The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis

Coauthors Figueres and Rivett-Carnac, founders of Global Optimism, an organization focused on bringing about environmental and social change, believe we have a moral obligation toward future generations to limit global warming to no more than 1.5° Celsius. They argue that this decade is our last, brief window of opportunity for halving carbon emissions by 2030, and it will take immediate changes in our thinking patterns, priorities, and actions to achieve this goal. From planting lots of trees to reducing wasteful consumption, they suggest ten actions that will enable us to decarbonize our lives and economy. While the authors persuasively explain the steps for their plan, their advice seems directed at those with means. After all, how does one convince those living in poverty or near it to buy into a decarbonizing program? The book doesn’t necessarily have all the answers.