In this powerful book, a renowned environmental leader warns that despite all the international negotiations of the past two decades, efforts to protect Earth’s environment are not succeeding. He explains why this is so and presents eight specific steps that governments and citizens can take to achieve a sustainable future. For this new paperback edition the author has added an Afterword that brings the narrative up to date.
Red Sky at Morning
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
In this timely book, Speth, dean of the Yale University School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, sounds the alarm on the seriousness of the global environmental crisis. Although he contends that it is not too late to avert disaster, he stresses that we are running out of time and that we can't afford to let current trends continue. He acknowledges that there have been a few hopeful developments, such as the ban on ozone-depleting chemicals around the world, but overall, he argues that little has been accomplished by a plethora of international conferences, negotiations, action plans and treaties. The failure, for which he says the U.S. must take much of the blame, stems from a focus on the symptoms rather than on the underlying causes of environmental degradation, such as population size, affluence and technology. He underscores the necessity of achieving sustainability-living off nature's income rather than consuming its capital-and lists eight transitions that are necessary to redefine and redirect growth on a global level. Speth, co-founder of the Natural Resources Defense Council, founder of the World Resources Institute and an adviser on environmental issues for presidents Carter and Clinton, is well qualified to present a wake-up call on the environment in this thorough and reasoned book. Unfortunately, his somewhat dry recital of the facts may put off some potential readers-that is, today's youth. In a final and particularly useful chapter, he lists organizations and Web-based resources.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Booklist
*Starred Review* To be effective, call-to-action books about environmental issues must strive for balance. They must sound the alarm, Silent Spring-style, loudly enough to get readers motivated (i.e., frightened); but, on the other hand, they must remain optimistic enough to prevent feelings of futility from morphing into lethargy, no easy task when the environmental damage is immense and its scale global. It also helps to include specific suggestions for action. This book meets all of those challenges beautifully. Although the environmental movement, since the 1960s, has raised much consciousness and cleaned up much pollution, its methods fail against gigantic problems we cannot see until it is too late, like global warming. Nor, says Speth, will our current hodgepodge of treaties and international protocols even come close to preventing some truly horrible things in the near future, like the complete disappearance of maple trees from the Northeast.With concise statistics, bulleted lists, and the calm professionalism of an oncologist, the author is sympathetic to our civilization's economic needs but firm in prescribing some pretty serious lifestyle changes. Brendan Driscoll
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
36 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
You may wonder what jazz could possibly have to do with "The Global Crisis of the Environment"! Speth introduces a new term, "JAZZ", to explain one of three possible scenarios for environmental governance frameworks. The concept, developed by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, describes an approach to solving global environmental challenges. Like musical jazz, it uses a multitude of diverse and "unscripted" initiatives, based on creativity, flexibility and involving a wide range of players. The good news, Speth insists, is that, increasingly, JAZZ is being played around the world - decentralized and voluntary. Activities are being driven by environmental and consumer and other citizens' groups, supported or at least "facilitated" by governments. Businesses, recognizing advantages in these developments, now participate in growing numbers and developing new partnerships. Expanding and multiplying JAZZ is one of the promising trends that can move us towards an "environmental revolution". Nothing short of it, Speth is convinced, will save our planet.
In recent years, scientists, environmentalists and policy makers have learned that, solving the problems of the planet in a sustainable way requires an integrated - "ecosystem" - approach. Results have been slow and efforts must dramatically accelerate. Steps to reduce our ecological human footprint have to be augmented by the adoption of "ecological economics". A long term goal will see the economy serve primarily the advancement of human development and environmental sustainability. It will no longer remain an end in itself. New "compacts" with all sectors of society and the governments in the North and in the South will be struck.
Speth does not come to his somewhat optimistic outlook lightly and he remains cautious as to its success. Based on decades of experience in the environmental field, both in the US and as part of the UN system, he submits one of the most comprehensive analyses of the environmental challenges and dangers one can find today. Filled with facts, figures, and carefully sourced, he paints a devastating picture of the state of the earth's environment. He urges us to face up to "ten drivers of environmental degradation". Added to the environmental impact of population size, affluence and technology (IPAT) are such fundamental problems as poverty, market and political failures. Complementing this examination is his excellent analysis of the inadequate international governmental efforts so far to reach global agreements on environmental protection. He exposes the weaknesses of such compromise treaties as the UN Convention on Biodiversity, Climate Change and Desertification that lack "teeth" in terms of binding protocols. He deplores the withdrawal of the current US administration from international agreements, particularly the Kyoto Protocol. He acknowledges the European leadership at this time in environmental protection and challenges America to take back the role of leader that it had earlier.
For each of the environmental degradation drivers he suggests concrete transition strategies. The most fundamental of the transitions required, he stresses, and probably the most difficult to achieve fast, is the shift in our consciousness. He commends steps already under way in some of the areas, such as slowing population growth, or reducing the use of pollutants, such as DDT and PCBs. While these are vital steps, Speth cautions that they will be far from sufficient. Hence the call for an environmental revolution and the establishment of a new institution with the mandate to "manage the global environment".
In his recommendations for future strategies, he argues that an institutional approach based on international environmental law - the second scenario - GEOpolity - might work in combination with JAZZ, and if enforced by binding international treaties. The third scenario - FROG, [First Raise Our Growth] - he completely discards as not only ineffectual but also endangering our future. This scenario will lead, he contends, to wrecking our environment and our global society. After having followed his in-depth review of the impacts of current laissez-faire attitudes, you will probably agree with him.
While he addresses economic globalization's impact on the environment, he avoids challenging the role of the big transnational corporations. The food and pharmaceutical sectors could well represent major stumbling blocks. He deliberately remains within the market economy, convinced that the changes needed can be realized within the current systems.
Speth's RED SKY AT MORNING is a vital book. His style is clear and personable. The book is well structured and indexed so that readers can find specific topics easily. While at times focusing heavily on the American audience, the book is important for readers from around the world. His resource guide for citizens underlines his conviction that progress will rely heavily on environmental and consumer groups, scientists, the media and enlightened business people - all part of civil society. [Friederike Knabe, Ottawa Canada]
In recent years, scientists, environmentalists and policy makers have learned that, solving the problems of the planet in a sustainable way requires an integrated - "ecosystem" - approach. Results have been slow and efforts must dramatically accelerate. Steps to reduce our ecological human footprint have to be augmented by the adoption of "ecological economics". A long term goal will see the economy serve primarily the advancement of human development and environmental sustainability. It will no longer remain an end in itself. New "compacts" with all sectors of society and the governments in the North and in the South will be struck.
Speth does not come to his somewhat optimistic outlook lightly and he remains cautious as to its success. Based on decades of experience in the environmental field, both in the US and as part of the UN system, he submits one of the most comprehensive analyses of the environmental challenges and dangers one can find today. Filled with facts, figures, and carefully sourced, he paints a devastating picture of the state of the earth's environment. He urges us to face up to "ten drivers of environmental degradation". Added to the environmental impact of population size, affluence and technology (IPAT) are such fundamental problems as poverty, market and political failures. Complementing this examination is his excellent analysis of the inadequate international governmental efforts so far to reach global agreements on environmental protection. He exposes the weaknesses of such compromise treaties as the UN Convention on Biodiversity, Climate Change and Desertification that lack "teeth" in terms of binding protocols. He deplores the withdrawal of the current US administration from international agreements, particularly the Kyoto Protocol. He acknowledges the European leadership at this time in environmental protection and challenges America to take back the role of leader that it had earlier.
For each of the environmental degradation drivers he suggests concrete transition strategies. The most fundamental of the transitions required, he stresses, and probably the most difficult to achieve fast, is the shift in our consciousness. He commends steps already under way in some of the areas, such as slowing population growth, or reducing the use of pollutants, such as DDT and PCBs. While these are vital steps, Speth cautions that they will be far from sufficient. Hence the call for an environmental revolution and the establishment of a new institution with the mandate to "manage the global environment".
In his recommendations for future strategies, he argues that an institutional approach based on international environmental law - the second scenario - GEOpolity - might work in combination with JAZZ, and if enforced by binding international treaties. The third scenario - FROG, [First Raise Our Growth] - he completely discards as not only ineffectual but also endangering our future. This scenario will lead, he contends, to wrecking our environment and our global society. After having followed his in-depth review of the impacts of current laissez-faire attitudes, you will probably agree with him.
While he addresses economic globalization's impact on the environment, he avoids challenging the role of the big transnational corporations. The food and pharmaceutical sectors could well represent major stumbling blocks. He deliberately remains within the market economy, convinced that the changes needed can be realized within the current systems.
Speth's RED SKY AT MORNING is a vital book. His style is clear and personable. The book is well structured and indexed so that readers can find specific topics easily. While at times focusing heavily on the American audience, the book is important for readers from around the world. His resource guide for citizens underlines his conviction that progress will rely heavily on environmental and consumer groups, scientists, the media and enlightened business people - all part of civil society. [Friederike Knabe, Ottawa Canada]
20 of 22 people found the following review helpful
By S. A. Felton
Format:Hardcover
For a book whose main chapters comprise little more than 200
pages, "Red Sky At Morning" is amazingly comprehensive. Written by a
high-level environmentalist in the Carter Administration, (perhaps the
last Administration that really cared about such things), the book
covers many aspects of the environmental state/crisis we are in,
in a style that is always concise, usually with the right amount
of detail (at times too much about policies!), and yet engaging at
the same time.
Because of the author's involvement with environmental
causes from the movement's outset in the late 1960's-early 70's,
the book provides a nice history of the enviromental movement as
well as a deep analysis of problems and solutions that have
worked or not worked. One interesting and obvious point brought out
is that at the beginning the environmental movement could focus on
national issues like pollution and power generation, while inevitably
with globalization the issues have become far more serious, complex,
and contentious. The many successes obtained by the hard-working people
on the national level, aided greatly by the public's outcry for sounder
policies (which today has amazingly deteriorated into widespread apathy),
are much harder to come by on an international level, obviously because
of conflicts with issues like the need for endless economic growth as
well as national sovereignty. And yet we are reminded in the book that
when scientists announced the serious degradation of the ozone layer,
largely by CFC's, the world did unite in the 1980's Montreal Protocol to
relatively quickly take very effective action, such that it appears that
the ozone layer will restore itself by mid-century.
Thus "Red Sky" provides a thorough analysis of the problems we face
today, as well as models and solutions. The author feels that while
there is hope, it is almost too late to effectively resolve the mass of
complex issues of this potentially planetary "holocaust." Yet in the
chapter "Attacking the Root Causes" he provides a very well-thought out
list of eight "transitions to sustainability," such as lowering the
population, reducing poverty by 1/2 by 2015, and creating environmentally
benign technologies. In the chapter entitled "The Most Fundamental
Transition Of All," he discusses what activists like F. Capra wrote
about years ago, the "paradigm shift" to "eco-feminism," working with
and caring for nature rather than conquering it. [I noted my own former
idealism that has turned in part to cynicism as I read this chapter!]
Yet "Red Sky" is really not directed at individuals acting alone
or even in small groups. Its main focus is clearly to reach ingtelligent,
young people who might want to major in environmental studies, and
secondarily open-minded policy makers. Many sections have detailed
policy proposals and guidelines, which is not surprising given the
author's involvement with both governmental departments as well as
NGO's (non-governmental organizations). While I found the many pages
devoted to policy issues very useful in understanding both the way these
organizations work and how intricate the relationships among large-scale
entities must be, I prefer books that are more oriented to individuals and
small organizations, since that is my own orientation. Yet NGO's like WWF
and EDF may be our best hope, and many of them do work on international
issues.
Two areas the author does not cover as well as others are the new fuel
sources like hydrogen (though p. 158 is good), and he also does not mention
organizations like the bioneers whose members have been working on sustainable
solutions since the first warnings about the environment were sounded years
ago, and have devised in many cases very well-thought out (and at deep levels)
solutions to a surprisingly large number of the environmental problems we face
today (he does cite A. Lovins and P. Hawkins, who are assoc. with the group).
And precisely the political process, which the author has been a part of,
has surely been a very strong force against implementing the solutions of
these "anti-establishment" groups, due to obvious money issues.
One book (or at least a web visit) I'd strongly recommend is from p. 160,
the work of Wm. McDonough ("Cradle to Cradle").
The last chapter (available at the book's website for download) is a
mind-boggling compendium of books and web sites (information overload
squared!) which cover the eight transitions to sustainability discussed so
well in the book.
While the author and many reviewers think that it is almost too late
to "save" the environment, I see a lot of positive because of the large
numbers of people and organizations working so diligently to create the
balance we so clearly need between using resources wisely and providing
sustainable lives for the world's enormous population. With public awareness
and a change in politics (when?!), things will improve environmentally.
pages, "Red Sky At Morning" is amazingly comprehensive. Written by a
high-level environmentalist in the Carter Administration, (perhaps the
last Administration that really cared about such things), the book
covers many aspects of the environmental state/crisis we are in,
in a style that is always concise, usually with the right amount
of detail (at times too much about policies!), and yet engaging at
the same time.
Because of the author's involvement with environmental
causes from the movement's outset in the late 1960's-early 70's,
the book provides a nice history of the enviromental movement as
well as a deep analysis of problems and solutions that have
worked or not worked. One interesting and obvious point brought out
is that at the beginning the environmental movement could focus on
national issues like pollution and power generation, while inevitably
with globalization the issues have become far more serious, complex,
and contentious. The many successes obtained by the hard-working people
on the national level, aided greatly by the public's outcry for sounder
policies (which today has amazingly deteriorated into widespread apathy),
are much harder to come by on an international level, obviously because
of conflicts with issues like the need for endless economic growth as
well as national sovereignty. And yet we are reminded in the book that
when scientists announced the serious degradation of the ozone layer,
largely by CFC's, the world did unite in the 1980's Montreal Protocol to
relatively quickly take very effective action, such that it appears that
the ozone layer will restore itself by mid-century.
Thus "Red Sky" provides a thorough analysis of the problems we face
today, as well as models and solutions. The author feels that while
there is hope, it is almost too late to effectively resolve the mass of
complex issues of this potentially planetary "holocaust." Yet in the
chapter "Attacking the Root Causes" he provides a very well-thought out
list of eight "transitions to sustainability," such as lowering the
population, reducing poverty by 1/2 by 2015, and creating environmentally
benign technologies. In the chapter entitled "The Most Fundamental
Transition Of All," he discusses what activists like F. Capra wrote
about years ago, the "paradigm shift" to "eco-feminism," working with
and caring for nature rather than conquering it. [I noted my own former
idealism that has turned in part to cynicism as I read this chapter!]
Yet "Red Sky" is really not directed at individuals acting alone
or even in small groups. Its main focus is clearly to reach ingtelligent,
young people who might want to major in environmental studies, and
secondarily open-minded policy makers. Many sections have detailed
policy proposals and guidelines, which is not surprising given the
author's involvement with both governmental departments as well as
NGO's (non-governmental organizations). While I found the many pages
devoted to policy issues very useful in understanding both the way these
organizations work and how intricate the relationships among large-scale
entities must be, I prefer books that are more oriented to individuals and
small organizations, since that is my own orientation. Yet NGO's like WWF
and EDF may be our best hope, and many of them do work on international
issues.
Two areas the author does not cover as well as others are the new fuel
sources like hydrogen (though p. 158 is good), and he also does not mention
organizations like the bioneers whose members have been working on sustainable
solutions since the first warnings about the environment were sounded years
ago, and have devised in many cases very well-thought out (and at deep levels)
solutions to a surprisingly large number of the environmental problems we face
today (he does cite A. Lovins and P. Hawkins, who are assoc. with the group).
And precisely the political process, which the author has been a part of,
has surely been a very strong force against implementing the solutions of
these "anti-establishment" groups, due to obvious money issues.
One book (or at least a web visit) I'd strongly recommend is from p. 160,
the work of Wm. McDonough ("Cradle to Cradle").
The last chapter (available at the book's website for download) is a
mind-boggling compendium of books and web sites (information overload
squared!) which cover the eight transitions to sustainability discussed so
well in the book.
While the author and many reviewers think that it is almost too late
to "save" the environment, I see a lot of positive because of the large
numbers of people and organizations working so diligently to create the
balance we so clearly need between using resources wisely and providing
sustainable lives for the world's enormous population. With public awareness
and a change in politics (when?!), things will improve environmentally.
23 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book deserves ten stars.
It is more important than the sacrosanct Silent Spring. It is impossible to overstate this book's importance. Heard about any melting polar ice lately? I wish the author had published initially in both hardcover and paperback to get it more widely disseminated.
It is more important than the sacrosanct Silent Spring. It is impossible to overstate this book's importance. Heard about any melting polar ice lately? I wish the author had published initially in both hardcover and paperback to get it more widely disseminated.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Has held up well
Considering this book is from 2004, it is still remarkably relevant. The saddest part, really, is that eight years have gone by and nothing of significance has been done to address... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Paula L. Craig
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not entirely nonsense
Here is acclaimed biologist E.O. Wilson, whom author James Gustave Speth cites approvingly, defending the Endangered Species Act to Congress in 1982:
"The worst thing... Read more
"The worst thing... Read more
Published 11 months ago by F. Mullen
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Read
Red Sky at Morning
James Gustave Speth in his book, Red Sky at Morning, focuses on the subject of global warming in four sections: Environmental Challenges Go Global... Read more
James Gustave Speth in his book, Red Sky at Morning, focuses on the subject of global warming in four sections: Environmental Challenges Go Global... Read more
Published on May 15, 2009 by Matthew Olson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Serious threat to profits! Sure pal, anything you say.
A gripping book. Yes..ANOTHER global warming book..but it does link habitat loss, ocean health and sustainability all together similar to Paul and Ann Ehrlich's "One With Nineveh". Read more
Published on September 16, 2006 by Tunnelpet
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Book to Share
I agree with every good thing said about this book in the eight Amazon readers' reviews below. I have read a great many of the books about our planetary crisis over the years. Read more
Published on April 23, 2006 by George C. Stone
3.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
This is an outstanding volume. Informative and well written, it stands alone but also goes especially well with volumes that offer more detail on the nitty gritty of global... Read more
Published on March 7, 2006 by Samuel Johson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Understand the facts and change apathy into action...
At little more than 200 pages (of primary text), this important book is hardly a boring textbook. In a concise manner, it explains what exactly is going on in the world today. Read more
Published on December 15, 2005 by just_another_bibliophile
5.0 out of 5 stars
Speth shows the way forward
Speth's book is one of the best books about the environment, and after a year of being out there should now be treated as a standard for the solutions it provides. Read more
Published on December 12, 2005 by Martin H. Dickinson
5.0 out of 5 stars
A compelling read, with an abundance of citizen resources
To add to the other reviews, I would emphasize that "Red Sky at Morning" is a great read for just about anyone, whether it's your first or your fiftieth book about environmental... Read more
Published on November 30, 2004 by A. Tobey
5.0 out of 5 stars
"We are not powerless . . . "
Readers are often intimidated by the challenges presented by climate change. That's an understandable reaction. Read more
Published on September 1, 2004 by Stephen A. Haines
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 100
books:
See all 100 books this book cites
- Silent Spring by Rachel Carson on 5 pages
- The Greening of America, 25th Anniversary Edition by Charles A. Reich on 4 pages
- The Greening of America by Charles A. Reich on 4 pages
- Vital Signs 2003-2004: The Trends That Are Shaping Our Future by Worldwatch Institute on 4 pages
- Global Environmental Politics (Dilemmas in World Politics) by Pamela S. Chasek in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
See all 100 books this book cites
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