Heat
George Monbiot
Penguin Allen Lane, 304pp, £17.99
Heat is a breathtaking plan to cut emissions in the UK by 90 per cent. The book is well written and easy to read (as long as you don’t check all the references as it is also extremely well sourced). It’s also terrifying.
George Monbiot doesn’t dwell on the effects of climate change, but it is clear that if a proposed solution to the UK’s output of carbon isn’t followed, disaster will occur.
Each sector which is a major contributor to climate change is tackled, and all possible solutions are examined in depth. In each sector (bar aviation, where he can find no solution other than grounding the planes) his proposals are realistic and actionable. The evidence is presented in a way which is both engaging and dispassionate, and includes one of the best breakdowns of the argument for and against nuclear power that I have come across. The good news is that Monbiot’s plans should keep the lights on, our homes heated and the planet in balance. But to do so, we will need to enact big changes in how we think about heat and energy, housing, and transport.
As a manifesto for a mass movement, Monbiot gives a solid programme of changes to rally behind, although it is not always clear who the book is aimed at. The ideas in this book are sound and could put us on track to avoiding environmental disaster. I just hope people don’t turn away from adopting them because Monbiot couldn’t resist an insult along the way.