Climate Action for Busy People

by Cate Mingoya-LaFortune

As unprecedented heat waves, storms of the century, and devastating fires impact cities across the country, the time to create climate resilient communities is now. While large-scale innovations in policy and technology are necessary to preserve the planet, the wisest and most lasting adaptation solutions originate at the local level. However, with something as large as the climate crisis, it can be hard to know where to begin.     

Climate Action for Busy People is a hopeful and realistic roadmap for individuals and groups who want to boost climate preparedness and move the needle towards environmental justice. Drawing from her professional and personal success in climate adaptation and community organizing, Cate Mingoya-LaFortune begins with a brief history of why our communities look the way they do (spoiler, it’s not an accident!) and how that affects how vulnerable we are to climate risks. Each chapter will help readers scale up their actions, from identifying climate solutions that an individual or small group can pull off in a handful of weekends, like tree plantings or depaving parties, to advocating for change at the municipal level through coalition-building and data collection. It’s not too late for people of all ages and skill levels to create climate safe neighborhoods.  

Climate Action for Busy People is an invaluable guide for anyone who wants to make lasting and equitable improvements that will make their communities climate resilient.

Genres: Environment, Science, Sustainability

212 pages, Paperback

Published June 18, 2024

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this book to be simultaneously disempowering and the advice it offered to be ineffectual. There are a tremendous number of things that an individual can do to reduce or virtually eliminate their negative impact on the environment and climate change and this book did not discuss any of them. Instead it focused on disempowering the individual from making personal and effective changes to their own lifestyle, focused on the racial inequity of the past/present, and encouraged people to work with their municipality to lessen the 'inevitable' effects of climate change by starting a coalition to plant more trees. Trees are great, but there are a tremendous number of vastly more effective actions that every individual can take. This book reads like it is a shill book created by corporate interests to ease individuals into complacency and inaction.

[Margaret Boyce-cooley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical overview of how neighborhood design leads to some neighborhoods experiencing more impacts of climate change than others. Easy suggestions on how to create small incremental improvements in your own neighborhood. Community engagement with neighbors is key.

[Robert M A'Hearn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25

I think this book would be especially good for those who are not especially familiar with climate action. The writing was clear and there was a diverse amount of actionable items. I like when books have pictures throughout.

[Kira · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5. Such a great book that takes a local and equitable lens to climate adaptation. The only thing I wish it had was more non-US examples.