March 23, 2009
Lovelock (The Revenge of Gaia
) presents evidence of a dire future for our planet. The controversial originator of Gaia theory (which views Earth as a self-regulating, evolving system made of “organisms, the surface rocks, the ocean and the atmosphere” with the goal “always to be as favorable for contemporary life as possible”) proposes an even more inconvenient truth than Al Gore’s. No voluntary human act can reduce our numbers fast enough even to slow climate change.” Nevertheless, human civilization has a “duty to survive” in the few safe havens—the far north and south, islands like Great Britain and Tasmania—free from the drought that will overtake most of the Earth. While Lovelock’s propensity to ramble is disconcerting, his predictions are persuasive—although some readers will be appalled by his contention that democracy may need to be abandoned to appropriately confront the challenge.
April 1, 2009
In his sixth book on Gaia, the eminent 91-year-old British scientist who originated the Gaia Theory to explain the interconnectedness between our planet's climate and life takes an elegiac tone and cosmic perspective in predicting our near future. Challenging the scientific consensus of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, he believes it is too late to reverse global warming. We must accept that Earth is moving inexorably into a long-term "hot state." Most humans will die off, and we must prepare havens like northern Canada, where some climate refugees can survive. Lovelock rejects the results of climate computer modeling when they clash with scientific observation. For example, he points out that sea levels are rising significantly faster than models predicted. Lovelock advocates solar thermal and nuclear power as the best substitutes for burning fossil fuels, and he suggests emergency global geoengineering projects that might cool the planet. But Lovelock also avows today's ecological efforts are futile. This is a somber prophecy written with an authority that cannot be dismissed. Recommended for all academic and public libraries.David Conn, Surrey P.L., B.C.
Copyright 2009 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
April 1, 2009
Independent scientist and originator of the Gaia theory, Lovelock makes his broadest assertions yetthat becausethe planet is in an unrecoverable trajectory for climate change, lifeas we know it cannot be preserved. The world, he declares, must concentrate immediately on building sustainable lifeboats in various island countries and accept that a large portion of the population will not survive the coming decades. Plans forswitching torenewable energy are summarily dismissed as inefficient and not technologically advanced, and while he does admire Al Gores efforts, Lovelock sees too much activist cheerleading and too little concentration on the ugly truths he predicts. Nuclear energy is his only viable answer, but his argument is obviously weak. AlthoughLovelock, now 90 years old, has been apowerful environmental voice, one wonders ifhe has finally decided that few of us areworth saving. He does not consider the transformative power of human innovation in crisis, andthe arrogance with which he delivers his pronouncements makes thismore of a rant than a serious discussion.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)