If we want to find ways to reduce our carbon footprint or get more involved in the fight to save our planet, reading news about how little time we have left can be scary.

There are a lot of books out there that can help people learn more about the current climate crisis and how they can live more sustainably. I reached out to two climate scientists who work at Barnard College to find out what they recommend for people who want to learn more about the current crisis and how they can live more sustainably. Many of these books also talk about how climate change affects people in different parts of the world.

There are a lot of books you can read if you ever feel like there's nothing you can do to help the environment. You can also share these books with your friends and family if they're having a hard time understanding what the climate crisis is all about.

An overview of climate change

"The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History"

Many of us learned about dinosaurs going extinct when we were young, which could be where we're going. In her book, "The Sixth Extinction," journalist Elizabeth Kolbert says that climate change may be leading us to a man-made sixth extinction by comparing it to other extinction events that have happened in the past and now. He said that this book shows how carbon dioxide and other toxins that come from the burning of fossil fuels are changing the planet in ways that could make a lot of species go extinct.

 

"The Future Earth: A Radical Vision for What's Possible in the Age of Warming"

Author Eric Holthaus wrote "The Future Earth," which talks about what could happen if people did their part to fight climate change. A book about what the world could look like if we came up with new ways to deal with the climate crisis is "hopeful," Brenner said. Futureists, biologists, economists, and climate change activists are all interviewed in this book. To see how the world can save our planet, this book could be very important for you.

Activism

"All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis"

"All We Can Save" is an anthology of essays written by women who are fighting climate change on the front lines, and it might make you want to do the same. As someone who studies climate change, Brenner says this book is her "go-to source for a wide range of perspectives." Brenner also likes that "the contributors all take a justice-oriented approach to solving problems."

"The Citizen's Guide to Climate Success: Overcoming Myths that Hinder Progress"

This book gives advice on what people can do on a daily basis to cut back on their carbon footprint. It also points out important things we should fight for, like getting rid of cars that use gasoline. "Jaccard ensures that we won't be paralyzed by how big the problem of climate change can be or waste time on things that won't help," Brenner said.

Urban development

"Extreme Cities: The Peril and Promise of Urban Life in the Age of Climate Change"

Cities around the world are taking different steps to protect people from climate change-related disasters, such as moving their residents because cities are contributing to climate change. Dawson talks about these steps in his book, "Extreme Cities." This book talks about how climate change poses a unique threat to these cities, especially those near bodies of water. "Using examples from New York, Alaska, and Holland, the author shows how the world's megacities, most of which are near the coast, are both causing and dealing with the effects of rising CO2 levels and rising sea levels."

"Toxic Communities: Environmental Racism, Industrial Pollution, and Residential Mobility"

Climate change and racism are very closely linked. Taylor, an environmental sociologist, talks about how the locations of hazardous facilities in low-income, mostly BIPOC communities have been contaminated, which has put the health of people in cities like New Orleans at risk. History and current case studies from across the country are used to show why poor and minority neighborhoods are the ones that are most affected by pollution, Brenner told us.

Food

"Our Changing Menu: Climate Change and the Foods We Love and Need"

Food is an important part of many cultures around the world, which can make giving up certain types of food difficult. However, "Our Changing Menu" says that we need to act now to save food for the people who follow us. What happens next is explained in the book. It also has useful tips for cutting down on food waste as we try to make better, more sustainable choices that will keep the planet safe for future generations.

"Hot, Hungry Planet: The Fight to Stop a Global Food Crisis in the Face of Climate Change"

In "Hot Hungry Planet," Palmer talks about ways to keep food secure and resilient because of climate change. This isn't the only thing she talks about. She also talks about how different parts of the world, like India and sub-Saharan Africa, can help fight socioeconomic inequality and world hunger. As long as humans don't practice sustainable farming and protect biodiversity, they can't stop climate change from getting worse, Brenner said.

Fashion

"Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion"

Because fast fashion doesn't take a toll on our budgets, many people buy it. But the short time we wear these clothes can be bad for the environment. It shows how our love of cheap clothes, which we usually only wear a few times before throwing away, is hurting our society, our environment, and our economic well-being.

"Fashionopolis: The Price of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes"

This is what Thomas talks about in "Fashionopolis." He talks about the damage that fast fashion does to the environment and the abuse that workers in this industry often face. This isn't just about the environmental problems caused by fast fashion. Brenner said that it also talks about the human rights abuses and economic devastation. This book is a reminder that the clothes we buy can have a big impact on the people who wear them and the people who don't.

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