Stormy Weather [Paperback]

Guy Dauncey (Author), Patrick Mazza (Author), Tim Ogline (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Books to Build a New Society | Publication Date: July 2001

In the 60s, Silent Spring forced us to pay attention to the problem with pesticides. The 70s galvanized the nation to conserve. In the 90s our communities came together to "reduce, reuse, and recycle." And now, the first decade of the new millennium will focus our attention on our most urgent environmental challenge yet: global warming and the potential for irreversible climate change.

In a clear and understandable style, Stormy Weather explains why we and the planet have reached this over-heated situation and how scientists predict "runaway" climate change will affect the Earth and our lives. The solutions to global warming revolve around 12 core methods of reducing our use of fossil fuels and filling our energy needs with solar, wind, tidal, and bio fuels. Each user-friendly solution is organized on two facing pages with a description, illustrations, quotations, resources, and a detailed "how-to" section. Solutions are grouped by social sector-Individuals; Citizen Groups; Towns and Cities; State Government; Power Utilities; Businesses; Oil, Coal & Gas Corporations; Automobile Corporations; National Governments; and Developing Nations-breaking-up these vital planet-saving tasks into manageable activities for both individuals and larger organizations.

From riding your bike to the office to developing sustainable transportation infrastructures, and from launching a tree-planting initiative in your community to negotiating a global forests protection treaty, this critical book will help anyone and everyone-on a small or grand scale-to participate in cooling our planet's troubled atmosphere.

Guy Dauncy is the publisher of the monthly environmental newsletter EcoNews and the author of EarthFuture (New Society Publishers, 1999), and After the Crash (Greenprint UK, 1996). He lives in Victoria, British Columbia.

Patrick Mazza is a staff writer and researcher with Earth Island Institute's Climate Solutions. He lives in Seattle, Washington.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"One of the clearest, most concise guides yet on coping with climate change. " -- Green Business Letter

From the Inside Flap

"A fabulous book! Everybody talks about the climate, but nobody does anything about it. Now they can. Stormy Weather provides a sweeping vision of the issues and comprehensive, practical solutions. A must-read for anyone who wants a cleaner, healthier planet." -- James Hansen, Director, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies

"A wonderful contribution that provides clear guidance on climate solutions -- 101 of them, in fact. Positive action is long overdue and this exciting road map will help move us forward." -- David Suzuki, scientist, author, and broadcaster

Humanity's most urgent challenge in the 21st century is likely to be global warming, and the possibility of irreversible climate change.

Stormy Weather deals head-on with this challenge. It is the only book to put simple and effective solutions to global warming in the hands of ordinary citizens, communities, businesses, power utilities, state governments, and national leaders.

In a clear and lively style, Stormy Weather explains how the planet got so over-heated, and then provides 101 solutions to help cool things down. These revolve around 12 core methods of reducing our use of fossil fuels and meeting our energy needs with solar, wind, tidal, and other renewable energies. Ten solutions each are suggested for individuals; citizens' organizations; cities; businesses; states and provinces; national governments; developing nations; and the world as a whole. Another five solutions are recommended specifically for auto companies, and fifteen for energy companies.

Meticulously researched, and including all the contacts necessary for further reading and action -- including hundreds of web sites -- Stormy Weather is the most up to date resource yet on global climate change, and the best guide to what we can all do to turn our collective fate around. It is essential reading for making it through the 21st century.

"...an invaluable boook: science and solutions, credible and accessible -- a must-read survival guide for Planet Earth." -- Elizabeth May, Sierra Club of Canada

"...an extraordinary accomplishment." -- The Rev. Sally G. Bingham, The Regeneration Project, San Francisco

"...a one-stop shop for global warming action for all sectors of society." -- Jennifer Morgan, Director of Climate Change Campaign, World Wildlife Fund

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: New Society Publishers (July 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0865714215
• ISBN-13: 978-0865714212
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,845,318 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stormy Weather positive practical and informative, October 31, 2001

By 

roger colwill (Victoria BC< Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stormy Weather (Paperback)

When I read this book my first reaction was to feel great relief.
Most predictions about the long term effects of global warming
are to say the least disheartening.

Yet this book is filled to overflowing with practical solutions for dealing with the global climate challenge positively.

Most infomed scientists would agree that the consequences of the
terrorists attack on the World Trade Center, whilst horrific, are
minuscule in comparison to the long term effects of gobal warming.

Hunger; massive food, fuel, water and energy shortages will likely reap a terrible human toll, but rather than take up room in this insightful book by attributing blame or by being overwhelmed, Dauncey's entire focus is on finding practical solutions, --in the most part by utilizing technologies which already exist.
Dauncey is no Pollyanna, he is a pragmatist and a realist.

I am indebted to him for providing concrete solutions which can if we will only take note rescue us from the abyss.
This contribution provides clear guidance on climate solutions delivering a road map which can help move us forward.

I am spellbound by the breadth and depth of research required to produce this remarkable volume.

This book has succeeded in addressing and tailoring its message to non scientists, business people and governments.
I highly recommend this book
Roger Colwill,

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars deserves a peace prize, November 2, 2001

By 

tooker gomberg (toronto, ontario) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stormy Weather (Paperback)

This book is a gem! It takes the most urgent of environmental issues, global climate change, and translates the science and the complexity into simple language that is understandable and interesting.

But it really excels when it moves beyond the problem, which can be paralyzing, to solutions that work. The book is chock full of simple and profound actions that can be taken to reduce our impact on the earth's atmosphere, in ways that save money and would be politically popular.

If you want to find out more about wind power, it's in here. If you're wondering what your city or town could do to become more climate friendly, there are websites and contacts galore within. If you want to take personal action, look no further.

The global climate crisis is real, impending, and scary. But a time of crisis is also a time of opportunity. This book shows what the opportunities are. It should be on the desks of every policy maker and politician.

And it deserves a peace prize for illuminating the way out of the climate mess we have created.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Cure for the Environmentally Depressed!, January 28, 2002

By 

"rupamike" (Kingston, Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stormy Weather (Paperback)

Tired of hearing all the bad news about our environment?
Feeling hopeless about your ability to change anything?
Wondering how so many people can ignore such big problems for so long?

So was I. Until I got my hands on Guy Dauncey's book. It's a solution-oriented cure for the Global Warming blues. It's written in short, clear, visually appealing sections, so it's easy to find the information you need. The 101 solutions aren't just a long rambling list, they are organized according to their level of application - from individual and local through national and global. I found the many concrete examples of people and communities that are making a real difference very heartening. So wether you're in the market for an environmentally friendy car, or you're an elected official trying to formulate a policy on fuel additives, or you're in a general state of despair like I was, this book is for you!