By Anthony Giddens
This is not a book about climate change, which is a point Giddens clearly states in the introduction, this is a book about the politics of climate change. What is remarkable about this book is that it focuses on the "how" not the "why". It offers detailed political and economic solutions to Global warming. Furthermore it discusses how responsible environmental policies can actually benefit progress, developmental goals and the economy rather than hurt them. Giddens provides a road that policy makers can take to get onto the good side of the environment.
The book advocates changing people's motivation from fear to giving them something to be optimistic about. Instead of scaring people and constantly giving them a dim picture of the future, they should be given a dream to aspire to and work for. Giddens makes the connection between climate change and energy security, two topics often discussed separately that he believes are deeply related.
The real reason behind the distinction of this book is that it treats climate change as a political problem and provides political and economic suggestions to deal with it. It is not a book written by a "Green" extremist calling to save the planet rather it is a rational book with a realistic perspective.
The author, Anthony Giddens, is the former director of the London School of Economics and Political Science. He is now a member of the House of Lords. He is a sociologist who has written more than 30 books among them "The Third Way" which influenced Tony Blair during his term as Prime Minister.
The leaders of the world are going to meet at the Copenhagen conference on 7-18 December 2009, seeking to agree on a replacement for the Kyoto protocol (the agreement on preventing climate change and global warming) which runs out in 2012. This book is definitely recommended as reading material for policy makers looking for ideas and a new approach to cope with environmental challenges.
