Fixing Climate: What Past Climate Changes Reveal About the Current Threat—and How to Counter It By Wallace Broecker and Robert Kunzig

This book is amazing – startling, terrifying, and yet, reassuring.  A unique combination to be sure, but those are the phrases that come to mind when I think back about this book.  One of the authors, Wallace Broecker, may sound familiar as the scientist who developed the “conveyor belt” system that explains the circulation of water throughout the world’s oceans.  He started measuring carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere back in the 1950’s, a time when few people gave any thought to the idea that rising emissions of CO2 could have any effect on us and our world.  This early start and subsequent expertise has made him one of the leading researchers in the field.

The amount of science covered in this book is phenomenal.   One of the things that really caught my attention is that during the last ice age we experienced a short period of about 10 to 12 years where the earth heated up rapidly and came out of the ice age only to plunge right back into the ice age again.  Scientists have no clue as to why this happened and what the implications of this event might be for us today.  Another thing that really stuck with me is that about 40% of our increased CO2 output is being absorbed by the oceans.   The problem is that this absorption is acidifying our oceans and threatening the way water circulates through them, thereby threatening the best climate stabilizer we have.

The authors believe there is no way we will be able to eliminate our addiction to carbon based fuels quickly enough to stop the ensuing climate problems that increasing levels of CO2 cause.  Just as my spirit was sinking in despair at this news, they gave me hope for our future.  Technology now exists to remove CO2 from the atmosphere, but questions remain about where to store it once it’s been removed.  The good news is that they are close to having this system worked out and we have reason to believe that we can return to a cooler world.

Science based books are not typically page-turners, but this one truly is.  Give it a try and I think you’ll enjoy it.

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The Rising Sea by Orrin Pilkey

Following up on yesterday’s review of The Battle for North Carolina’s Coast by Stanley Riggs, try this related title!

Pilkey, described as colorful and outspoken, provides a brief balanced overview of the urgency of sea- level rise in a global context. This important book breaks a scientifically and politically complex topic into fascinating chapters for the public, defining the scope of the enormous challenges ahead and our options.

2100 seems so far in the future to some, it breeds inertia. Photos visibly show seas already claiming coastal communities, yet it took twenty years of public debate to relocate our Cape Hatteras Lighthouse back 2000 feet in 1999.

Now, rapid response is required. Indonesian scientists believe the airport of its capital, Jakarta (population 8.5 million), will be inundated by 2035. Our Outer Banks could collapse by 2050. As many as 150 million people in the world’s major cities may need engineering structures such as dikes for survival by 2070. Countries like the UK, Netherlands and South Africa are taking positive steps to prepare for inundation of their coasts.

Instead of continually funding relief for predictable disasters after they occur, Pilkey urges government agencies to focus on prevention. He advises planning for a 7 foot rise by 2100 as a cautious approach. Instead of monstrous sea walls and dikes, wherever possible he recommends retreat for a more sustainable future: strategic relocation of roads, buildings and infrastructure. He envisions redesigning with nature to maintain a coast that future generations can enjoy.

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The Battle for North Carolina’s Coast by Stanley Riggs

Sign up now for an talk with author with Stanley Riggs at North Regional Library tomorrow, Wednesday, January 18th at 7:00 p.m.

Every January, the news media immediately refocus our attention from the hectic December holidays to the new year ahead, with New Year’s resolutions and forecasts about Top 10 national or local stories to keep on your radar. For North Carolinians, my pick is sea-level rise.

Why? Because scientists project accelerating sea rise could range from 3 to 6-7 feet or more by 2100. NC is one of the top three most vulnerable states. Whether you love to visit the coast, own property there, or are a tax payer who’ll indirectly share the costs of addressing potentially catastrophic changes, you’ll find two brief books by internationally eminent NC scientists, fascinating and informative.

This compelling book focuses on NC’s treasured barrier islands and unique coast: how our islands have historically receded due to storms, and are now threatened with collapse over the next few decades by accelerating sea-level rise and storms. Our 20 coastal counties and tourism industry are also at risk.

Riggs’ 40 year career of coastal research and leadership has led to him being described as a state treasure and coastal icon. He’s been instrumental in NC’s coastal management policies which helped protect our beaches’ stability and natural beauty.

Riggs points out that NC policies are more proactive than many other states. But development practices, increasing urbanization, and trying to hold the islands where they are, to protect buildings and roads, are in direct conflict with their natural landward movement. They’re actually hastening island destruction. His book is filled with fascinating color photographs illustrating the need for new approaches, and presents an important positive new vision for protecting both our coast and tourism for the future.

Check back tomorrow for another book review on this topic!

Find and reserve this book in our catalog.