Moving The Needle
Thankfully, it appears as though people are becoming increasingly aware of the climate emergency. While this progress is genuinely amazing, it’s crucial that we convert this understanding into action! As we like to highlight here on SM, knowledge and action go hand in hand. So if your awareness brought you to this site, welcome! Now keep it rolling:)
To better understand where to direct your sustainability efforts, it makes sense to build up your understanding. To that effect, I highly recommend the following books to gain insight into what’s happening to our planet and what we can do about it.
Dive In!
We’re often asked for recommended websites, articles and organizations. Of course, we do try to share what we can on this site, but we also try to encourage our readers and followers to explore this topic through whatever channel they feel most passionate about.
Whether you’re excited about energy, snowboarding, mountain climbing or cooking, you will inevitably encounter the challenges wrought by climate change. The climate crisis impacts all our interactions with the natural world. But don’t lose heart! As you dive deeper into your interests, you’ll also discover that there are equally powerful sustainability solutions out there simply awaiting greater adoption.
So go ahead and get into it! Get to reading what you love and use the books below to complement your understanding and build upon your hope and inspiration. Be sure to share with the rest of the community your own sustainability discoveries along the way. Enjoy!
1. Under The Sky We Make
Written by climate scientist Dr. Kimberly Nicholas, she shares her own climate journey, merging her respect and admiration for nature with her purpose-driven work in sustainability. Dr. Nicholas is currently an Associate Professor of Sustainability Science at Lund University (Sweden), where she examines the relationship between society, climate, and the environment. She also posts regularly on her (substack) newsletter, We Can Fix it.
2. Less Is More
Written by economic anthropologist Jason Hickel, explore how we got to this point and what we can do about it. There are alternatives to the socio-economic model that has come to define (and ravage) the modern world. Rather, we can choose better! Check out his Twitter feed when you can.
3. Saving Us
Written by the brilliant and inspiring, Dr. Katherine Hayhoe is an atmospheric scientist, professor (Texas Tech University), and climate activist. She shares with the world her knowledge and passion for the planet, inviting readers to find hope and purpose in our commitment to sustainability. You can also check out her TED Talk 👉 here.
4. Future Earth
Written by climate journalist and meteorologist Eric Holthaus, this book presents the world as we can make it, should we choose to embrace sustainability. He’s been covering the climate crisis for a while now, across multiple publications, including his (substack) newsletter, The Pheonix.
5. All We Can Save
This one is a compilation of stories and poems from those involved in the climate movement. All the authors (60 of them) are women, including the editors, marine oceanographer Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Project Drawdown Vice-President, Dr. Katharine K. Wilkinson. The book represents a collection of perspectives and experiences from the women fighting for a sustainable future.
The editors also have their own respective podcasts which you should totally check out! Dr. Johnson co-hosts How To Save a Planet, while Dr. Wilkinson co-hosts A Matter of Degrees. If you’re keen to learn more about the climate emergency and what we can do about it, both podcasts are definitely worth exploring.
6. Electrify
Written by Saul Griffith, engineer/inventor and chief scientist/founder of Otherlab, Saul offers readers a roadmap to electrification. As he explains throughout the book, we can tackle the climate crisis and provide for a cleaner, more sustainable society with plenty of well-paying jobs to go around.
It doesn’t take a genius (though he did receive a Genius Grant/MacArthur Fellowship) to know that we have to leave off fossil fuels. To help us all see the light, this book provides us with a clear path for getting there.
7. Climate Justice
Written by former Irish Present and U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, she shares with readers stories of hope and resilience in the face of the climate crisis. As a mother and grandmother, she recounts her own climate journey as well as those of other women/mothers/leaders in the climate movement. 👉Click here for more.
8. Regeneration
Written by renowned author/environmentalist/entrepreneur Paul Hawken, this book presents readers with hope and solutions. We’ve already recommended The Ecology of Commerce and Drawdown as excellent reads on your sustainability journey, and his latest is no less important. As described on his site,
“Regeneration is a response to the urgency of the crisis, a determined what-to-do manual for all levels of society, from individuals to national governments and everything and everyone in between. It describes a system of interlocking initiatives that can stem the climate crisis in one generation.” – paulhawken.com
It really is a great working book for anyone interested in looking to get involved and take action! I also loved the intro from the absolutely amazing Dr. Jane Goodall, she quickly and insightful gets to the heart of the matter, and the book just builds upon it throughout.
Sustainably Motivated 
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