It’s been a while since my last post! I have been a busy bookworm, reading a variety of books on all thing’s climate change, as well as working my way through various podcasts on the drive to work. I have compiled a list of books and podcasts for adults and children interested in learning more about sustainability and climate change. Bonus points if you can borrow the books from your local library!
Adults
Books
How to Talk About Climate Change In A Way That Makes A Difference – Rebecca Huntley
I really enjoyed this book. It provides a fresh angle on how to communicate about climate change from a perspective of emotions. The author examines a range of emotions from anger, guilt, loss and fear to hope and love and how they are all uniquely important in how we communicate with different groups of people. It provides food for thought and readers may learn a thing or two to make their communication more effective. I have certainly learnt a lot!
The Big Switch – Saul Griffith
The Big Switch is a great read about how ‘electrifying everything’ will contribute to the fight against climate change. Griffith details a plan to transition away from fossil fuels by converting everything we use to operate using renewable energy. The book discusses the advantages of this transition in terms of reducing emissions, creating jobs, saving money on bills and providing alternative export industries for Australia. Griffith explains the concepts in a digestible way and aids understanding with plenty of graphs and charts. Overall a great book.
Together We Can – Clare O’Rourke
This is a book of hope for a better future. It tells the stories of dozens of Australians who are undertaking meaningful climate action and making a big impact. From community groups recovering from bushfires, doctors advocating to protect human health from the impacts of heat and smoke, researchers using seaweed to absorb carbon and fertilise fields, to AFL players thinking about their travel emissions. There are a diverse group of people doing wonderful things to positively impact our climate. The book also discusses mental health impacts on climate change, with some great support groups and resources available to help people through what O’Rourke describes as ‘Climate Freakout’! Another feature is the provision of dozens of resources to aid readers to further investigate topics of interest. My reading list has grown exponentially after reading this book!
Humanity’s Moment: A Climate Scientists Case for Hope – Joëlle Gergis
A beautifully written book from the perspective of an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) author and climate scientist. The book explains how the IPCC reports are written in a digestible way for a non-scientific audience. Joëlle outlines what the IPCC reports’ findings mean for our future from a scientific lens, while also writing from an emotional viewpoint about how climate change is already impacting us today. The book ends on a more positive note providing insights into the many solutions that already exist, finishing with a call for action for society to work together to help tackle climate change.
Thinking in Systems: A primer – Donella Meadows
While this book is not specifically about climate change or sustainability, systems thinking is of critical importance to solving some of the ‘wicked problems’ associated with climate change. It provides an easy-to-understand overview of systems thinking, including what systems are, how they work, how they are impacted by different variables and the impacts a system can have on other systems. It enables readers to think about problems more holistically, and take a step back to understand broader implications of solutions.
Call of the Reed Warbler – Charles Massy
An interesting book about regenerative agriculture. The book examines how current mainstream agricultural practices are impacting on soils, landscapes, food production and biodiversity. It provides many stories of farmers who have switched from mainstream practices to regenerative practices, resulting in healthier landscapes. I haven’t read anything about agricultural practices before and found it a great read to learn about this topic.
The Carbon Club – Marian Wilkinson
A fascinating read about the political history of climate change policy. The book examines the influences that climate sceptics and the fossil fuel industry have exerted upon political decision making over the past two decades. The author has rigorously researched the content and provides insights into the role of various political parties in either preventing climate action or advocating for change.
The Future We Choose – Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac
The book paints a grim picture upfront about what our planet may look like at 3 degrees warming compared to 1.5 degrees warming. The narrative then turns to hope and examines how changing our mindset and taking action can contribute to fighting climate change. It sends a message of empowerment that we have the ability to choose our future and provides ideas for how to take individual action.
Podcasts
100 Climate Conversations – Powerhouse Museum
A visionary Australian guest is interviewed each week to share how they are taking action on climate change. This podcast is a great way to learn about climate change initiatives and provides hope that amazing action is occurring.
Mothers of Invention – Mary Robinson and Maeve Higgins
A podcast with a feminist lens on how women are taking action against climate change. It adds humour to a normally serious topic and is quite entertaining.
Threads – Veronica Milsom
Veronica explores the ins and outs of the fast fashion industry and the damage it causes the environment. Topics include how excess clothing donations are managed, marketing and greenwashing.
Circular Economy Podcast – Catherine Weetman
The host interviews guests to find out how they are making the circular economy happen in their businesses. I find it fascinating to listen to the variety of great projects occurring around the world.
Getting in the Loop – Katherine Whalen
This podcast explores how society can transform to a circular economy. Experts are interviewed in each episode to provide insights into shifting from a linear to a circular economy.
Environmental Heroes – Ryan Lungu and Julie Boulton
A great podcast featuring interviews of ‘local environmental heroes’. Each episode features a guest (predominantly from the Canberra region), who shares the work they have achieved to improve the environment. It is great listening to the variety of amazing projects that are occurring in my local community.
Outrage and Optimism – Global Optimism
The hosts examine how both outrage and optimism are important for creating positive change for the climate. They interview a range of high-profile guests to discuss what needs to happen for a societal and political shift towards action on climate change.
My Climate Journey – Jason Jacobs and Cody Simms
This podcast explores the host’s climate journey. It features interviews with a variety of experts and business leaders to learn about their work around climate change.
Kids
Books
The Very Clever Bee – Felicity Marshall
A fantastic resource to teach kids (and adults alike) about bees. It is a beautifully illustrated comprehensive resource about the life of bees. It covers topics from pollination, anatomy of bees, structure of hives, types of bees, how bees work together and communicate, how bees help us and importantly how humans can help bees. My kids loved this book and now have a greater appreciation of the importance of the humble bee.
The Story of Climate Change – Catherine Barr and Steve Williams
The book takes you on a journey starting billions of years ago. It walks you through the origin of plant life, the changes to the climate through Earth’s history, the creation of coal, oil and gas, the extinction of dinosaurs and the evolution of humans. Once the scene has been set, the book delves into the human causes and impacts of climate change including burning fossil fuels, land clearing and modern agriculture. It also touches on human rights issues such as climate refugees and the impacts of climate change on developing countries. The book finishes on a positive note by discussing ways in which individuals can join the fight against climate change. The book is well researched, and the illustrations are vibrant, aid in understanding of the concepts and add some comedic value, particularly around animals burping methane gas.
Fourteen Wolves – Catherine Barr
A brilliant story about re-wilding wolves into Yellowstone Park. The story provides an evocative message of the impacts of the removal of wolves as a predator from the park. This enabled some species to proliferate leading to the demise of both animal and plant species who diminished or disappeared from the area. It is a fascinating read and provides a great message of how nature is interconnected and how the removal of one species can cause catastrophic outcomes for the remaining environment.
Michael Recycle Meets Borat The Space Cat – Ellie Patterson
The book follows the tale of Michael Recycle’s encounter with Borat the Space Cat. Borat travelled to Earth to warn Michael of the Earth’s ticking time clock for environmental disaster. Borat recounts the story of his home planet, and how the resident’s overconsumption of the planet’s resources led to global warming. They saved their planet with help from ‘Space Vikings’ and now Borat and the Vikings have come to help save planet Earth. Together they work as a team to spread the message of fixing climate change to help save Earth. The story is pleasing to read with rhyming paragraphs and fantastic illustrations which are vibrant and add to the story. The book imparts simple messages on the impacts of climate change in a comical and lighthearted manner. I love the environmental messaging as it creates discussion points on ways to look after our environment and provides entertainment with some laugh out loud scenes.
Podcasts
Bottle Ship Adventures – Charly Conquest and Ben Mullins
The story is set in a magical land where little creatures called ‘Jifflings’ live on a ship. Each episode tells a story about how the Jifflings discover an unwanted item that was thrown away from Earth and appears in the sea next to their ship. The Jifflings work together to repurpose the item to make it useful once more, thus imparting messaging of reducing waste, recycling and not automatically throwing things into landfill.
Deep Blue Sea – Spotify
Marina and Reef explore the Deep Blue Sea on their submarine. Each episode they meet a special sea creature guest. Kids will learn fun facts about each sea creature, including where they live, what they eat and how to protect their environment. It is a great way for kids to learn about life under the sea.
I hope you find a book or podcast that takes your fancy from this list. Happy reading and happy listening! If you know of other great resources, let me know in the comments below.
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