Down to the Wire: Confronting Climate Collapse

by David W. Orr

"The real fault line in American politics is not between liberals and conservatives.... It is, rather, in how we orient ourselves to the generations to come who will bear the consequences, for better and for worse, of our actions."

So writes David Orr in Down to the Wire , a sober and eloquent assessment of climate destabilization and an urgent call to action. Orr describes how political negligence, an economy based on the insatiable consumption of trivial goods, and a disdain for the well-being of future generations have
brought us to the tipping point that biologist Edward O. Wilson calls "the bottleneck." Due to our refusal to live within natural limits, we now face a long emergency of rising temperatures, rising sea-levels, and a host of other related problems that will increasingly undermine human civilization.
Climate destabilization to which we are already committed will change everything, and to those betting on quick technological fixes or minor adjustments to the way we live now, Down to the Wire is a major wake-up call. But this is not a doomsday book. Orr offers a wide range of pragmatic,
far-reaching proposals--some of which have already been adopted by the Obama administration--for how we might reconnect public policy with rigorous science, bring our economy into alignment with ecological realities, and begin to regard ourselves as planetary trustees for future generations. He
offers inspiring real-life examples of people already responding to the major threat to our future.

An exacting analysis of where we are in terms of climate change, how we got here, and what we must now do, Down to the Wire is essential reading for those wanting to join in the Great Work of our generation.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Ecology, Climate Change, Politics, Environment

288 pages, Hardcover

First published August 18, 2009

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're new to the world of climate change, David Orr's Down to the Wire is a nice, well-written introduction, with more of a philosophical bent than other writers (e.g. Bill McKibben). But if you're looking for a little more meat, some actionable next steps that the average citizen, organization, or local government can do to help, even in a small way, I would look elsewhere.

David Orr generally believes that only a sober, science-based, and depressing presentation of the facts is the honest and best way to communicate climate change to the public. While I can appreciate that, the science also tells us that this doesn't work in getting people activated. Orr does sound optimistic at times, and hopeful at others, yet you walk away from this book thinking we're largely screwed. And while that might be true, sometimes delusional thinking is the best recipe for success.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

In writing Down to the Wire, Orr has produced not only one of the best books on the social issues related to the long emergency of climate deterioration confronting our generation but also an impassioned call to action filled with well-reasoned and specific steps we need to take if we and our children are to survive the century. I am impressed by the writing skills of the author (a rare quality in writers in this field) and by his well-structured arguments. He has identified the necessity of a major metanoia on the part of the world's ever-growing population which will enable us to engage in a meaningful program to prevent further damage to the climate, mitigate the fallout from the damage we have already caused, and adapt as well as possible to a world that will never again be the same (at least in the human scale of time). The author does a wonderful job of explaining the realities of the crisis in which we find ourselves, but he urges us not to despair but to hope realistically and to look ahead to a time when generations far in the future will praise us for undertaking the Great Work that lies before us and for bringing humans and as much of the living world as possible through the dreadful bottleneck to come.

[Michael Beaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I posted in Facebook.


Am reading David Orr Down to the Wire. There is no better inquiry and explanation of the Climate Change Crisis. Far more than just another catalog of the ill's and problems D.Orr adduces causes and effects not in a classically "linear" way, but with the complex "systems thinking" that this issue needs to be grappled with. There is no fluff in this book. Neither are there overwrought histrionics. Just clear thinking, and unique ways of parsing and understanding this monolithic fearsome thing : Climate Change.

Accessible, as well as solid in the thinking and the presentation of the issues, it also has the rare quality of being written in an interesting way. Poetry in Prose.

[Fred Dameron · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about consumption. Man 's consumption of raw materials in an unsustainable manner. What's interesting is that the disease consumption, AKA tuberculosis, was a slow death for those afflicted until modern antibiotics. Mankind's addiction to more and more stuff is also a slow death for the planet. Modern day tuberculosis has now developed resistant strains that once again leave the victim with a slow wasting death. I digress.

The first 120 pages are a great breakdown of how the political system, corrupted by corporate money and K St. influence peddlers, has allowed climate science to be degraded and obscured for short term profits. Orr offers solutions, corporations aren't people and have no rights, publicly funded elections with NO corporate money at all, fix the education system by putting critical thinking back into public education and, demand that the FCC enforce the lack of balance that pollutes our airwaves as required by law establishing the FCC. By putting critical thinking back into schools the public would actually be trained to see the politicians lies and half truths. Most educated people today believe because they do not have the critical thinking skill sets required to cut through the lies that are being hoisted on us by politicians and corporations. This goes hand I n hand with the FCC forcing balance on the airwaves. The law establishing the FCC requires those who use the airwaves to present balanced points of view during there broadcasts. Balance does not mean Rush, Fox News, etc bring on Bill Nye and then ambush him. Balance means a discussion that meets the standard of H.S. Debate competitions. Not a yelling match with Nye not getting a word in edge wise. These new yelling matches have replaced thoughtful discussion today thanks to Fox and the rest of the Rt wing yellers. This discussion is required by law and is why PBS is on the air. AS I said the First 120 pages go into more depth on what is wrong and ways to fix it.

The last 20 pages also look at ways to fix the problems with our discussion today. How we, reasonable people, need to take back the public commons of debate and demand thoughtful discussion, real facts, and common courtesy by those taking part in the discussion or debate. Again we need to educate, talk and listen to each other.

The pages in between get tedious. If you read this volume they can be skimmed with out lousing very much of Orr's argument and talking points. If you want to know how the GOP led by Karl Rove and the Bush 43 hijacked the climate debate in favor of corporate tax's getting lowered and fighting wars in Iraq. Read this one, you will be mad afterward but you will be better informed.

[Daniel Tavelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little heavy on citations, felt like a textbook at times. Interesting points on rethinking economy obsessed with growth and a lot of good stuff on leadership and political will on climate. Makes it clear hard problem is fundamental societal change and restructuring of government and economy vs simply swapping in more solar panels for coal.

[H (trying to keep up with GR friends) Balikov · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good book that has been superceded by time and events. Much of the focus is now on amplifying events. The best evidence is that the climate is now starting to be driven by amplifying feedbacks, most notably:
• The defrosting of the permafrost
• The drying of the Northern peatlands (bogs, moors, and mires).
• The destruction of the tropical wetlands
• Decelerating growth in tropical forest trees — thanks to accelerating carbon dioxide
• Scientists: “There are multiple, consistent lines of evidence from ground-based studies published in the peer-reviewed literature that Amazon forests are, indeed, very susceptible to drought stress.”
• Wildfires and Climate-Driven forest destruction by pests
• The desertification-global warming feedback
Using the first “fully interactive climate system model” applied to study permafrost, the researchers found that if we tried to stabilize CO2 concentrations in the air at 550 ppm, permafrost would plummet from over 4 million square miles today to 1.5 million. If concentrations hit 690 ppm, permafrost would shrink to just 800,000 square miles. Scary stuff but not as scary as some of the modeling that is based on new data.

[David Orellana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un libro que entrega una cruda mirada sobre el cambio climático, o como lo llama el autor "desestabilización climática". David Orr nos muestra que el calentamiento global es solo un síntoma de lo mal que estamos llevando la vida como sociedad, basado en un consumismo desmesurado, una explotación irracional de los recursos naturales y una vida a expensas de lo que él llama "Energía barata" que descansa en el petroleo, el carbón y la energía nuclear.
Sin más, muestra una mirada crítica a la falta de líderes en el mundo que sean capaces a poner en la palestra la importancia de transformarnos a una sociedad resiliente, austera y respetuosa con la naturaleza en pro de las futuras generaciones.

[Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic and lucid. Doesn't shrink from the ugliness of likely scenarios, yet remains hopeful (with an interesting delineation made between "optimism" and "hope"). Asserts the necessity of political action, but also addresses ethics and spirituality, capitalism, and democracy. Left it out on the counter at home in hopes that someone would pick it up and at least glance at my marginalia; not sure anyone did, but even if this book ends up only preaching to the choir, it'll be a moralizing and invigorating sermon, not a fruitless effort.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must-read for anyone who cares (or worries) about our future and those who seek a) a clear-eyed history of where we are and how we got here, and b) inspiration to fuel the work ahead. Orr spares nothing yet he comes out cautiously optimistic that humanity (and especially our political structures) will rise to the great challenges ahead. Chapter 5 is luminous.

[Hal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of good information, and some chapters absolutely engaging. Other chapters full of redundant commentary. Better editing would have helped. At times, the author instills hopelessness, other times he is not so dire, although with the recent conservative mid-term elections, his worst predictions sound like they are the most likely to happen. Still, it was definitely worth reading.

[Mark · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't take using Lincoln and Roosevelt as examples of what the country needs. When you are painting your picture of the mountains, you might want to look out the window now and then for a check on reality.

Some good ideas though.

[Faye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oberlin College professor David Orr writes about the present and potential future of climate destabilization and its impact on human society ... I recommend this book, sobering but hopeful.

[T Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Climate destabilization is already happening from the past century of burning fossil fuels.

[Karen Fried · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disturbing

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look at climate change as a result of the human psyche and consumer driven economy.

[Curt · Rating 5 out of 5]

scary and motivational

[Becca Thun · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was written well but I was forced to read this for school so of course I hated it.