Climate Optimism: Climate Wins and Creating Systemic Change Around the World

by Zahra Biabani

A Guide on Climate Optimism and Environmental Sustainability

Zahra Biabini, a climate activist with a creative twist, created this guide to help readers learn how to stay optimistic in the face of the climate crisis. Doing good things can make a change to developing environmental sustainability!

Change the way you think about the future. The fate of humanity can be daunting, but we don’t need to live in that space. First, we need to change our attitude in order to implement nature based solutions to deal with climate change. Good news: there are environmental trends and examples to change the way you think about how we can protect the planet.

Climate Optimism incorporates five stories of communities across a variety of countries in the Global South who are working on inspiring climate solutions. Zahra Biabani will be travelling to Kenya, Ecuador, Papua New Guinea, and Nepal to document community-led efforts and reflect on the potential for climate action that is found all over the world, often in places that have not gotten the attention that they deserve.

Get to know Zahra Biabani, a climate activist, influencer, CEO, and writer. Zahra’s content focuses on climate hope, optimism, humor, and doing good things. After unexpectedly establishing a career as an online sustainability educator and influencer her junior year at Vanderbilt University, Zahra decided to jump head first into the waters of entrepreneurship and authorship. Climate Optimism is her way to spread hope in the world.

Inside, you’ll find:

Real stories on environmental sustainability in other countries that are working
A mix of unique solutions and practical advice on how to face the climate change
Good news on how to change the way you think and feel about the climate crisis

This book will:
- persuade people of the need for climate optimism in order to enact meaningful and systemic change
- show people the inspiring things going on around the world that give us hope for the current and future state of our planet
- provide tangible action items that readers can engage in to continue their journey to sustainable climate activism.

If you're looking for a sustainable living book or books for activists centered on environmentalism like A Field Guide to Climate Anxiety, The Intersectional Environmentalist, or Sustainable Badass, you’ll love Climate Optimism.

Genres: Nonfiction, Environment, Nature, Sustainability, Climate Change, Education, Audiobook

256 pages, Paperback

First published April 11, 2023

About the author

Zahra Biabani is a climate activist, influencer, CEO, and writer. Her content focuses on climate hope, optimism, humor, and action items. After unexpectedly establishing a career as an online sustainability educator and influencer her junior year at Vanderbilt University, Zahra decided to jump head first into the waters of entrepreneurship and authorship.

Her startup, In the Loop, is the first rental clothing company for vetted sustainable and ethical fashion brands.

Her upcoming book signed by Mango Publishing, Climate Optimism: Climate Wins and Creating Systemic Change Around the World , unpacks the cognitive biases that make optimism difficult to cultivate along with the encouraging environmental trends of the last decade and examples of communities in the Global South pioneering unique solutions to the climate crisis.

Reviews

[Dóra Tóth-Piukovics · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can respect a book that doesn’t try to be everything all at once. This will not be your deep dive into climate action, but Zahra beautifully captures so many good things that have been achieved by green movements, and gives real encouragement to stay hopeful, take responsibility, get into climate activism, and press on.

[Sasha Fuson · Rating 4 out of 5]

randomly picked this up at our little communal library at work and it was actually so lovely! i especially loved the first part where she talks about different factors that make it easier to fall into negativity/doom and gloom, how these are natural reactions (i’ve thought it was more of a personal problem), how we can change these ways of thinking, and why optimism is so important when one wants to make an impact. love that she shouted out other younger, smaller climate activists and their work in addition to global wins in the courts/markets. inspiring and heartwarming 🤗

[Rachel Snyder Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

More like 3.5 stars, but I rounded up!

This was a lovely and encouraging book. That said, I feel like the age of the author lends it to a particular audience (younger, a bit more naive, climate-anxious). But I honestly enjoyed reading how far we truly have come in my lifetime in terms of climate mitigation, even as we face the emergencies all around us.

This was a welcome breath of fresh air that focused on wins from the bipartisan support for climate actions in red and blue states to various legal and market wins for the earth. She also digs into the Muskogee Creek Nation’s win in the Supreme Court that restored land to its original owners. Did you know that Indigenous people make up only 5% of the world’s population but they steward close to 85% of the world’s biodiversity? So win for the Muskogee Creek Nation and the environment! And she speaks to the shifts in environmental justice that look at the disparate effects of pollution on people and the places they live, work, and play, especially in the ways cities and interstates are built to preclude people of color from establishing generational wealth. And she talked about Justice40 initiative policy and effects so far, which is a large part of my job!

Biabani also looks further afield to climate changes throughout the globe, which I found particularly interesting, from an initiative in South Africa to educate children, but especially girls about their role in the future of our planet in public schools (which are majority-Black and make) to a program in Pakistan called Economies of Peace that saw need on the borderlands, where farmers were seeing the worst effects of climate change on their livelihoods and high rates of radicalism. They have built an organization that teaches resilient farming methods and deescalation techniques, so that this land can prosper again in more ways than one.

Overall, the writing wasn’t the most compelling, but the content kept me going. It’s not an in-depth read, and therefore only gets at a cursory understanding of issues, but it is a great introduction for someone who may be unsure or overwhelmed by doom and gloom. I deeply respect Zahra Biabani and the work she has done to empower the next generation of creation caretakers from a lens of optimism of what could be. May it be so.

[Puty]

If you're a fan of Hans Rosling's 'Factfulness' or... you know, just optimism in general, you'll like this book. This book talks about how 'climate issue' is more often portrayed as 'doomsday is coming and there's nothing we can do' and that kind of mindset is not even better that climate change deniers'. After introduction about optimism, this book shared examples of the small wins and the big wins (leading to systemic change), showing that the needle is moving. Enjoyable and pretty insightful for a climate 'beginner' like me 😁

[Tory · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy read and a good starting point for people feeling overwhelmed by the climate crisis and are looking to get involved in environmental action.

[Eddie L-VD · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good short read/listen to learn more and try to stay positive. Maybe a little try-hard at times? Annoyingly there's just a large list of loosely related positive things - thats cool and everything but I think explaining them and giving us narrative -like in the last section- would do better.

[Cara (Wilde Book Garden) · Rating 5 out of 5]

So so necessary and important. I'm glad I have a physical copy to refer back to for lots of the specifics - statistics, encouraging trends, and ways to get involved.

Narrator: Jeed Saddy

[The Gay Optimist (Chris- He/Him) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first 6 chapters run in circles a bit, but the rest of the book is great. Overall, it’s a good read but not a must read.

[Remy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book more than I thought I would! Highlights include the chapter about climate litigation and the tidbits where Biabani alluded to the importance of indigenous rights and sovereignty to the fight against climate change.

Maybe it doesn't have a place in a book with the purpose of trying to get more people mobilized in the movement. But I wish the author provided a disclaimer at some point that the process of degrowth and regulating the damage we've done to the planet will require a few (if not many) unglamorous sacrifices on the part of the average 'first worlder.' While corporations and governments take the lion's share of responsibility for what's happening, it's not just them who will have to sacrifice some of what they have for a more sustainable world. Convincing most citizens of the first world to be prepared to give up some of the not-so-eco-friendly conveniences and luxuries they've become accustomed to is going to be an uphill battle that I felt deserved some mention in this book as well.

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was exactly what I needed in the midst of a full on existential and global crisis.
Even in the last few months since this book was published, it feels like so much has changed... but also hasn't. Just because more people's eyes are opening doesn't mean that any of our current events are new, and this book helps to prove that folks have been noticing and reacting and attempting to enforce change.
Despite the world seeming like it's crumbling around us and the feeling that we're all doomed, we can't let nihilism get the best of us. This book helped me to refresh my mindset and focus on what positive change is happening in the world.
It's so easy to assume the world is out to get us and we have no hope, but this book is a great reminder that there's always hope to be had and the earth will always be worth saving.

[Riley Pennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely, uplifting story on the current good being done in the sustainable world. Caring about the environment can be so bogged down by negativity and despair, so a book focusing on the steps that are making a difference was greatly encouraging!

[Behrooz Parhami · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the unabridged 5-hour audio version of this title (read by Jeed Saddy, Tantor Audio, 2023).

With regard to achieving results, there is no difference between climate denialism ("no action needed") and climate super-pessimism ("nothing can be done"). Unfettered optimism is also dangerous, because it creates a false sense of security.

In recent years, a new style of climate optimism has entered the scene, which advocates celebrating advances in understanding the problems, signing of international pacts, and emerging technologies for dealing with various challenges. Phenomenal advances in renewable-energy generation are also sources for optimism. We should build on these successes, rather than complain about politics-driven denialism in the US, noncompliance of treaty partners, and the slow pace of shifting to renewable energy sources.

I have previously read and reviewed Not Too Late: Changing the Climate Story from Despair to Possibility, in which Rebecca Solnit and Thelma Young Lutunatabua present diverse voices from the worldwide climate movement advising us to do our share by setting aside fear and despair.

My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

According to Biabani, a young climate activist, there are good reasons for climate optimism. Changing attitudes among people and, thus, politicians who represent them tops the list. Despite political rhetoric, which sometimes takes the form of ridiculing climate change, US Red states have embraced the use of renewable energy just as much as Blue states. Court cases increasingly end in favor of those advocating climate action and against polluters & deniers. Attitudes of businesses are also changing, as they realize that climate action is good for the economy and, in many cases, for their bottom lines.

While it is true that avoiding the use of plastic straws or single-use shopping bags will not solve the climate problem, every little bit helps. In particular, the awareness exhibited by consumers and the small steps they take help nurture the spirit of optimism, generating the will to become a part of more-significant local, national, and global efforts. Actions by local governments and indigenous populations continue to provide templates for broad-based programs.

[Ditta Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

“I am writing to you because I believe that our nihilism toward environmental progress is one of the greatest threats to the planet herself.”

Informative and pretty quick read about a very important topic: the climate crisis.

Refreshingly, it makes the argument on the importance of maintaining optimism in the face of this crisis.

It highlights ‘climate optimism’ as a framework based on the idea that we can restore the earth back to health, and in doing so protect the people that inhabit this planet. A way of thinking I wasn’t familiar with before reading this book, but a way of thinking that now allows me to have more hope.

The book gives a broad narrative summary of geopolitics, social inequity, psychology, and big forces (like capitalism) and climate change. And climate change activism or inaction. And I found this a very intriguing part of the book.

The writing style is quite direct and (most of the time) easy to follow - not making it too difficult to read. However, some sections have a lot of sum ups (specifically the part about ‘earth wins’) and I found this part difficult to read as it doesn’t have the flow of the rest of the book. I don’t know exactly what - but in the end I felt like something was missing in the book to make it feel more polished and finished.

Overall I rate this book 3 / 5 stars. I recommend reading it as it did convince me of the case for ‘climate optimism’ and persistent advocacy for the climate. Not all hope is lost.

[Climate Words · Rating 5 out of 5]

For those who feel overwhelmed by the difficult reality of the climate crisis, Biabani has created a straightforward, evidence-based guide to becoming a climate optimist. Broken into three sections—the barriers to climate optimism, recent climate wins in the streets, the courts, and the markets, and five case studies of community climate action in the Global South—Climate Optimism is thoroughly researched with definitions, questions and action-based prompts for readers.

Biabani surveys an incredibly spectrum view of climate wins, from court cases advocating for the rights of nature and landback policies to green technology and market-based solutions like ecosystem valuation. Her argument is clear—climate optimism is possible through climate action on local and systemic scales. The book closes with tools to help readers discover what their role in the climate crisis is, and in doing so sustain and spread climate optimism. A great read for students, teachers, and those navigating anxiety and hope in their climate action journey.

[Claire · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read for the "Environmental" square on my SPL Summer Book Bingo card, but I almost DNFed. The book was kind of boring - a lot of lists and a lot of brief, surface-level descriptions of good things happening in the world. However, I bought the book because I thought it would be going into more detail on fewer impactful global climate initiatives. The things that really got my goat though were the factual inaccuracies. Most were small ones (e.g., calling Tasmania a country), but some were more egregious imo (e.g., messing up the name of one of the featured nonprofits in the final section of the book). I needed to remind myself that the author, Zahra Biabani, is very young, and I think that can explain a lot of the problems I had with the book. She has writing skills, so I hope that maybe her next book will be more engaging.

[Fitri]

While I love the idea of fueling our action with hope and optimism, and agree that negativity tend to get us stuck and not moving, I can't really resonate with the positivity inside the book (and this might be just me-problem).

In the first part of the book, the author talk in great details about why we need to approach climate issue optimistically now more than ever. There are also some practical tips on how to fight information overload, disinformation and misinformation, and stepping out of the echo chamber.

This book gave enough reference on successful climate actions and hopeful projects, some of them not from the western countries. If you're looking for details about how climate change actually affecting human and the earth, this book is not for you. But if you're looking for inspiration on how to do climate actions, you might find this book helpful.

[Sav’s Lit Endeavors]

Y’all. If you care about the environment, but need some optimistic climate news to help motivate you and your community to make climate progress, look no further than right here!

This book was so well-written, easy to digest, and super interesting! I learned new things and felt uplifted by the things folks are doing in every corner of the world to combat climate change.

The book also prompted me to look further into some of the projects and cases mentioned, like:
• Manoomin et al. vs. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources et al.
• Ramirez vs. Texas
• The 17 Principles of Environmental Justice
• Climate communication influence (🤓)

10/10 recommend picking this book up!

[Soren Putney · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I were teaching climate change 101, this would be at the front of the syllabus. This book is, by design, lopsided in it's optimistic perspective, but that is what makes it so worthy of praise. Progress on climate change isn't recognized nearly as much as climate setbacks, and dwelling on the bad news leads to anxiety paralysis and climate nihilism, which further exacerbates the problems we face. Reading the success stories in this book felt empowering, and motivating without pulling punches on the urgency of climate change. "Though our window to act is narrowing, our portal of opportunities is expanding."

[Maurice K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Climate Optimism is an amazing and astonishing read that delves into the ways in which, despite the reality of the climate crisis, we can come together to bring great change to the world around us. Climate Optimism is truly an inspiring read that looks into the ways we can sow the seeds of optimism, hope and change into our beautiful world for, as Zahra beautifully puts it, “Hope is one of the few renewable resources that we have”.
-Maurice K. Cowan, BSc

[Layla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zahra shares a unique and refreshing perspective on the climate crisis that is rarely seen in today's media. Her book provides the encouragement and hope that is necessary to fuel current and future climate activists in continuing to advocate for the environment. Climate Optimism certainly succeeds in leaving you feeling optimistic about climate change and excited to make the world a better place.

[Carolina Campoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great resource for those who feel incredibly anxious about climate change. Others might suggest is not enough and that whatever has been done to help the environment is little but I found this book inspiring. A must read, hopefully there are more editions with newer news about the environment.

[Dylan McEttrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the premise of covering positive momentum in the climate change crisis - much more enjoyable to read than most climate books, which leave me feeling hopeless. That said, this is more of a collection of lists than a book. For that reason, the writing style annoyed me and knocked this down to a two star (aka 'fair') grade.

[Cole Fitter · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a young person myself having just recently chosen to pursue hope over despair, thus book came at a perfect time in my life. From court cases to protests, Zahra lists over 100 good things that have happened in the climate fight over the last decade and reminds you not to forget all the progress we've already made. A must-read alongside the science.

[Mariela Martinez · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book since it discusses climate change policy and impacts we’ve made but it read too much like a personal self help book. At times the long laundry list of policies was hard to follow. I wish this was written as a story rather than a report.

[Brenna DeGraff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve been pretty pessimistic on climate crisis the last few years. Some of the content in this book helped me recalibrate. I’ll be following Biabani online to take in more optimistic news more regularly.

[phylicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

read this to write a final paper :skull: i can see biabani's intent to boost readers' morale but lwk at the end of the day we're still kinda cooked for climate change bc most people would not go out of their way to desire change!!!! we love capitalism, consumerism, economic greed, etc etc /j

[Poison Ivy 🌵 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute book that chronicles some “Earth Wins” and gives readers a little hope for the future, as well as ways to counter eco-anxiety and get involved in eco-movements. Gives credit to both sides of the political spectrum for trying to save our planet.

[Danny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't wait for this one. I absolutely love books about the climate crisis.

[Lorren Ruscetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very important book! It’s written by a young person and you can tell by the writing, but I think it adds to the digestibility and also diversifies voices in the climate change lit field.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jolt of inspiration and positivity for these dire times, from such a young and bright person! Loved it/highly recommend for when you might forget why we're in this movement.