This was not an easy book to read. And you might be asking, why read a book about climate change that was published in 2009? Isn’t that old data? Well, kinda, but this is precisely the reason why I read a book about climate change published in 2009. I want to see what predictions came true and which did not. James Hansen lacks tact, slickness and public speaking ability, by his own admission, which makes delivery of his message all that more difficult. I will also add that he isn’t the easiest guy to read because, well, he likes the weeds. He thrives there in fact. Now, I was sitting on my ass in Jamaica when I decided to dive in, so I had nothing else to do other than join Hansen in the weeds, and I’m glad I did.
The single most important takeaway from Storms of my Grandchildren, at least for me, is that everyone in our government is lying to us.
Both parties, all levels. Why? Because out there right now, prowling the streets and cubicles of Washington DC, are thousands of lobbyists working for oil and gas. These predators take no prisoners and they own the entire town. Hansen names names. This person got “X” amount from Exxon in 2007. This person claims to be a climate fighter but made “X” amount from this oil company behind the scenes. Three payments totaling “X” amount over the fiscal year. Bought and paid for by the fossil fuel industry.
I’ve said this many, many times, the United States is as corrupt a nation as any on the planet. Corruption here looks different and dresses different, and our basic services, for the most part still work, so it’s easy to assume “they” are corrupt but “we” are not. The fossil fuel industry owns our policy makers. Hansen was in the room and in the meetings and on the task forces and came away saying “something stinks.” Clinton didn’t get it, Bush didn’t get it, Obama didn’t, Trump is short sighted enough to scream “drill baby drill” at his rallies and the “Climate President” Joe Biden is anything but.
Based on what I know, it’s too late.
You and I are most likely going to be fine, unless you live near a shoreline, but your grandchildren are totally hosed. Several of the predictions in this book have not only come true, they are far worse than what we imagined “back in the day of 2009.” Just take the Greenland ice sheet and the Antarctic ice. Yep, it’s not good. What do I think will happen? Nothing of substance. Half of America now lives in a post-truth fairytale based on the rantings of a madman, and the other half can do little more than point the finger as they put their faith in technology. My feeling since childhood is that humans were destined to destroy themselves and nothing I see, or read, make me think otherwise. Whatever it is you need to do in life, do it now.
Comments 4
I’ve been following your blog and Youtube channel for a couple of years now. It’s actually the only YT channel I’ve ever subscribed to.
I have greatly enjoyed, and still do, your writings, your Q&A’s, your puke stories and everything else, as you have well thought out opinions and advice and a talent for storytelling.
However, on the issue of climate change, which I know you’ve voiced your concern about several times before in your videos and writings, you come across as a bit of a hypocrite. No offense meant.
I’m wondering how you square your climate concern with your, far beyond average, amount of traveling by air?
You’ve documented your travels just this past year to Europe, Peru, Antarctica, Jamaica and now you have an upcoming trip to Japan.
If you are so worried about the potential future climate catastrophe, why contribute so much to accelerating it?
Author
Alex,
You don’t know the half of it! I’m way worse than that.
1. I have a van and drive huge miles. In fact, before I had to cancel due to Blurb schedule, we had plans for Maine, Seattle, Northern Michigan and Southern California, all in the van.
2. We have a second car with 122,956 miles on it.
3. I also ride a motorcycle, and am about to replace the stock exhaust pipe with a smaller, lighter pipe that most likely will allow more particulates.
4. I own one house and rent a second.
5. Each house has a full sized refrigerator.
6. I also have a refrigerator in the van.
7. Even if I quit all my personal travel, which most often is tied to either workshops or creating work for Blurb, I would still have a massive carbon footprint based on the travel I am required to do for Blurb. Peru, workshop. Antarctica, capture for Blurb. Albania, workshop. Japan, workshop.
8. This doesn’t take into account all the domestic travel I do for Blurb. At least one flight a month and will most likely be more once our events team is firing and when I have to make office visits.
9. My rental house has no air conditioning but we did install a split at the house we own. Air conditioning = bad.
10. I live in a four season climate which means I need to heat my house. I could have chosen a temperate climate and avoided this but choose to live here.
11. I live in a country with limited public transit. I could live elsewhere but choose to live here.
I can go on. The only thing I do is limit my heat to one section of the house, and I ride thousands of miles on my bike each year instead of using the van. This does NOTHING in the overall scheme. Nothing. The difference here is that I am not a president of the United States running, in part, on “fighting climate change,” all the while taking money from fossil fuel. I am not a member of congress, running in part on fighting climate change, while taking money from fossil fuel. And remember, I’m an optimist, I think we are all doomed, and it’s probably too late to stop it. The only chance we have is to slow it, and I don’t think that is possible either without massive changes to culture and society. If and when those changes come, I’m ready. When we get to the point where air travel is no longer an option, I’ll be ready. But there is now way to deny my Sasquatch size carbon footprint.
Quote “My feeling since childhood is that humans were destined to destroy themselves and nothing I see, or read, make me think otherwise. Whatever it is you need to do in life, do it now.” Unquote.
I second that strongly and that feeling was amplified since my 18th birthday, we were living the New Wave , post-punk period in music culture. Very hesitant due to “no future” consciousness, to “choose” a education and afterwards to serve society for the upcoming 40 years and “earn” the money you need in order to be able to buy a place in a suburb and have a magnificent, productive life. We didn’t jump the bandwagon, too afraid of the hard way, the gutter maybe. In the end I have to admit this productive lifestyle yields such a collateral damage that earth and nature can’t cope with it anymore.
Let me pick up Jim Morrisson’s words:
“This is the end, beautiful friend
This is the end, my only friend
The end of our elaborate plans
The end of everything that stands”
You’re right, we will be good, if not a little bit off due to first climate disaster symptoms. It’ll be 2040-2050-2060 when the magic will happen and all techies’ wonderful hadracadabra cures won’t have any effect anymore…
Author
Yes, I keep thinking 2040 on, but I think we are going to see movement before then. And I also think the global power structure will be very different much sooner than that. I have no idea what is going to happen but I can see slight victories on the race to the end.