Introduction
This paper is a book report about Thomas Friedman’s “Hot, Flat and Crowded: Why we need a green revolution and how it can renew America”. The paper looks at the thesis or the central point of the book and then traces the supporting points that buttress the theme of the book. Thomas Friedman is known as one of the main proponents of Globalization in the mainstream press and is famous for his book, “The World is Flat” which a paean to the processes of globalization is.
Hot, Flat and Crowded is a much anticipated follow up to his earlier books and is a plea to the policymakers of the world to wake up to the reality of global warming and the ill effects of climate change the manifestations of which can be seen around the world today. Further, the impending food crises and other issues brought to the fore because of worldwide food shortages add to the urgency of the issue. The book is an attempt to weave together these different strands and present a comprehensive picture.
Thesis of the Book
The central point of the book as discussed above is for all of us to recognize the ever-present dangers of climate change and soaring population growth that is leading to severe imbalances in the way the international system of trade and economics is playing out. As the author points out, “This book focuses on five key problems that a hot, flat, and crowded world is dramatically intensifying. They are the growing demand for ever scarcer energy supplies and natural resources; a massive transfer of wealth to oil-rich countries and their petrodictators; disruptive climate change; energy poverty, which is sharply dividing the world into electricity haves and electricity have-nots; and rapidly accelerating biodiversity loss, as plants and animals go extinct at record rates” (Friedman 42).
Friedman’s case is that unless the world takes cognizance and acts upon these realities, it is in danger of squandering the gains made by the processes of globalization over the last two decades. The author coins the term “The Energy-Climate Era” to describe these converging catastrophes and warns us about their potential to destabilize not only the economic system but the political and social ones as well. As we noted previously, the combination of factors that are driving this era and giving birth to unstable dictatorships and rising social tensions may well herald the emergence of newer threats to world peace and the security of the United States as well.
The solution proposed by the author is more investment in “greener technologies” and an energy and climate policy that realizes the challenges of today with a practical vision on retaining American competitiveness. To quote the author, “If only our country understood this moment and was doing everything it could to put in place the winning formula—an REEFIGDCPEERPC < TTCOBCOG—a renewable energy ecosystem for innovating, generating, and deploying clean power, energy efficiency, resource productivity, and conservation < the true cost of burning coal, oil, and gas” (Friedman 381).
Conclusion
One of my favorite chapters in the book is titled, “The Stone Age did not end because we ran out of stones”. To sum up, this captures the essence of what the author is trying to say. We need not end this era of the “Hydrocarbon Man” because of fossil fuel depletion. Instead, we need to look for sustainable alternatives that not only are “green” but do not threaten the environment as well. In conclusion, we are living through times where the survivability of our species is being threatened. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that we make the transition.
Sources
Friedman, Thomas. Hot, Flat and Crowded: Why we need a green revolution- And how it can renew America. New York: Farrar, Strauss and Giroux, 2008.