the possibility of intention- Reagan administration and has led the each written well-informed books on ally remaking climate. In How to Cool political right into ever more strident this subject that cover much of the the Planet, Goodell describes a key attacks on science. Oreskes and Con- same material. advocate as one of a group of scien- way show how climate change denial Both Hack the Planet: Science’s Best tists who are “likely to be the super- is connected to acid rain and ozone de- Hope—or Worst Nightmare—for Avert- heroes of the geoengineering world” pletion denial, denial about the effects ing Climate Catastrophe, by Kintisch, (p. 40). While listening to this scientist of secondhand smoke, and the promo- and How to Cool the Planet: Geoengi- talk about a device that he has built, tion of the Strategic Defense Initiative. neering and the Audacious Quest to Fix Goodell “marvel[s] at…the high- Not only are the same rhetorical and Earth’s Climate, by Goodell, are use- powered imagination it took to build political strategies deployed in all these ful introductions to the projects and a contraption like this” (p. 28). Good- cases but many of the same people are players involved in this discussion. ell’s first encounter with the future involved in deploying them. Oreskes They mention some of the concerns “superhero” was in “[a] quick tele- and Conway locate the roots of this that have been raised about geoengi- phone conversation [that] convinced denial in the actions and attitudes neering, including governance issues, me that he knew as much about the of a small group of influential scien- unintended side effects, and the possi- moral, political, and engineering com- tists, mostly physicists, who came to bility of moral hazard, but their hearts plexities of this idea [geoengineering] prominence during the cold war. are not really in critical engagement as anyone” (p. 22). This tone is all too While Merchants of Doubt is essen- with the difficult issues. To varying familiar from the business press writ- tial reading and takes you most of the degrees both books suffer from the ing about one or another captain of way there in explaining what we have usual flaws of science journalism: too industry just before one or another been living through, some of the spe- much human interest and “gee whiz” collapse, and it is distracting at best cific claims can be queried and some science, with too little sober analysis in a book that is supposed to be help- of the explanations need to be supple- of scientific institutions and the social ing us to think through proposals to mented. In my view, political ideology consequences of technological inno- geoengineer climate. When Goodell does too much of the work in their vation. is not engaging in hagiography, he account, and other explanations, some Reading Hack the Planet feels a has smart and interesting things to in terms of other social categories little like being inside the head of say about the history of attempts at www.biosciencemag.org September 2010 / Vol. 60 No. 8 s "IO3CIENCE 641 Fall Focus on Books climate modification, the technologies Climate change is, among other being considered, and the problems things, a global and intergenerational DOCUMENTING DISAPPEARANCE that they might pose. collective action problem. Our prevail- David W. Orr, with Down to the ing ethical norms and political institu- Wire: Confronting Climate Collapse, tions are not adequate for addressing reader will draw two inescapable and Bill McKibben, with Eaarth: such problems. What we need is all A conclusions from these two well- Making a Life on a Tough New Planet, the thinking that these authors have researched volumes about extinction: have written eloquent, thoughtful brought to us, and more besides. We We know an impressive amount about books that are valuable resources need an ethics and politics as rigorous human-caused extinctions, and we for living meaningfully in the 21st as the science that has revealed our pre- have done little to stop them. Both of century. In his 1989 book, The End dicament. This requires serious work, these books, Holocene Extinctions and of , McKibben helped bring some of which is already going on in Nature’s Ghosts: Confronting Extinc- climate change to popular attention, comparative obscurity. Such work does tion from the Age of Jefferson to the and his work with Step It Up and not lead naturally to coffee table books Age of Ecology, examine the toll taken 350.org has inspired people all over or riveting descriptions of “the smart- by extinctions in removing innumer- the world. McKibben and Orr agree est guys in the room.” Yet it is the kind able species, many of them beautiful, that in some sense the game is over of work that is required if we are to extraordinary, and large. For all who and climate change has won. Forget reason together about the most serious admire diversity, these books docu- about saving the Earth and instead problem that humanity has ever faced. ment and illuminate the tragedy—and think about what it is to be human in this world of our own making. DALE JAMIESON Rather than putting their hopes in Dale Jamieson (dale.jamieson@nyu. superheroes, these authors are con- edu) is professor of environmental studies cerned with how we can live with and philosophy, and affiliated professor hope, grace, and dignity in the world of law, at New York University, where he that we are bringing about. also directs the environmental studies Although both authors have wise program. His most recent book, Climate and interesting things to say, it is Ethics: Essential Readings, coedited with something of a disappointment that Stephen Gardiner, Simon Caney, and their prescriptions for the future are Henry Shue, was published by Oxford so like the advice that they have given earlier this year. in the past. In Down to the Wire, Orr does suggest a range of structural References cited reforms. Some are attractive (e.g., Archer D, Rahmstorf S. 2010. The Climate revoking corporate personhood), Crisis: An Introductory Guide to Climate others are romantic (e.g., a council of Change. Cambridge University Press. the history of species extinction is, elders to advise the president), some Goodell J. 2010. How to Cool the Planet: Geoen- in fact, a tragedy. Merriam Webster’s are downright scary (e.g., calling a gineering and the Audacious Quest to Fix definition is apt: “a serious drama typ- Earth’s Climate. Houghton Mifflin Har- constitutional convention), and all court. ically describing a conflict between are underdeveloped. While recogniz- Hansen J. 2009. Storms of My Grandchildren: the protagonist and a superior force ing the ambiguous importance of The Truth about the Coming Climate Ca- (as destiny) and having a sorrowful or globalization, both writers primarily tastrophe and Our Last Chance to Save disastrous conclusion that excites pity celebrate the value and importance Humanity. Bloomsbury. or terror.” Here, Earth is the protago- Kintisch E. 2010. Hack the Planet: Science’s Best of localism. Their enthusiasm jumps Hope—or Worst Nightmare—for Averting nist and the superior force is human- off the page when they describe small Climate Catastrophe. Wiley. ity, whose devastating impact was farms in a proposed greenbelt around McKibben B. 2010. Eaarth: Making a Life on a already clear in 1864 to George Per- Oberlin, Ohio, or eating at the Farm- Tough New Planet. Holt. kins Marsh when he wrote in Man and ers Diner in Quechee, Vermont. They Oreskes N, Conway E. 2010. Merchants of Doubt: Nature: “Man is everywhere a disturb- How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the know as well as I do that whatever Truth on Issues from Tobacco Smoke to ing agent. Wherever he plants his foot, the virtues of life in a small Ohio Global Warming. Bloomsbury. the harmonies of nature are turned to or Vermont town, this is not the Orr DW. 2009. Down to the Wire: Confronting discords.” whole story. In 1800, only 3 percent Climate Collapse. Oxford University Press. To put extinctions into perspec- of the world’s population was urban; Schmidt G, Wolfe J. 2009. Climate Change: Pic- tive, it is important to remember that turing the Science. Norton. by 2050 the proportion will be 70 Schneider SH. 2009. Science as a Contact Sport: even before the evolution of humans, percent, and most of them will be in Inside the Battle to Save Earth’s Climate. the developing world. National Geographic Society. doi:10.1525/bio.2010.60.8.11

642 "IO3CIENCE s September 2010 / Vol. 60 No. 8 www.biosciencemag.org