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Climate Courage: How Tackling Climate Change Can Build Community, Transform the Economy, and Bridge the Political Divide
For the 68% of Americans concerned about climate change, 'CLIMATE COURAGE' shows how to find common ground across political divides and take meaningful action in their communities.
There's a new way of approaching climate change that no one is talking about. It's empowering citizens, uplifting communities, and it's changing the fate of our planet. Moreover, it's helping us live happier, healthier, more fulfilled lives. Most importantly, it's working.
The new approach to climate change recognizes that people, not politics, are the agents of change that can create a sustainable world. And that in order to engage people in climate solutions, we need a new way of framing the problem.
The problem is not that climate change is an insurmountable challenge--it's that it can seem like it is. In 'CLIMATE COURAGE', Karelas introduces the communities, individuals, and organizations that have been a part of successful climate solutions over the last few years. At its core, this book is about showing that solutions to climate change are within our grasp and are already happening in countless communities around the country, regardless of political affiliation. This book brings a hopeful message that we don't often hear about - we're actually already on our way to solving the climate crisis and with more people involved in both big and small ways we will have a chance at preserving our environment. And it gives you the tools to join them.
There's a new way of approaching climate change that no one is talking about. It's empowering citizens, uplifting communities, and it's changing the fate of our planet. Moreover, it's helping us live happier, healthier, more fulfilled lives. Most importantly, it's working.
The new approach to climate change recognizes that people, not politics, are the agents of change that can create a sustainable world. And that in order to engage people in climate solutions, we need a new way of framing the problem.
The problem is not that climate change is an insurmountable challenge--it's that it can seem like it is. In 'CLIMATE COURAGE', Karelas introduces the communities, individuals, and organizations that have been a part of successful climate solutions over the last few years. At its core, this book is about showing that solutions to climate change are within our grasp and are already happening in countless communities around the country, regardless of political affiliation. This book brings a hopeful message that we don't often hear about - we're actually already on our way to solving the climate crisis and with more people involved in both big and small ways we will have a chance at preserving our environment. And it gives you the tools to join them.
248 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 29, 2020
26 people are currently reading
1076 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 25, 2020
***I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway***
I rarely give non-fiction 5 stars, so this is rather notable.
It's a good book. It's well written and researched, but more importantly it's bringing something necessary and novel to the conversation around climate change. Like the author says in the beginning...if you've picked up this book, you know the science. There's no point in going over the data again. And again. And again. Either the data has convinced you or it hasn't. What next?
What's next is taking action that's meaningful. Maybe that means talking to your climate change denying (or just skeptical) friends and family in a way that doesn't set them on edge right from the jump. Maybe that means working with others in your community, or your faith group, using your purchasing power to help drive the markets, or simply sprinkling some factoids into every day conversation. Ultimately, change will happen because our society is changing.
That's a humbling and encouraging thought.
I rarely give non-fiction 5 stars, so this is rather notable.
It's a good book. It's well written and researched, but more importantly it's bringing something necessary and novel to the conversation around climate change. Like the author says in the beginning...if you've picked up this book, you know the science. There's no point in going over the data again. And again. And again. Either the data has convinced you or it hasn't. What next?
What's next is taking action that's meaningful. Maybe that means talking to your climate change denying (or just skeptical) friends and family in a way that doesn't set them on edge right from the jump. Maybe that means working with others in your community, or your faith group, using your purchasing power to help drive the markets, or simply sprinkling some factoids into every day conversation. Ultimately, change will happen because our society is changing.
That's a humbling and encouraging thought.
March 22, 2021
Contrary to most of what I hear about climate change (a lot of bad news), this book offered encouraging and inspiring words and provided a lot of good lessons.
February 3, 2021
An excellent guide for how to get climate deniers to become invested in renewable energy - by focusing on the benefits to the economy.
October 8, 2020
Now, after all the acts signed by politicians, here is courage, healing, and anything that might sound well.
February 22, 2021
*Giveaway*
“Building community through climate solutions is the key to making them work.”
This book could not have come at a more relevant time. I began this book the week of the election with already chewed cuticles because of the state our nation has been in. It’s a lot and it’s exhausting. However, less talked about this year was yet another divisive topic: climate change.
What I loved about this book was that it wasn’t a list of data thrown at you. Nor was it filled with doom and gloom. No. This book looked at what is being done, and how we can bridge the divide in our country by fighting climate change issues.
“Building community through climate solutions is the key to making them work.”
This book could not have come at a more relevant time. I began this book the week of the election with already chewed cuticles because of the state our nation has been in. It’s a lot and it’s exhausting. However, less talked about this year was yet another divisive topic: climate change.
What I loved about this book was that it wasn’t a list of data thrown at you. Nor was it filled with doom and gloom. No. This book looked at what is being done, and how we can bridge the divide in our country by fighting climate change issues.
September 27, 2022
Andreas Karelas takes great pains to show how people on the political right and conservative Christian persuasion are taking action on climate change. He claims he's aiming to make this "bipartisan", but I would say that really it's aimed to 1) show the liberal left that people on the right can be humans with conscience too, and 2) to show people on the right that they don't have to betray who they are to take action on climate--even if they only do it for economic reasons.
The book is a success in that it offers many pictures of hope that can inspire groups and individuals to act. There's real value in stories of hope amidst the doom and gloom of most climate discussion. And Karelas speaks from the trenches because he runs a not-for-profit solar enterprise, so he knows how to get things done.
The book is a success in that it offers many pictures of hope that can inspire groups and individuals to act. There's real value in stories of hope amidst the doom and gloom of most climate discussion. And Karelas speaks from the trenches because he runs a not-for-profit solar enterprise, so he knows how to get things done.
October 24, 2022
I guess this book was for someone, but it wasnt really for me.
I had the image in my head of 'through capitalism all things are possible'.
It seems like it is trying to take a very reassuring tone. But it came off to me as capitalism is doing fine dont worry your heads too much. Have chats with people.
It ended with some things you can do but generally it was "people are doing things its mostly fine" and especially all the things the author themselves (and their friends) were doing.
A better version of this book (imo) was What Can I Do by Jane Fonda
I had the image in my head of 'through capitalism all things are possible'.
It seems like it is trying to take a very reassuring tone. But it came off to me as capitalism is doing fine dont worry your heads too much. Have chats with people.
It ended with some things you can do but generally it was "people are doing things its mostly fine" and especially all the things the author themselves (and their friends) were doing.
A better version of this book (imo) was What Can I Do by Jane Fonda
April 5, 2025
This book lives up to it's purpose in being energizing and optimistic. Filled with great perspectives and anecdotes about the work being done and hope. Three stars, just because of my skepticism about some of the references chosen here. There was a lot of references to the "great" work of Musk. I think there is good psychological points about paralysis from pessimism and the need to be forward thinking and solution focused, but I'm not the biggest fan of positive psychology in all its facets.
Read
April 19, 2021CLIMATE COURAGE is a smartly crafted read that is easily accessible, with a hopeful message highlighting the bright spots in this fight. A lot of ground is covered in the book, and it is very timely given a new Administration strongly focused on tackling the climate crisis and its push for clean energy jobs through its infrastructure bill.
Read our full review here:
https://booktrib.com/2021/04/19/clima...
Read our full review here:
https://booktrib.com/2021/04/19/clima...
September 27, 2020
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway.
Nice coaching on how to approach deniers. Still, I find it a bit sad that in order to get the conversations going you have to talk around the reality because there are those in our society who refuse to accept it because they live their lives with a conservative label which dictates they sent global warming facts.
Nice coaching on how to approach deniers. Still, I find it a bit sad that in order to get the conversations going you have to talk around the reality because there are those in our society who refuse to accept it because they live their lives with a conservative label which dictates they sent global warming facts.
October 23, 2023
Shout out Andreas. Climate courage offers a very hopeful and well researched appeal to the opportunities the climate crisis presents to create a greener, more ethical future with jobs and profit to boot. The energy transition is the logical next step for so many reasons and can improve society and ourselves.
June 17, 2021
For anyone interested in getting more active in trying to slow the warming of our planet, I highly recommend this book. There are some very innovative ideas about what can be done at the local level, particularly when it comes to environmental justice. Well worth reading.
July 18, 2023
so boring. i got some ideas so it wasn't a complete loss but in terms of hope, inspiration, and a general introduction to climate activism there are far better books (saving us by katherine hayhoe; the future we choose by christiana figueres)
February 15, 2021
Important and hopeful
February 27, 2021
Good approach for moderate congregations. I’m more of a rabble rouser.
July 29, 2021
It was refreshing consuming material that frames the climate situation as solvable. It's a much more empowering framing if the issue and thats the entire point of the book. Highly recommend!
September 26, 2021
Karelas confronts the despair of climate anxiety with well-informed and practical hope for our conversations and actions regarding the climate crisis.
January 11, 2023
Seasoned with science, grace, and hope.
I look forward to reading some of the books mentioned to explore climate change more deeply.
I look forward to reading some of the books mentioned to explore climate change more deeply.
July 4, 2022
If you want to feel hopeful about climate change, if you want to feel empowered and encouraged, then this is the book for you. Now is an especially apt time for this account as it chronicles what private citizens and companies are doing to enact change without the government necessarily mandating it. It also has a helpful list of action items you can do as an individual. And it's a nice listen via audiobook.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews