Climate Is Just the Start

by Mikaela Loach

Kids hear about the climate crisis pretty much every day. From their parents, from their teachers, on social media, and in the news, there is no escaping it. Against a broader backdrop of social inequity and unfairness, it's easy for young people to feel a sense of doom about everything and to feel powerless. In Climate is Just the Start, U.K.-based climate activist Mikaela Loach offers her urgent and inspiring message for kids who want to stop the climate crisis and start building a better world for everyone.

Loach explains the climate crisis and its broader social implications through personal stories about her activism journey. She writes about friends from around the world who are experiencing the worst of it today and about what they are doing to fight back. She delivers a message of not only hope but also of excitement for the opportunity to create a sustainable future for Earth and better lives for people in the process.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sustainability, Environment, Education

208 pages, Hardcover

Published March 18, 2025

About the author

Mikaela Loach is the bestselling author of It's Not That Radical: Climate Action To Transform Our World, a climate justice activist, co-host of
The YIKES Podcast, writer and 4th year medical student based in Brighton. In 2020, Forbes, Global Citizen and BBC Woman's Hour named Mikaela as one of the most influential women in the UK climate movement. In 2021, she was one of three claimants on the "Paid To Pollute" case who took the UK government to court over the huge public payments they give to fossil fuel companies every year. Her work focuses on the intersections of the climate crisis with oppressive systems and making the climate movement a more accessible space. "It's Not That Radical: Climate Action To Transform Our World" is her first book.

Reviews

[Lyon.Brit.andthebookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick read on the climate crisis for kids by Mikaela Loach… who I was not familiar with until reading CLIMATE IS JUST THE START. It’s not only informative and inspiring but also it gives hope for the future. A book that will spark great conversations and motivate all ages.

Thank you PRH Audio!

[Shilo Quetchenbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent approachable introduction/overview of the climate crisis for middle-grade kids that doesn't get too dire but also doesn't sugar-coat anything. More than that, it highlights the intersections between the climate crisis and colonialism and capitalism and how racism and poverty impact who feels the effects of climate change the most. Even with such serious subject matter, it still manages to remain hopeful and highlight how people and especially kids are changing the world and have changed the world in the past.

I read it with my 11-year-old who is very concerned about the climate crisis and he related to Mikaela Loach's message and the approachable way she writes.

I would definitely recommend this to middle schoolers and upper-elementary school kids everywhere. The climate crisis is one of the biggest problems facing our world and kids need to be and will be part of the solution. I applaud Mikaela Loach for having confidence in kids to be able to handle the bad news and be able to rise to the occasion.

*Thanks to Random House Children's and Bright Matter Books for providing an early copy for review.

[Mary Anne]

5 STARS

How this book ended up on my TBR: insta's algorithm knows my vibe for ecological concerns, anti-fascism, and book reviews, so it showed me a video by @seizethemeansshirts that recommended "four inspiring books by women". I actually flagged almost all of the books they mentioned, and this was one of them.

Many years ago, one of my good friends told me that one of the best ways to learn about a topic is to find a children's book about it. A really talented author can take complex topics and break it down in meaningful ways for young readers, and they can offer a solid introduction. This is apparently Loach's second book on the topic of climate justice, but her first book specifically for kids. And boy, is this book comprehensive.

Environmentalism is a pretty big topic among those who are college age and younger. They're not fools about the climate crisis, but they do have hope that things can get better. Early on, Loach uses the imagery of a tree that is draining the life of all the other trees. The solutions that many folks suggest are ones that really only impact a handful of leaves on the life-stealing tree. In order to protect the forest, we have to address the roots of the life-stealing tree. And that gets us from talking about climate change to the communities and people who suffer the most during the climate crisis that, Loach argues, is pretty much entirely man-made. Loach makes connections to all sorts of other topics, such as white supremacy, and she seamlessly weaves definitions and easy-to-understand explanations throughout. As I was reading the book, I felt like this is absolutely a book that would be banned in schools, not because it includes any "pornographic" material, but because some folks might say that the book makes kids feel bad about real events in the past and present. Here's the thing: Loach is continually checking in on her readers, making sure that they don't allow any possible feelings of guilt to prevent their action. Indeed, she focuses instead on joy, like the real joy that she feels in fighting for climate justice. She wants to inspire her readers. And she also solidly places the blame for climate justice on greedy corporations who know that they are taking actions that directly lead the suffering of those living in the Global South.

I can't help but think that this book is inspiring the next generation of community members to be part of the solution. This is truly a marvelous book. I'm really impressed at Loach's attitude. She knows her audience and speaks to them directly. I wasn't the target audience, but I got a lot out of this book. For one, I didn't know the language of the Global North and Global South. I know we've gone back and forth about language: third-world countries, developing nations, etc. Global South does such a better job. I'm definitely interested in reading Loach's other work, but I found this to be an excellent introduction to the cause of climate justice for anyone.

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PS. My days on GoodReads are likely numbered. If you all ever go to The StoryGraph, let's be friends there! Here's my profile.

[Christine LaBatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book directed at children that teaches them about the climate crisis in the world, but also about why it is happening and other factors to blame like colonialism, capitalism, and more!

I thought Loach did a great job balancing the seriousness of this topic with hope and the ability to change. She also did a great job emphasizing that it is ok to be upset at this and ok to be afraid. She mentions multiple times that feelings are welcome. Even I got a little emotional reading the beginning where she highlights the negative changes that are happening in the world. I thought it was written so it would be easy for kids to understand (older elementary) but still had great delivery of content and ideas. Definitely would recommend for schools and parents!!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Martha Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This is a bracing middle grade! Mikaela Loach trusts kids with frank information about climate change across the world and about the history of racism and capitalism and how those ism's have become entwined with climate change. Mikaela shares parts of her own story - her desire for pink clothing (easier to find at thrift stores!), her moving "upstream" from training to be a doctor to being a climate activist, her start in lobbying for vegan eating. She also teaches about the history of climate change, racisim, capitalism and other related things. But in the end, this is a strong call to action. Twice in the book she puts her hand on her heart and invites you to do the same and make some vows! Terrific.

[Alexa Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the voice here, Mikaela Loach is all voice and all about talking kids through having bad feelings about the environment. It's very 2025, in that she says lean in! Embrace the bad feelings and make change! Make climate justice! Rethink the world! The idea is that we can all make change but there isn't truly a clear path here for any kids. She notes that switching to paper straws is not going to change the world, but she doesn't have a full answer. She also addresses a lot about racism and how much climate injustice and systemic oppression there is, but she doesn't discuss disability, which we know is a big issue in climate justice too.

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another banger from Mikaela Loach! This is the book I wish I had had at the age of 10 - would have made the pathway to the life I lead now a lot shorter and a lot more direct!

The author breaks down both the causes of and the solutions to the climate crisis in an accessible and relatable way - no easy feat! It balances the scary realities of the climate crisis with an infectious sense of hope, power and joyful belief in the solutions.

I will be buying this for all my 10year olds and I think you should too 😏☀️💖

[Aleksandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was good, very good. I just did not like the last part, how to participate. I would say you need your talents and working closely with politicians to actually make a change. It is not straightforward, not for everyone...activism SHOULD be for everyone but unfortunately most of the actions are wasted effort. I appreciated the educational parts of the book. Wish I could do something for this world but being disabled (both physically and psychologically) makes it pretty hard.

[Peter Z. · Rating 1 out of 5]

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[Hester Vanacker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this accessible book, wish I had it when I was a kid, will share it with my students as part of their book club, thanks Mikaela for this wonderful learning resource!

[liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel this deeply; we need to tell kids the good stories.