What do you think?
Rate this book
How to Be a Climate Optimist: Blueprints for a Better World
WINNER OF THE SHAUGHNESSY COHEN PRIZE FOR POLITICAL WRITING
From the National Business Book Award winner and GG finalist, a very different book about facing the climate crisis, and what awaits us on the other side.
Chris Turner has reported from the places where the sustainable future first emerged—from green islands in Denmark and green office parks in southern India, to solar panel factories in California and idealistic intentional communities from Scotland to New Mexico. Here, he condenses the first quarter century of the global energy transition into bite-sized chunks of optimistic reflection and reportage, telling a story of a planet in peril and a global effort already beginning to save it. This is a book that moves past the despair and futile anger over ecological collapse and harnesses that passion toward the project of building a twenty-first century quality of life that surpasses the twentieth-century version in every way. How to Be a Climate Optimist overflows with possibility in a moment of great panic, upheaval and uncertainty over a world on fire.
From the National Business Book Award winner and GG finalist, a very different book about facing the climate crisis, and what awaits us on the other side.
Chris Turner has reported from the places where the sustainable future first emerged—from green islands in Denmark and green office parks in southern India, to solar panel factories in California and idealistic intentional communities from Scotland to New Mexico. Here, he condenses the first quarter century of the global energy transition into bite-sized chunks of optimistic reflection and reportage, telling a story of a planet in peril and a global effort already beginning to save it. This is a book that moves past the despair and futile anger over ecological collapse and harnesses that passion toward the project of building a twenty-first century quality of life that surpasses the twentieth-century version in every way. How to Be a Climate Optimist overflows with possibility in a moment of great panic, upheaval and uncertainty over a world on fire.
296 pages, Paperback
First published May 17, 2022
35 people are currently reading
557 people want to read
About the author
Chris Turner
10 books36 followersCHRIS TURNER is an award-winning author and one of Canada’s leading writers and speakers on climate change solutions and the global energy transition. His bestsellers The Leap and The Geography of Hope were both National Business Book Award finalists. His feature writing has earned nine National Magazine Awards. He lives in Calgary with his wife, Ashley Bristowe, and their two children.
There is more than one author with this name
There is more than one author with this name
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
July 9, 2022
**Climate Book #146**
Chris Turner has been writing articles and books about climate change for over a decade now, and this book is a continuation of his regular beat: We Can Totally Do This. He's very good at finding the people and places getting off fossil fuels and bringing them to life in an encouraging way, and I recommend his work.
That said, his optimism is, like all climate optimism, tempered. We Can Totally Do This! But probably not as fast as we need to. The energy transition is inevitable at this point, but maybe still not going to happen in time to keep us under 1.5C. We have very likely avoided the 5C and 6C outcomes that looked inevitable fifteen years ago (and I clearly remember those days and how much worse they were), which is fantastic news! Of course, 2-3C is still very bad. It's a combination of mourning and triumph, resignation and optimism, that feels realistic and accurate to me. We really have done amazing things! It's not enough. Like everything in climate, all our goals and plans are Impossible and Insufficient at once.
If you are up to the eyeballs on the science of climate change, and you understand the technology and policy proposals and feel frustration or despair at the lack of political will, I would recommend this book.
Chris Turner has been writing articles and books about climate change for over a decade now, and this book is a continuation of his regular beat: We Can Totally Do This. He's very good at finding the people and places getting off fossil fuels and bringing them to life in an encouraging way, and I recommend his work.
That said, his optimism is, like all climate optimism, tempered. We Can Totally Do This! But probably not as fast as we need to. The energy transition is inevitable at this point, but maybe still not going to happen in time to keep us under 1.5C. We have very likely avoided the 5C and 6C outcomes that looked inevitable fifteen years ago (and I clearly remember those days and how much worse they were), which is fantastic news! Of course, 2-3C is still very bad. It's a combination of mourning and triumph, resignation and optimism, that feels realistic and accurate to me. We really have done amazing things! It's not enough. Like everything in climate, all our goals and plans are Impossible and Insufficient at once.
If you are up to the eyeballs on the science of climate change, and you understand the technology and policy proposals and feel frustration or despair at the lack of political will, I would recommend this book.
March 19, 2023
Turner presents his liberal market case for the green energy transition-- using a new "Marshall Plan". While I disagree with his analysis and conclusions, it's a worthwhile exercise to engage with the point of view he represents, if only to remind myself why I'm so pessimistic. Hah.
July 7, 2024
Easily one of the best books I’ve read this year, that didn’t make me feel depressed about the state of the climate and the global energy transition. It looks at solving climate change as a race for green technology, rather than a fear based what will happen if we don’t act.
October 2, 2023
Turner's "How to Be a Climate Optimist" is awfully optimistic of the climate situation and our efforts and chances to hold it off. I have VERY mixed feelings about this one.
On the one hand, I absolutely, 100% agree with Turner that we can't be too doomy and gloomy or we risk inspiring fatalism instead of action, and making sustainability sustainable (i.e. more palatable to all us climate sinners on this earth) is, in my mind, key to get (at least some of) our proverbial butts out of our proverbial seats on the proverbial doomsday bus. And while I don't necessarily agree with his proposed measures and ways of how to achieve this (and I feel dirty for reading Turner's brown-nosing hero portrayal of Elon Musk), I think a lot of the (primarily technical) efforts in the book deserves accolades and attention. It's crucial to show how change can be achieved, and I think it's fair to be cautiously optimistic on this front.
On the other hand, Turner seems to be living in some fugue state of naiveté where he's so focused on seeing the good that he constantly dismisses the bad and ignores the negative sides of anything even remotely good. He kinda shrugs off a 1.5 to 2 degree (C) increase in temperature as "yeah, not great" and that's about as close to acknowledging the bad as he gets.
Ultimately, I think Turner is on to something here. I too think we need to frame climate solutions as transitions and economy-stimulating efforts whenever possible. No one likes cutting back, much less being forced sacrifice comforts one takes for granted. Any and all efforts that can possibly decrease the need for this will immediately make climate action more palatable for the consuming masses.
However, we can't just cheer our hearts out because we're using electric vehicles and generate green power from solar and wind. Especially not when, despite those transitions, emissions from fossil fuel sources too are increasing year over year. And it's worth reinforcing here that we not only need to decrease our fossil fuel emissions, we need to stop them, and if we don't do that fast enough (which we won't), we need to reverse them - i.e. suck emissions out of the atmosphere. Which, despite the examples of doing just that (on a relatively microscopic scale) mentioned in the book, remains both expensive and in its infancy.
So in summary, I applaud Turner for putting a positive spin on things. There are legitimate positives out there, they often deserve more credit, and it's important to not get stuck in a fatalistic loop of inaction. Unfortunately he kinda went to far in the opposite direction and flat-out ignored way too much for this book to feel like anything other than a "don't worry, we got this, nothing to worry about" patronizing pat on the back.
I would not recommend this book to anyone, but I do recommend the mindset that we don't only communicate the doom and gloom, which is where this book comes from.
On the one hand, I absolutely, 100% agree with Turner that we can't be too doomy and gloomy or we risk inspiring fatalism instead of action, and making sustainability sustainable (i.e. more palatable to all us climate sinners on this earth) is, in my mind, key to get (at least some of) our proverbial butts out of our proverbial seats on the proverbial doomsday bus. And while I don't necessarily agree with his proposed measures and ways of how to achieve this (and I feel dirty for reading Turner's brown-nosing hero portrayal of Elon Musk), I think a lot of the (primarily technical) efforts in the book deserves accolades and attention. It's crucial to show how change can be achieved, and I think it's fair to be cautiously optimistic on this front.
On the other hand, Turner seems to be living in some fugue state of naiveté where he's so focused on seeing the good that he constantly dismisses the bad and ignores the negative sides of anything even remotely good. He kinda shrugs off a 1.5 to 2 degree (C) increase in temperature as "yeah, not great" and that's about as close to acknowledging the bad as he gets.
Ultimately, I think Turner is on to something here. I too think we need to frame climate solutions as transitions and economy-stimulating efforts whenever possible. No one likes cutting back, much less being forced sacrifice comforts one takes for granted. Any and all efforts that can possibly decrease the need for this will immediately make climate action more palatable for the consuming masses.
However, we can't just cheer our hearts out because we're using electric vehicles and generate green power from solar and wind. Especially not when, despite those transitions, emissions from fossil fuel sources too are increasing year over year. And it's worth reinforcing here that we not only need to decrease our fossil fuel emissions, we need to stop them, and if we don't do that fast enough (which we won't), we need to reverse them - i.e. suck emissions out of the atmosphere. Which, despite the examples of doing just that (on a relatively microscopic scale) mentioned in the book, remains both expensive and in its infancy.
So in summary, I applaud Turner for putting a positive spin on things. There are legitimate positives out there, they often deserve more credit, and it's important to not get stuck in a fatalistic loop of inaction. Unfortunately he kinda went to far in the opposite direction and flat-out ignored way too much for this book to feel like anything other than a "don't worry, we got this, nothing to worry about" patronizing pat on the back.
I would not recommend this book to anyone, but I do recommend the mindset that we don't only communicate the doom and gloom, which is where this book comes from.
November 15, 2022
"The margins of what was seen as possible in tackling the crisis when I first started on the climate solutions beat are now the mainstream everywhere, from the energy sector, to corporate boardrooms, to the halls of government around the world," writes Chris Turner, in what turned out to be a much more inspiring and hopeful book than I was expecting, despite being a bit dry and technical at times.
How to Be a Climate Optimist does exactly what it says, and lays out the ways that countries around the world are building the blueprints for a better, more sustainable future. But it does so in a realistic, matter-of-fact way that is different from any other climate narrative I've read. The focus of the book is on the global energy transition, and the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy. This, Turner argues, is the crux of the climate crisis, and despite all the other grassroots climate initiatives out there, this is the one that will save us from total destruction.
He shares plenty of positive stories, from the emergence of an Indigenous-led clean energy industry to the benefits of high-density urban living. (The single biggest step that municipalities can take to reduce emissions, Turner says, is to allow for more higher-density buildings.) One section that I found particularly interesting was the analysis of the current Canadian government's political calculations between pipelines and turbines, and why, in a democracy where the government can change every 4 years, they chose to support both:
"By avoiding outright war with the oil sands industry, or any other arm of the fossil fuel business, the government hoped to buy time to embed its climate plan permanently in the halls of Canadian government." This, Turner explains, is how to "play for keeps" when it comes to government policy, in order to end coal within a generation - even if it means Canada doesn't hit its 2030 emissions targets. For me, this was a completely new way of looking at the actions of my government, and is something that I'll keep in mind going forward.
There isn't much mention of climate justice, and although Turner gives his reasons for not wanting to discuss it, it's something that I wish was given more of a focus. I think he's missing out on some important pieces that can attribute to addressing the crisis, but at the same time, I understand that those approaches might be outside the scope of this particular book.
However, the way he emphasizes the importance of the global energy transition, and what makes it the most feasible way to address the climate crisis, turned my understanding of climate solutions on its head. ("It is fundamentally not about agreeing to reduce emissions, but about providing irresistible incentives to accelerate the global energy transition," he says.) In one case, Turner offers the following scenarios and asks readers to choose which is more likely: that there will be no Walmarts by 2030, or that Walmarts will adopt more energy efficient practices by that time?
Another thing that struck me was his insistence on framing the climate crisis as a "collective action problem" rather than an environmental issue: "The climate crisis contains a number of massive, global-scale environmental issues, including global warming, extreme weather, ocean acidification, species collapse, biodiversity loss, drought, and desertification ... By addressing climate change through an environmental lens, climate advocates would remain trapped in the constrained world of the movement politics launched in the 1960s. Climate change would be seen as a single, narrow problem, at the margins of mainstream interest. ... This long-established narrative is a rigid frame that positions environmental concerns, no matter how grave, as opponents of economic health and individual livelihoods."
Turner advocate that the climate crisis needs to transcend the environmental movement and become "a shared concern of every citizen, regardless of ideological orientation or level of political engagement. That is the only way we can ever hope to bring about urgent, necessary changes."
Several of his arguments are shaped around the pandemic, and I'm curious to know how they would hold up now. But other than that, I did come away from this novel feeling much more hopeful for the state of humanity. Knowing that so many renewable energy initiatives are already underway is a comforting thought, even though Turner makes sure readers of his book know that we still have a long way to go.
One thing that really stuck with me throughout the book was Turner's repeating insistence that we've already come so far in terms of how the world sees the climate crisis. Gas companies are making claims of reaching Net Zero by 2050. Soon electric vehicles will overtake gas vehicles. Solar power is now the cheapest energy option in many places around the world. None of this was thought to be possible 20, even 10 years ago. There is momentum around addressing climate change now. And the movement can only pick up speed going forward.
"There is no path back from here," Turner says, "to a world where fossil fuels are dominant and clean energy an afterthought. No retreat from deepening action to slash emissions. The 'humming 20s' have begun."
How to Be a Climate Optimist does exactly what it says, and lays out the ways that countries around the world are building the blueprints for a better, more sustainable future. But it does so in a realistic, matter-of-fact way that is different from any other climate narrative I've read. The focus of the book is on the global energy transition, and the shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy. This, Turner argues, is the crux of the climate crisis, and despite all the other grassroots climate initiatives out there, this is the one that will save us from total destruction.
He shares plenty of positive stories, from the emergence of an Indigenous-led clean energy industry to the benefits of high-density urban living. (The single biggest step that municipalities can take to reduce emissions, Turner says, is to allow for more higher-density buildings.) One section that I found particularly interesting was the analysis of the current Canadian government's political calculations between pipelines and turbines, and why, in a democracy where the government can change every 4 years, they chose to support both:
"By avoiding outright war with the oil sands industry, or any other arm of the fossil fuel business, the government hoped to buy time to embed its climate plan permanently in the halls of Canadian government." This, Turner explains, is how to "play for keeps" when it comes to government policy, in order to end coal within a generation - even if it means Canada doesn't hit its 2030 emissions targets. For me, this was a completely new way of looking at the actions of my government, and is something that I'll keep in mind going forward.
There isn't much mention of climate justice, and although Turner gives his reasons for not wanting to discuss it, it's something that I wish was given more of a focus. I think he's missing out on some important pieces that can attribute to addressing the crisis, but at the same time, I understand that those approaches might be outside the scope of this particular book.
However, the way he emphasizes the importance of the global energy transition, and what makes it the most feasible way to address the climate crisis, turned my understanding of climate solutions on its head. ("It is fundamentally not about agreeing to reduce emissions, but about providing irresistible incentives to accelerate the global energy transition," he says.) In one case, Turner offers the following scenarios and asks readers to choose which is more likely: that there will be no Walmarts by 2030, or that Walmarts will adopt more energy efficient practices by that time?
Another thing that struck me was his insistence on framing the climate crisis as a "collective action problem" rather than an environmental issue: "The climate crisis contains a number of massive, global-scale environmental issues, including global warming, extreme weather, ocean acidification, species collapse, biodiversity loss, drought, and desertification ... By addressing climate change through an environmental lens, climate advocates would remain trapped in the constrained world of the movement politics launched in the 1960s. Climate change would be seen as a single, narrow problem, at the margins of mainstream interest. ... This long-established narrative is a rigid frame that positions environmental concerns, no matter how grave, as opponents of economic health and individual livelihoods."
Turner advocate that the climate crisis needs to transcend the environmental movement and become "a shared concern of every citizen, regardless of ideological orientation or level of political engagement. That is the only way we can ever hope to bring about urgent, necessary changes."
Several of his arguments are shaped around the pandemic, and I'm curious to know how they would hold up now. But other than that, I did come away from this novel feeling much more hopeful for the state of humanity. Knowing that so many renewable energy initiatives are already underway is a comforting thought, even though Turner makes sure readers of his book know that we still have a long way to go.
One thing that really stuck with me throughout the book was Turner's repeating insistence that we've already come so far in terms of how the world sees the climate crisis. Gas companies are making claims of reaching Net Zero by 2050. Soon electric vehicles will overtake gas vehicles. Solar power is now the cheapest energy option in many places around the world. None of this was thought to be possible 20, even 10 years ago. There is momentum around addressing climate change now. And the movement can only pick up speed going forward.
"There is no path back from here," Turner says, "to a world where fossil fuels are dominant and clean energy an afterthought. No retreat from deepening action to slash emissions. The 'humming 20s' have begun."
dnf
October 17, 2024DNFed at 28%
I find that I’m not retaining much of the info given via audio. I’ll wait to read the book physically.
I find that I’m not retaining much of the info given via audio. I’ll wait to read the book physically.
June 6, 2022
I really enjoyed this book - although I did take a bit longer to read it as it’s packed full of information that I wasn’t aware of and found myself conducting some research of my own. I think it’s a great introduction into the climate issue and raises many relevant points regarding the inaction of humankind (for the most part) towards one of the biggest and potentially most destructive - and potentially avoidable - issues of our time plaguing our generation and generations to come. What I appreciate about this book is that it sheds the doom and gloom approach and instead encourages an overall optimistic reflection of the factors that play a role in the climate change issue. The author is fairly conversational in his writing and I found he took some heavy topics and wrote concisely and informatively, using personal anecdotes, and remaining positive around how far we’ve come and how capable we are. I would definitely recommend this to people interested in learning more about climate change!
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Merged review:
I really enjoyed this book - although I did take a bit longer to read it as it’s packed full of information that I wasn’t aware of and found myself conducting some research of my own. I think it’s a great introduction into the climate issue and raises many relevant points regarding the inaction of humankind (for the most part) towards one of the biggest and potentially most destructive - and potentially avoidable - issues of our time and plaguing our generation and generations to come. What I appreciate about this book is that it sheds the doom and gloom approach and instead encourages an overall optimistic reflection of the factors that play a role in the climate change issue. The author is fairly conversational in his writing and I found he took some heavy topics and wrote concisely and informatively, using personal anecdotes, and remaining positive around how far we’ve come and how capable we are. I would definitely recommend this to people interested in learning more about climate change!
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Merged review:
I really enjoyed this book - although I did take a bit longer to read it as it’s packed full of information that I wasn’t aware of and found myself conducting some research of my own. I think it’s a great introduction into the climate issue and raises many relevant points regarding the inaction of humankind (for the most part) towards one of the biggest and potentially most destructive - and potentially avoidable - issues of our time and plaguing our generation and generations to come. What I appreciate about this book is that it sheds the doom and gloom approach and instead encourages an overall optimistic reflection of the factors that play a role in the climate change issue. The author is fairly conversational in his writing and I found he took some heavy topics and wrote concisely and informatively, using personal anecdotes, and remaining positive around how far we’ve come and how capable we are. I would definitely recommend this to people interested in learning more about climate change!
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 13, 2024
I did not become a climate optimist.
December 7, 2022
Chris Turner, a Calgary lad, has written an inspiring and hopeful book, albeit a bit dry and slow going from time to time. He provides good historical context for the discussion, and he does a great job of shedding the doom and gloom approach and instead encouraging an optimistic reflection of the factors that play a role in climate change.
One major point that made a big impact was Turner's repeated insistence that we've already come so far in terms of how the world sees the climate crisis. Gas companies are planning to achieve their goals of reaching Net Zero by 2050. Electric vehicles will overtake gas vehicles in the near future. Solar power is now the cheapest energy option in many parts of the world. None of this would have been thought possible 20 years ago!
His personal boots-on-the-ground research gives us real examples that prove there is good news out there, and that many countries around the world are actively engaged in working on the changes we need for a better, more sustainable future.
Chris emphasized the importance of the global energy transition, and why it is the most feasible way to address the climate crisis. “It is fundamentally not about agreeing to reduce emissions, but about providing irresistible incentives to accelerate the global energy transition.”
How to Be a Climate Optimist tells you exactly how to do that!
One major point that made a big impact was Turner's repeated insistence that we've already come so far in terms of how the world sees the climate crisis. Gas companies are planning to achieve their goals of reaching Net Zero by 2050. Electric vehicles will overtake gas vehicles in the near future. Solar power is now the cheapest energy option in many parts of the world. None of this would have been thought possible 20 years ago!
His personal boots-on-the-ground research gives us real examples that prove there is good news out there, and that many countries around the world are actively engaged in working on the changes we need for a better, more sustainable future.
Chris emphasized the importance of the global energy transition, and why it is the most feasible way to address the climate crisis. “It is fundamentally not about agreeing to reduce emissions, but about providing irresistible incentives to accelerate the global energy transition.”
How to Be a Climate Optimist tells you exactly how to do that!
October 17, 2022
This was a good read. I appreciate the reframing of the climate crisis from an environmental issue to that of an energy transition that will make the world much better. Turner provides realistic optimism - evidence backed arguments that we are on the right track and we will be able to respond to the challenges of a changing climate - tempered with the sobering reality that there is a lot of work to do and that we may not be able to hold warming to 1.5 degrees.
April 7, 2023
Chalk full of information that everyone should have about the climate crisis. Well worth reading.
June 18, 2024
This book was EXACTLY what I needed after just finishing grad school and preparing to embark on a career in the environmental field. It’s hard not to feel hopeless with emissions still climbing and far-right politicians threatening to undo the seemingly little progress that we’ve made. As such, I appreciated that this book put things in perspective in terms of the impressive pace of change that has already occurred (relative to past energy transitions), as well as the inevitability of the growing renewables market.
I really appreciated the specific examples of achievements (e.g., the sheer number of electric buses China has added to various cities) as well as an exploration of the forces that got us to where we are now. As problematic as capitalism is, I can see how it can spark innovation and provide a testing ground for hundreds of different ideas and technologies in pockets around the globe. I also appreciated the reminder that climate change is a big enough problem without throwing other complex issues into the mix - but I thought that he could have talked a bit more amount how the impacts of climate change will be distributed inequitably and so there IS a moral argument for those who benefited from fossil fuels to compensate those who will suffer most.
In addition, there is a strong moral argument for saving the other species on our planet. Although he talked about this a bit in the context of coral reefs, I would have liked a strong final message on this point - because the future shouldn’t just be better for people but for all species on this planet.
I really appreciated the specific examples of achievements (e.g., the sheer number of electric buses China has added to various cities) as well as an exploration of the forces that got us to where we are now. As problematic as capitalism is, I can see how it can spark innovation and provide a testing ground for hundreds of different ideas and technologies in pockets around the globe. I also appreciated the reminder that climate change is a big enough problem without throwing other complex issues into the mix - but I thought that he could have talked a bit more amount how the impacts of climate change will be distributed inequitably and so there IS a moral argument for those who benefited from fossil fuels to compensate those who will suffer most.
In addition, there is a strong moral argument for saving the other species on our planet. Although he talked about this a bit in the context of coral reefs, I would have liked a strong final message on this point - because the future shouldn’t just be better for people but for all species on this planet.
June 14, 2025
It's giving green party?
I dk. In some ways it helped with the climate dread, in some ways it exasperated it. There was a lot of tesla fanboying, and other times where it just didn't age well due to the failures of the examples mentioned. I don't think these things are the fault of the author, but oof.
I dk. In some ways it helped with the climate dread, in some ways it exasperated it. There was a lot of tesla fanboying, and other times where it just didn't age well due to the failures of the examples mentioned. I don't think these things are the fault of the author, but oof.
January 21, 2025
Super unique book that I would recommend to anyone, but especially if you feel like climate issues can be overwhelming. This book will be responsible for me buying a nice bike when I get home.
September 15, 2023
One of the best books I've read on climate change.
March 20, 2023
Turner describes a utopia where clean-tech CIOs reign supreme. I ask how much different would that world be from one where fossil fuel CIOs reign supreme? We are living in a time where we need stories for hopeful futures, so I was eager to pick this one up, and then disappointed by the time I put it down.
The question I was left with is this. Who would be a climate optimist after reading this example of a love song to Elon Musk and like minded CEOs? I'm not a fan of green washed fairy tales of an energy transition where clean energy CIOs are not required to consider equity as part of the energy transition blueprint.
I would be curious as to whether Turner contemplated the UN Sustainable Development Goals as he undertook his research and writing of the book. Stating that it is not in the jurisdiction of companies making the transition, to incorporate equity into their designs, is problematic. While we can accept that no individual CIO will solve the problem of the world's inequities, hopefully we can get to a place where we expect our business leaders to consider UN sustainable development goals in their business models and blueprints. These types of considerations could come with building Environment Social Governance into business blueprints and I wonder at the logic behind the omission.
To imply business leaders do not have responsibility to consider equity in the design, development, and delivery of clean energy products and services, is problematic. It would be one thing to overlook equity within his text but he goes as far as making an argument against considering equity. Then, he proceeds to call out RCP 8.5 as being unrealistic and then ending the book with a proclamation that 2 degrees of warming would be the worst case scenario. On the latter point, Turner starts to cross the line between painting an optimistic future and spreading disinformation. This is troubling in a world where many are suffering from climate change impacts and needing to spend billions on adaptations.
The bothersome statement: "The Climate Crisis can be fully contained", is seemingly based on the theory that the world could hit Net 0 by 2050. This is either a decided omission of the impact of the rate of locked in warming and the related impacts, or a lack of research.
As Turner wraps up his vision, he causes confusion by implying that 1.5 degrees of warming is not a big deal. He omits any information about what this would mean. For one, the impact of exceeding the tipping point for permafrost thaw, a massive carbon sink. In these pontifications he undermines his credibility.
It's easy to be optimistic if you only look at one side of the equation, mitigation, rather than the fuller picture, including the already felt impacts, and the necessary climate adaptation. I wasn't looking for the pessimism in this story, only for the protopian aspects. Why not paint a more comprehensive picture? Why not include a bit more of the complex reality? Why not provide enough of the full story so that the reader could come away with constructive hope?
Turner ends with a necessary call to action. Unfortunately this reads as an unrealistic utopia for clean-tech CEOs, where no one else seems to matter, so who would answer the call?
The question I was left with is this. Who would be a climate optimist after reading this example of a love song to Elon Musk and like minded CEOs? I'm not a fan of green washed fairy tales of an energy transition where clean energy CIOs are not required to consider equity as part of the energy transition blueprint.
I would be curious as to whether Turner contemplated the UN Sustainable Development Goals as he undertook his research and writing of the book. Stating that it is not in the jurisdiction of companies making the transition, to incorporate equity into their designs, is problematic. While we can accept that no individual CIO will solve the problem of the world's inequities, hopefully we can get to a place where we expect our business leaders to consider UN sustainable development goals in their business models and blueprints. These types of considerations could come with building Environment Social Governance into business blueprints and I wonder at the logic behind the omission.
To imply business leaders do not have responsibility to consider equity in the design, development, and delivery of clean energy products and services, is problematic. It would be one thing to overlook equity within his text but he goes as far as making an argument against considering equity. Then, he proceeds to call out RCP 8.5 as being unrealistic and then ending the book with a proclamation that 2 degrees of warming would be the worst case scenario. On the latter point, Turner starts to cross the line between painting an optimistic future and spreading disinformation. This is troubling in a world where many are suffering from climate change impacts and needing to spend billions on adaptations.
The bothersome statement: "The Climate Crisis can be fully contained", is seemingly based on the theory that the world could hit Net 0 by 2050. This is either a decided omission of the impact of the rate of locked in warming and the related impacts, or a lack of research.
As Turner wraps up his vision, he causes confusion by implying that 1.5 degrees of warming is not a big deal. He omits any information about what this would mean. For one, the impact of exceeding the tipping point for permafrost thaw, a massive carbon sink. In these pontifications he undermines his credibility.
It's easy to be optimistic if you only look at one side of the equation, mitigation, rather than the fuller picture, including the already felt impacts, and the necessary climate adaptation. I wasn't looking for the pessimism in this story, only for the protopian aspects. Why not paint a more comprehensive picture? Why not include a bit more of the complex reality? Why not provide enough of the full story so that the reader could come away with constructive hope?
Turner ends with a necessary call to action. Unfortunately this reads as an unrealistic utopia for clean-tech CEOs, where no one else seems to matter, so who would answer the call?
May 30, 2023
Chris Turner's How to Be a Climate Optimist mostly focuses on Canada, and mostly on BC and Alberta, which is something of a niche within the genre of climate primers. The best, imho, are:
-Bill Gates' How to Avoid a Climate Disaster
-Paul Hawken's Drawdown
-I also like Stewart Brand's Whole Earth Discipline.
Does it matter whether you're an optimist? I guess it does. But, as a general rule, I see your flowchart of green options going something like this:
-Vote against right wing parties--vote strategically to keep them out if necessary. This takes very little effort to do as you're only called on to vote once every few years. So the expected return on ten to twenty minutes of your time is potentially quite high. David Roberts has a nifty primer from his Vox.com days on this, entitled "This one weird trick can help any state or city pass clean energy policy." The one weird trick, for Americans at least, is electing Democrats.
-Fly less, rarely, or not at all.
-When buying a car, buy electric if you can. If not, really commit to efficiency. Walk more or use an eBike to run errands.
-Eat low on the food chain. You don't have to be a level five vegan, though if you are, great. Most North Americans and rich people around the world eat a lot of meat (and a lot of beef). Eat one meal with meat per day or less. Chicken and fish production produces fewer GHGs than beef. Also, eggs.
-I don't know the best climate charity, but I like the Stripe Climate initiative.
-After this, you're committing to more time consuming paths like activism, dedicating your career to developing green policies and technologies, restoring a wetland, getting into local politics to push against NIMBYism or for better transmission in the USA, or building a passive house. Those are all nice things, but I think they take a lot of work relative to putting tofu in a stew rather than a low quality cut of beef.
A final thought. Many of Turner's revelations come from living in other places. I suspect few North Americans realize how bad their public transit is until they've lived in a city like Hong Kong. So if you're going to travel, travel to a place that really will shape you to become a better, or in this case, greener, person.
3.5 stars.
-Bill Gates' How to Avoid a Climate Disaster
-Paul Hawken's Drawdown
-I also like Stewart Brand's Whole Earth Discipline.
Does it matter whether you're an optimist? I guess it does. But, as a general rule, I see your flowchart of green options going something like this:
-Vote against right wing parties--vote strategically to keep them out if necessary. This takes very little effort to do as you're only called on to vote once every few years. So the expected return on ten to twenty minutes of your time is potentially quite high. David Roberts has a nifty primer from his Vox.com days on this, entitled "This one weird trick can help any state or city pass clean energy policy." The one weird trick, for Americans at least, is electing Democrats.
-Fly less, rarely, or not at all.
-When buying a car, buy electric if you can. If not, really commit to efficiency. Walk more or use an eBike to run errands.
-Eat low on the food chain. You don't have to be a level five vegan, though if you are, great. Most North Americans and rich people around the world eat a lot of meat (and a lot of beef). Eat one meal with meat per day or less. Chicken and fish production produces fewer GHGs than beef. Also, eggs.
-I don't know the best climate charity, but I like the Stripe Climate initiative.
-After this, you're committing to more time consuming paths like activism, dedicating your career to developing green policies and technologies, restoring a wetland, getting into local politics to push against NIMBYism or for better transmission in the USA, or building a passive house. Those are all nice things, but I think they take a lot of work relative to putting tofu in a stew rather than a low quality cut of beef.
A final thought. Many of Turner's revelations come from living in other places. I suspect few North Americans realize how bad their public transit is until they've lived in a city like Hong Kong. So if you're going to travel, travel to a place that really will shape you to become a better, or in this case, greener, person.
3.5 stars.
July 3, 2023
For those who have not been following scientific or technical developments over the years and, thus, do not realize that there has been a great deal of progress I think that this book is helpful. There is room for optimism. Climate scientists do not believe that the world is going to end or that we face extinction. Turner illustrates how far the world has come with respect to finding alternate ways to power our societies.
I believe he is quite correct that what is lacking now is political will. He talks a great deal about wind and solar which have gone from science fiction 20 years ago to becoming mature low cost sources of electricity. His point is that much progress has already been made and that we can extrapolate this success into more success in the future. He posits that it is inevitable that we will succeed and that the climate crisis will be managed.
He is quite right in reporting that the so-called worst case scenario: an RCP of 8.5, is not going to happen. This was what was described as "business as usual" 25 years ago. This was based on the assumption that nothing would change and we would continue to expand our consumption of fossil fuels. In 2023 most climate scientists think that our trajectory is better described by an RCT of 3.4 which is much less bad than the 8.5 scenario.
Nowhere does he say that very bad things won't happen but this book was not written to remind everyone of the dreadful things that will befall us. Instead he wants us to take heart and not give up because much progress has been made and this "trend" of progress will continue.
To be clear he is stating that much or most of the technology we need to "solve" the climate problem already exists and has been deployed in a number of real world settings.
I believe he is quite correct that what is lacking now is political will. He talks a great deal about wind and solar which have gone from science fiction 20 years ago to becoming mature low cost sources of electricity. His point is that much progress has already been made and that we can extrapolate this success into more success in the future. He posits that it is inevitable that we will succeed and that the climate crisis will be managed.
He is quite right in reporting that the so-called worst case scenario: an RCP of 8.5, is not going to happen. This was what was described as "business as usual" 25 years ago. This was based on the assumption that nothing would change and we would continue to expand our consumption of fossil fuels. In 2023 most climate scientists think that our trajectory is better described by an RCT of 3.4 which is much less bad than the 8.5 scenario.
Nowhere does he say that very bad things won't happen but this book was not written to remind everyone of the dreadful things that will befall us. Instead he wants us to take heart and not give up because much progress has been made and this "trend" of progress will continue.
To be clear he is stating that much or most of the technology we need to "solve" the climate problem already exists and has been deployed in a number of real world settings.
July 29, 2024
An okay book. While it does its best to persuade the reader of all the things going right in the world, focused mostly on green energy (wind, solar) and electric vehicles and many European countries that are leading the path in going 100% renewable, as well as a chapter on all the potential sci-fi-esque future developments on carbon capture and clean steel production, I found this book lacking. It felt more like a bunch of cherry-picked anecdotes from very specific European countries that Turner wanted to extrapolate across the whole world. It also felt blindly optimistic, without deeper analysis into how holistically this was going to make a difference, or the data required to make huge assumptions on the future of climate change being lower than 2.2 degrees. I would have appreciated just a bit more hard facts and numbers rather than generalizations based off anecdotes.
It also felt lacking in the topics it covered. It was a highly repetitive book. There were insights such as how climate change needs to navigate around the existing politics, create new clean industries without attacking older oil & gas industries, how we're building a better future and not just sacrificing our existing one. But it didn't cover anything to do with biodiversity, rising sea levels and how this would affect the poorest countries, nuclear energy, the water crisis, how air travel could be made green given all the limitations, etc. It seemed very one-dimensional on just things Turner was familiar with. He definitely confirms there are lots of "moonshot" initiatives needed but doesn't cover the repercussions of how improbable they are.
It also felt lacking in the topics it covered. It was a highly repetitive book. There were insights such as how climate change needs to navigate around the existing politics, create new clean industries without attacking older oil & gas industries, how we're building a better future and not just sacrificing our existing one. But it didn't cover anything to do with biodiversity, rising sea levels and how this would affect the poorest countries, nuclear energy, the water crisis, how air travel could be made green given all the limitations, etc. It seemed very one-dimensional on just things Turner was familiar with. He definitely confirms there are lots of "moonshot" initiatives needed but doesn't cover the repercussions of how improbable they are.
October 30, 2025
I wouldn't say it does its job. I am not sure Turner knows his audience: a climate pessimist would normally lean left, but the book seems to be catered to center or even right, like something you would like your old-school parents to read and convince them of climate change. Problem is, they don't need to feel "optimistic", and anyone who feels the opposite won't change their minds with this book, unfortunately. The main issue lies, really, with the book's "clever" avoidance of the real problem: capitalism, and the corporations, states and billionaires that will do whatever they can to keep the status quo.
January 13, 2024
Sometimes you just need to fill your head with a more positive perspective to keep yourself from screaming into the void. That's what listening to this book was for me. Did I fully agree with or understand all of his points? No. Did I appreciate that someone who is much more versed in climate science took the time to write a book highlighting the possibilities for a better world that is not one devoid of life after climate disaster? Yes.
4/5
4/5
July 15, 2024
I’ve had two sips of matcha and I’m feeling chatty:
I’d give this book a 3.2, HOWEVER I think the message and content are important - it was the delivery that had me yawning. I would have liked to see more of a narrative and reflections to drive the examples he provides, rather than a laundry list of technologies, implementation, and effective policy. They are cool to learn about, but it was mildly exhausting to stay focused while reading.
I’d give this book a 3.2, HOWEVER I think the message and content are important - it was the delivery that had me yawning. I would have liked to see more of a narrative and reflections to drive the examples he provides, rather than a laundry list of technologies, implementation, and effective policy. They are cool to learn about, but it was mildly exhausting to stay focused while reading.
July 27, 2025
Turner is not engaging in Pollyanna mode here but starts off by proposing a few ways to reframe aspects of climate discussion and jarring us collectively out of modes of thought and predispositions that undermine the conversation, not to mention our will. The altered perspective and the promise of projects and approaches that are work do align with his theme of optimism but he is realistic as well about the challenge, the obstacles and the ways to keep the climate goalposts in sight.
October 6, 2025
It would be interesting to see an addendum to the book with the impact of the US essentially flushing climate change out the window as a policy.
However, with that being out of the way the book shows how there is a lot of work being done in the world on climate change. The one consideration that is not discussed a lot is why this is not being talked about widely. This was a very good read and I appreciated the style that the book was written in.
However, with that being out of the way the book shows how there is a lot of work being done in the world on climate change. The one consideration that is not discussed a lot is why this is not being talked about widely. This was a very good read and I appreciated the style that the book was written in.
June 20, 2022
Well, I read this and realized I've had some form of climate grief for the past 5-10 years but I wasn't reading or seeing the trends of positive change. Then, unread about the concept of "Dark Euphoria" in this book and was all-in. I highly recommend this for anyone looking for some climate hope (and with an interesting perspective from a writer who lives in Calgary, Alberta)
August 31, 2022
To be honest, I do not feel exceptionally optimistic after listening to this book. I understand the perspective that the author is trying to convey and it is backed by solid evidence. However, the interpretation of the current affairs and examples can be dependent on so many factors.
I will still recommend a read though.
I will still recommend a read though.
October 15, 2023
There's parts of it that are unrealistic in my opinion, but the book is about being optimistic and I admire that greatly. On top of that, this is a climate book that was written by someone in Calgary, that focuses on advancements and companys in Calgary and Canada, and approaches the energy crisis in a way that is ultimately very exciting. I couldn't help but enjoy it, and be motivated by it.
October 22, 2023
Thought provoking
Lot of progress being made worldwide
Consumer demand drives everything
Subsidies to oil producers need to be reduced and increased to green energy
Sadly oil rules the world
Marketing and politics are not discussed enough A separate book perhaps
Lot of progress being made worldwide
Consumer demand drives everything
Subsidies to oil producers need to be reduced and increased to green energy
Sadly oil rules the world
Marketing and politics are not discussed enough A separate book perhaps
April 18, 2024
It’s very hard to write about triumphs and the future direction of climate change with an emphasis on public policy while remaining bipartisan but Chris Turner was able to do a compelling job. Maybe there is hope 😅 ?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews