Not the End of the World
Data vs the Headlines
I’m nearly finished reading this book, just out, by Hannah Ritchie, who is the Deputy Editor and lead researcher at Our World in Data. Each chapter covers a key problem of sustainability, starting with a breakdown of the main definition. Sustainability is:
Meeting the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
The key, according to Ritchie, is to keep the balance between both “halves” of this imperative. Rather than go all apocalyptic and sacrifice present humanity for the sake of a planetary future, Ritchie tackles anxiety-producing headlines and the imbalance of her own early education. She clearly assesses the actual data across a range of issues “top to bottom,” from the atmosphere to terrestrial systems to the oceans.
air pollution
climate change
deforestation
food
biodiversity
ocean plastics
overfishing
By putting things into perspective and giving due proportion, Ritchie generates hope and the potential for appropriate action rather than helpless despair. Find out what matters and what to stress less about in this up to date, data-driven overview of the Anthropocene for lay people. Highly Recommended.
If you want the short version, here’s the TED talk. Instead of being the last generation, we can be the first generation to build a sustainable world.
We can be the first sustainable generation.
