Climate Peril: The Intelligent Reader's Guide to Understanding the Climate Crisis - Hardcover

Berger, John J

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0985909242 ISBN 13: 9780985909246

Publisher: Northbrae Books, 2014

Synopsis

In an easily accessible work of enormous scope and depth, John J. Berger vividly evokes the looming hazards of a warmer world. Based on the latest climate science, Climate Peril, winner of the 2016 International Book Awards in the Science category, reveals that the impacts of climate change on our health, economy, and environment are far worse--and more imminent--than many realize. The book identifies the obstacles to climate protection and shows why steep and unprecedented--yet affordable--cuts in greenhouse gases are needed now to avert a global climate catastrophe.Climate Peril portrays the radically altered world we will create in 2100 A.D. if greenhouse gas emissions are not reduced and documents the rapid and unnatural climate change already taking place. The book explores all major consequences of climate change, especially its astonishing impacts on the economy, human health, other species, and the oceans. Among other awesome risks, Climate Peril describes the billions of ton of carbon lurking in ocean sea beds and thawing permafrost and the global danger of crossing an invisible threshold beyond which catastrophic climate changes become inevitable. 

While its conclusions are alarming, Climate Peril is above all a realistic and authoritative book that you can use to better understand how climate change may affect you and your family.
Climate Peril is the winner of the 2015 International Book Awards, and second of a three book series. Volume 1, Climate Myths, focused on the political campaign waged against climate science. Volume 3, Climate Solutions (forthcoming), shows how to create a climate-safe world by radically transforming global energy, transportation, and land use practices.

Early Praise for Climate Peril

"A brilliant book, and one that might just change the world. By far the best overview of climate science and its implications for our planet that I've ever read." 
- Tim Flannery, Chief Councilor, Australian Climate Council, and Author, The Weather Makers

"I applaud Climate Peril for showing so clearly that climatic disruption is the consuming issue of our time and our response in the next few years will determine the fate of this civilization."
- George M. Woodwell, Founder, Director Emeritus, and Senior Scientist, Woods Hole Research Center

"Climate Peril is an excellent primer on the causes and effects of climate change, which, as John Berger notes, imperils our very existence and that of all natural systems on which we depend." 
- Lester R. Brown, President, Earth Policy Institute and Author, Full Planet, Empty Plates

"Read Climate Peril and you will become well informed about what probably is the greatest threat ever faced by civilization." 
- Paul R. and Anne H. Ehrlich, from the Introduction to Climate Peril

"Climate Peril lays the foundation for understanding the actions we must take to begin building a sustainable world for the future. Highly recommended!"
- Peter H. Raven, President Emeritus, Missouri Botanical Garden

"Very grounded in science and the rigorous study of climate....for appropriate classes in high school and college."

-2016 Benjamin Franklin Awards, Nature & Environment

About the Author 

John J. Berger, Ph.D., writes about climate change from the perspective of an internationally respected energy and natural resources expert. Trained in ecology. Dr. Berger has served as a consultant to government, scientific, academic, and nonprofit organizations, including the U.S. Congress and the National Academy of Sciences.

About this title

About the Author

John J. Berger, Ph.D. is the author and editor of 11 books on climate, energy, and natural resources. He is a graduate of Stanford University and has a master s in energy and natural resources from UC Berkeley and a Ph.D. in ecology from UC Davis. A journalist and leader of national environmental organizations, he has also served as a consultant to government, scientific, academic, and nonprofit organizations, including the U.S. Congress and the National Academy of Sciences.

Review

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best climate books By L. Lazaron August 31, 2014 Format: Paperback the best books I have read on climate change and my Kindle is loaded with dozens of climate related books (I'm convinced that climate change is the greatest issue of our time and I think reading about it from a wide variety of perspectives is critical for a balanced understanding, and yes, I have read the denier books - they fail). What makes Climate Peril so powerful is how readable it is for a non-scientist business major like me. I sure wouldn't call it The Climate Crisis for Dummies, but Berger's writing style makes complex scientific subjects very easy for a scientific layperson to understand. Berger goes into all aspects of climate change, from current and projected climate impacts to economic and health impacts without making me feel like a scientific dummy. It's like he took all of the many, many reports from different scientific and economic agencies and consolidated them into one easy to read and understand book. I have read some of those reports and they have often left me scratching my head trying to figure them out. This was not the case with Climate Peril. It is very easy to comprehend. While the author does cover a lot of ground in the book, I think the most powerful and important chapter to read is the last. It is here where he goes into the many reasons why we are now in a climate emergency, and also why a massive global response is necessary to save human civilization as we know it. If you are like me, you will close the book after that chapter and start to think about how you can get to work to change the world. We really have no choice. --By L. Lazaron August 31, 2014 - Amazon Website

Excellent Introduction to the Climate Crisis By Ron Feldmanon August 11, 2014 Format: Paperback I'm much more concerned about the climate crisis after reading this carefully researched, well-written book. Dr. Berger, an energy and natural resources expert, presents up-to-date research findings on the health, extreme weather, oceanic, extinction, and other climate perils that will occur unless significant preventive measures are begun soon. Berger makes climate change real by describing its impact not only on humans but also on the lives of specific plant and animal species from plankton and coral on up the evolutionary scale. Berger also provided very helpful short primers on relevant natural science concepts, whether rudimentary physics or chemistry, oceanography, geology, or meteorology. Climate Peril not only appeals to the intelligent reader, but also would be most suitable for college courses on the environment. It includes an extensive glossary, excellent index, and appendices on more technical topics. References for all of the research findings are in endnotes. In addition the book has lists of recommended books and sources of additional climate science information. The information presented and references should enable students to write their own papers covering book topics in greater depth. Having now read Climate Peril, for the rest of my life I will want to keep informed about the all-too-likely impending climate crisis and will be much more supportive than before of efforts to avert it. I very much look forward to reading Dr. Berger s forthcoming book on solutions to the climate crisis. --Ron Feldman August 11, 2014 - Amazon Website

stars A good guide to climate change dangers By Kindle Customer Thomason May 28, 2016 Format: Kindle Edition I received this ARC ebook free from the publisher through NetGalley.com. I took a long time reading this book, about 3 weeks. It is densely packed with information documenting how man made climate change is affecting our planet. The author lays out in great detail that climate change is man made and the serious ill effects on the Earth. Among other things, sea level rise--flooding coastal cities around the world, as evidenced by hurricane Sandy's storm surge into NY city., The sea level rise is the result of melting polar ice caps/glaciers. Ninety per cent of Arctic summer ice has already disappeared. In addition, rising temperatures have the potential to turn current farmland into near deserts, with disastrous effects on the US great plains . I am encouraged by the recent China-US agreement on carbon dioxide emissions, but much more must be done if we are to avoid the tipping point described by the author as a point of no return. I urge all people concerned about this planet to read this book. The book has extensive footnotes, with references to a huge number of scientific studies proving that climate change is man made and that it is a very real danger to our planet. There are 2 minor faults--all temperatures are in Fahrenheit, and I could not enlarge the charts on my kindle version --Kindle Customer Thomason May 28, 2016 Amazon Website

Edition details

• Publisher: Northbrae Books
• Publication date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0985909242
• ISBN 13: 9780985909246
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 362