OMNI CLIMATE MEMO
MONDAYS, #162, JANUARY 22, 2024. Dick Bennett, Compiler.
“Climate Change in Nebraska.”
John Berger. Solving the Climate
Crisis.
“Climate Change in
Nebraska.” College
of Journalism and Mass Communications (ad in IRE Journal, 3rd
Quarter 2022). Digital
depth report on the impacts of and potential solutions for climate change in
Nebraska, won Hearst Journalism Awards and Society for Professional Journalists
Mark of Excellence Awards.
John J. Berger.
Solving the Climate
Crisis: Frontline Reports from the Race to Save the Earth. Seven Stories P,
October, 2023. 509pp.
A glance at the Index
reveals surprising gaps, for examples: Bill McKibben, Paul Hawken not here. No mention of capitalism or Naomi Klein. Only 2pp. cited on US militarism. Only 9 books appear in “Recommended Reading,”
where for the IPCC Special Report: Global Warming of 1.5 degree C only
the edited Summary is referenced.
But the research is otherwise
massive: Berger has written 10 books on
CC. This book contains 509 pp., 17
Reports, many of which include more than one subject, plus a Foreward by Russ
Feingold, and an Introduction, Conclusion, and Coda by the author. Berger’s two epigraphs encompass the two
poles of reality and hope: Martin Luther
King, Jr., “In this unfolding…of life and history there is such a thing as
being too late”; Nelson Mandela, “It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
Contents
Part I: Mega-threats
and Breakthrough Solutions
1. Daunting Challenges, Rays of Hope
2. Show Me the Money: Paying for the
Clean-Energy Transformation
3. More Smart Ways to Finance the
Transformation
Part II: Clean Technology, Inexhaustible Resources
4. “The World’s Biggest Energy Source”
5. 100 Percent Clean Energy for All
6. Beyond Fumes: 100 Percent Clean Transportation
7. Soaring the Skies, Sailing the Waves—Cleanly
8. Putting Captured CO2 to Work
9. A Plant-Based Economy
10. Green Cement and Steel
11. Visionary Mayors, Green Cities
Part III. Beyond the City: Natural
Climate Solutions
12. Reinventing Agriculture
13. Forest Savers and Fixers
Part IV. Political and Legal Reform and
Other Challenges
14. New Laws and Policies
15. Climate Diplomacy: Getting to Yes
16. Geoengineering: Friend or Foe?
17. A Just, Clean Energy Transition for
All
Conclusion: What We Can Do to Restabilize the Climate
Coda: Recommended Climate Policies and Strategies—The To-Do List
--Dick