James Hansen has gained global repute for his outstanding work on climate issues. A globally-renowned climatologist, James Hansen was instrumental in helping to create awareness to the public on the issue of anthropogenic climate change. He has also been a stern critic of the liberal-parliamentary process due to its inability to significantly tackle the issue of climate change to date. In an open letter addressed to President Obama, Hansen prevailed on the president to take urgent action and ensure that issues pertaining to climate change were addresses during his first term in office. As such, Hansen is a powerful authority in the area of climate change. His book, “Storms of My Grandchildren: The Truth About the Coming Climate Catastrophe and Our Last Chance to Save Humanity”, is filled with very rationale claims but nonetheless, it also contains several flaws as well.
In his book, Hansen lays bare the topic of global warming. He argues that the planet is hurtling from the effects of global warming at a faster rate than was previously envisaged. He points to the fact that even as we are fully aware that humans have contributed enormously to climate change, nonetheless, our politicians have resorted to the use of ineffectual solutions tied to special interest, instead of connecting science with climate change policies (Hansen 2009). He recalls his invitation to attend the Vice President’s Climate task Force on March 29, 2001. He took his invitation to the meeting to mean that the Bush administration was already fulfilling its campaign promises by ensuring that it reduced carbon dioxide. He was therefore optimistic that something good would some out of that meeting. However, on this particular meeting, and some of the other cabinet-level presentations that he would later on attend, the government reneged on its promises and as such these meetings were nothing but a source of disappointment to Hansen. Nonetheless, Hansen applauds the Bush administration for actually taking the right steps in order to reduce methane emissions; nonetheless, the Bush administration dismissed his urgent call to ensure a reduction on carbon dioxide emissions.
Hansen further argues that the earth is faced with an ‘imminent peril’ because of man’s continued action of burning fossil fuels that are also contributing to the change in climate. Consequently, humanity itself, along with millions of others species, are threatened. His choice for the book’s title, Storms of My Grandchildren, is indicative of the extremely ferocious weather patterns that the next generation is likely to be faced with should be fail to mitigate the use of fossil fuels (Hansen 2009). This is a looming crisis that has seen politician, in Hansen’s own words, “greenwashing”, in that their proposals sound good on paper but in terms of implementation, they amount to very little.
Hansen believes that something needs to be done urgently for the sake of the survival of humanity and other species as well. He has dedicated a large part of his book reviewing proof of climate change, and contends that human-induced contributions to climate change have led to a rise in average temperatures. In a bid to sow just how serious the present situation is, Hansen does not hide his disappointment with “scientific reticence”- positive steps that undercuts the necessity and relevance of applying the defensive rules, in addition to a noticeable unwillingness among those individuals who are fully informed on the prevailing situation, to assume a leading role in helping to address the root cause of the issues. In spite of the gloomy cloud that has enveloped the current situation, Hansen is nonetheless convinced that there is still hope for a brighter future. For example, he reckons that changing from the current 387 ppm atmospheric carbon concentration to 350 ppm, which is the “appropriate initial target”, can still be attained, albeit “just barely” (Hansen 2009). Funny enough, Hansen has failed to tackle the issue of the suitable CO2-equivalent concentration- namely, the amount of atmospheric concentrations made up of green house gases besides carbon dioxide, like methane.
Hansen further argues on the need to ensure that coal emissions are phased out as soon as possible in order to ensure a “livable planet” for the next generation. He argues that gas and oil are also important in this transition period that needs to start immediately. Nonetheless, he notes that we need to eliminate tar sands, oil shale, and coal first. Hansen calls us all to embrace renewable-energy sources and energy-efficiency gains, although he regards it as an “extremely irresponsible” act to depend wholly on the two strategies as a way of fighting global warming; as an alternative, Hansen writes in favor of “nuclear renaissance” if we have to rely on this form of energy, he reckons that it we need to develop fourth-generation nuclear power plants (Hansen 2009). This, according to him, is the only viable way through which we can be bale to dramatically lower carbon emissions in the years to come. Besides, both reforestation and forest preservation also have to play a pivotal role in helping to reduce carbon emissions. However, Hansen is quick to add that planting trees alone cannot be used to offset the prevailing carbon emissions.
Scientist are already divided on the issue of global warming and for this reason, policy changes in this area are almost non-existent. A large part of Hansen’s book is devoted to criticizing the role played by special interests when it comes to policy making. Hansen opines that the short-term special interest that tends to be profit –oriented as well (specifically in the fossil fuel industry) collides with the long-term solutions that are necessary in order to tackle the issue of climate change. Hansen was partly driven into the public sphere by the impact of special interests. He notes that a well informed public can supersede the influence of special interests. In addition, Hansen also notes that scientist may also play a vital role by assisting in creating public awareness to the public in an understandable and credible manner. On the face of it, Hansen’s reasoning is logical and straight-forward but nonetheless, appears somewhat controversial
Although he appears a bit doubtful about the role of geo-engineering schemes in the fight against climate change, nonetheless, he concludes that such an alternative could prove vital in the event that we may decide to carry on with the business-as-usual attitude that is now our mantra for an indefinite period. Accordingly, he is of the opinion that we need to carry out further research on such schemes. Moreover, Hansen abstains from the hegemonically favored ‘cap-and-trade’ approach and in its place, prefers the “fee-and-dividend” approach, a framework in which the collection of fees occurs at the port of entry or mine of a certain fossil fuel. Thereafter, it has to be divided equally among the adult residents who are legally recognized. The reasoning behind such an argument is that individuals who run out the carbon emission shares allocated to them needs to be penalized financial. Therefore, they are faced with an incentive to ensure that they reduce their carbon footprints. Hansen argues that such fees are bound to increase in the long-run since individual and households have to take time as they prepare to change their lifestyles accordingly (Hansen 2009). Hansen has also suggested that we need to globalize the “fee-and-dividend” approach so that we can prevent further carbon-intensive production.
Through this book, Hansen seeks to take us through his journey, starting from laboratory scientist, to public advocate, to government advisor. At the same time, he makes use of science clarify the history, varying hypotheses, and future scenarios options on climate change. If at all we are to tackle the issue of climate change effectively, we must have enough knowledge on the subject matter. Towards this end, Hansen has attempts to present the knowledge that we yearn for in his book. Nonetheless, he is fully aware of just how complex the issue is, but he does not allow this to distract his mission. The later part of the book contains recommendations for advocacy: that is, increased energy efficiency and renewable energy production, use of more nuclear energy, and bringing to an end the use of coal. The realization of these objectives calls for active and widespread public involvement. Hansen has desisted form belittling public office or politicians; instead, he has stressed on the need for citizens to take part in the political process, in the process ensuring that their voices are heard. At its core, Storms of My Grandchildren is a clarion call to knowledgeable action.
Hansen’s book is full of rich insights into the recent development in the field of physics. For example, he narrates the “secret story” of the “jettisoned fast nuclear reactor” that is more efficient and safer in comparison with those that we are currently using. In addition, the book also offers us rich information in the field of the geophysics of climate change. He has managed to successfully explain some of the most complex theories in such a way that even a student taking high school physics can get the concepts. This is the hallmark of modern physics- trying to explain difficult concepts in the simpler terms. His sue of graphs and tutorials enable us to appreciate the fact that global climate change is real. Hansen has masterfully presented his lessons in such a manner as to leave no doubt that he is an authority in the field of climatology. He has combined the observed findings by members of the community with the laws of physics and the ensuing information paints a clear picture of the extent to which we have destroyed the climate.
One of the evident flaws in Storms of My Grandchildren has to be the selective concern by Hansen for the actual and potential victims of climate change, both now and in the future. Hansen’s concern seems to hinge on his recently born relatives, the pictures of whom can be found in a number of his work’s chapters. Although his fear that the future of his grandchildren is threatened by our current actions that appears to disregard all efforts to curb climate change is totally legitimate, however, his reaction to examine the issue from the point of view of one’s family members only appears somewhat reactionary, if not limiting.
Works Cited
Hansen, James. Storms of My Grandchildren: The Truth About the Coming Climate Catastrophe and Our Last Chance to Save Humanity. New York: Bloomsbury USA, 2009. Print.