Glacial: The Inside Story of Climate Politics

by Chelsea Henderson

To date, no substantive climate bill has successfully run the political gauntlet from Capitol Hill to the Oval Office. Why not?

From mavericks to party standard-bearers, U.S. Senators, members of the House of Representatives, and presidential candidates have campaigned for four decades espousing their intentions to address the impacts of climate change. Glacial: The Inside Story of Climate Change is the first Inside-the-Beltway account to lay bare the machinations of what went wrong in Washington—how and why our leaders failed to act on climate change as mounting scientific evidence underscored the urgency to do so. Glacial tells a story of behind-the-scenes infighting and power struggles that blocked or derailed federal legislative progress on climate change, even in times of bipartisanship and with polls showing most Americans favored action.

The good news today is that public opinion is at its highest level of support for climate action, from corporate boardrooms embracing sustainability for business reasons to movements led by passionate younger generations who can't afford to stand mute because it is they who will inherit the worst environmental catastrophes. If the missed opportunities in Washington are instructive, the path to doing so is clear. Our elected officials must use their offices not solely for the power and prestige it bestows upon them personally, but for the public good—and they must do so while there is still time.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Audiobook, Environment

432 pages, Hardcover

Published August 6, 2024

Reviews

[Chelsea Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote it and I'm proud of it so of course I'm giving it 5 stars!

[Emma Roehrig · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is a comprehensive history of federal climate legislation and a very interesting read! i wish it went more into specifics on policy but still informative.

[C.K. Westbrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rarely is a non-fiction book about climate legislation referred to as a gripping page-turner, but I found Glacial, by Chelsea Henderson, to be so. Glacial is compelling, well-researched, riveting, insider storytelling - the perfect climate change book for these times. When one learns of yet another raging thousand-acre fire or deadly drought, or another community flooded again and wonders how did our government not protect Americans from this horrible crisis, well, this book tells the heartbreaking story. I wish every American, no matter their politics, would read this book. It's a good reminder, with factual detail, that for many, power and money are more important than a healthy, sustainable environment for people and wildlife, and we must reject this every time we vote.
- CK Westbrook, environmentalist, activist, and science fiction author of "The Impact Series"

(I received an ARC of this book)

[kendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free ARC via NetGalley for this book. Thank you to NetGalley, publisher and author!

“Glacial” is an illuminating read into the politics and policies regarding the climate crisis. Henderson’s exploration of the intricacies of climate politics offers a detailed look at what influences environmental policy.

My favorite of the stories highlighted in this book is, “Meanwhile, Exxon Knew.” This chapter was powerful at reminding us that those same people who push against climate policiers aren’t always misinformed, they are actually quite aware of the threat to the planet, they just prioritize profits and exploitation. This is a huge part of the battle for environmental policies.

This book provides great context for those of us working at the intersection of conservation, sciences and policy. While it is not as in-depth as other books may be, “Glacial” does a wonderful job summarizing moments in climate politics history.

[F.M. Deemyad · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Review of Chelsea Henderson’s Glacial
By: F.M. Deemyad
Author of “The Sky Worshipers”

I am generally not a fan of nonfiction books; however, the topic of Glacial addressing what concerns just about all inhabitants of our planet these days interested me. I was quite impressed by the amount of effort it took to finally pass legislation in 2022 that addressed environmental issues comprehensively. Henderson proves to be a well-read, highly informed author.
After going through a list of past presidents during whose tenure no concrete action was taken regarding the climate, the author mentions, Rick Boucher, a Democrat in Congress who believed in restoring the environment despite representing “Southwest Virginia, a district known for its coal production.”
With President Obama taking the helm in 2009, hopes grew for more concrete action. Due to the urgency of the economic situation, Obama prioritized the economy and environmental issues had to be placed on the back burner. President Obama’s dedication to the environment, however, soon began to bear fruit. By May 2009, the American Clean Energy and Security Act was introduced, and it was heralded as “the dawn of the clean energy age.”
Initially, Republicans repeatedly took a stance against any bill addressing climate change. However, with the passage of time, a number of Republican lawmakers also joined the fight to save the planet. After all, in Henderson’s words, “climate denial ran counter to the party’s rich history of conservation and environmental stewardship.” The author describes Senator McCain as a “climate maverick” and refers to his point of view as differing in a major way from that of then-President Trump.
Henderson blames the Trump Administration for the lack of a concrete policy regarding climate change but adds that some republicans developed an understanding of the importance of this concept. Bob Inglis, who represented “the most conservative district in the union” encouraged by his son, traveled to Antarctica and Greenland championing the fight against carbon emissions. His view on this issue, however, differed from his colleagues on the Left. Inglis tried to entice other Republicans to support solutions to the climate, but one that favored the free market. He and his backers in Congress argued that for efforts toward addressing climate change to be meaningful and continuous, they had to be bipartisan.
According to Henderson, by 2018, proponents of legislation addressing climate change were able to overcome the cynics. The author refers to the “Green New Deal” introduced by Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as being the first bill that aimed to “revitalize America.”
Henderson’s account is that of an author who experienced first hand the internal struggles and clashes in Congress over climate change. Glacial is a celebration of those within the policymaking circles who struggled relentlessly toward the endorsement of policies that addressed this urgent issue.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting book. I have always been a huge fan of John McCain and how he worked during his career as a politician. What a great hero, leader and human being he was. Such a shame we don’t have more choices like him anymore from the Republican Party. I was very surprised at Lindsey Graham’s role in climate action that sadly was derailed by his constituents. I am glad to see some republicans trying to make climate change more palatable to the right. It’s an important issue that sadly the most recent Republican Party leaders brush off. Our children and grandchildren will unfortunately suffer more than many are now because of climate change due to the current leadership’s greed and corruption.

[Lucia Priselac · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fascinating account of why the U.S. has failed to address climate change over decades. One of the most eye-opening revelations for me was how Exxon knew about the disastrous effects of global warming. Yet, they funded denial campaigns to protect, even increase profits, fueling (pun-intended) misinformation and delaying congressional action.

This book highlights how social media influence, corporate pushback, and political gridlock have shaped the action and narrative surrounding climate change. On a positive note, Glacial spotlights the growing momentum for climate action from younger generations and businesses embracing sustainability. As someone who works in environmental journalism, I learned even more about the background of the climate movement. Highly recommend.

[Frans K · Rating 5 out of 5]

As Citizens Climate Lobby volunteer, I had heard a lot about Chelsea and her contributions. This book exceeded my expectations: it was so good to get an easy to read history lesson in how climate policy developed over the past 50 years. It wasn't just about Al Gore, so many Presidents and their advisors played such a big role. Often it seems one step forward, two steps backwards, but good things did happen under Republican and Democratic administrations alike. During this election year, not much may happen in terms of legislation, but there is so much awareness of needed action that I am hopeful. Great job Chelsea.

[Sarah Cooley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really important compendium. Not quite a primary historical source but very close, blending interview content with information from the historical record. It’s hard to read it in this moment (summer 2025) when climate progress is stalled again and scientific agencies are being gutted. I look forward to a volume II or an update some day.

[Alan Eyre · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished. Workmanlike recounting of climate legislation since LBJ. Doesn’t do full justice to destructive efforts of right wing anti climate cabal, but a good record of how truly little we’ve done.

[Chelsalina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learned so much. This story on climate politics in the U.S. is so detailed, so enlightened. A must-have reference for today.