1. The role of myths in our climate-energy challenge; 2. The art of deluding ourselves and others; 3. Climate scientists are conspirators; 4. All countries will agree on climate fairness; 5. This fossil fuel project is essential; 6. We must price carbon emissions; 7. Peak oil will get us first anyway; 8. We must change our behavior; 9. We can be carbon neutral; 10. Energy efficiency is profitable; 11. Renewables have won; 12. We must abolish capitalism; 13. The simple path to success with our climate-energy challenge; Bibliography; Index.
Shows readers how we can all help solve the climate crisis by focusing on a few key, achievable actions.
A professor of sustainable energy at Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Jaccard has a Ph.D. in economics from Université de Grenoble. He has helped many governments with climate-energy policy, including serving on the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. In the 1990s, he chaired British Columbia's utilities commission and in the 2000s he helped design its famous carbon tax, clean electricity standard and other climate-energy policies. He is a member of the Royal Society of Canada in recognition of his research, and a frequent media presence in Canada and the US. His book, Sustainable Fossil Fuels (Cambridge, 2005), won the Donner Prize. His efforts on the climate challenge range from testifying before the US Congress and the European Commission to being arrested for blocking a coal train, as he explains in this book.
'Mark Jaccard gives us very direct, practical steps to make a real
difference in the climate crisis – both in our daily lives and with
our political powers. This is a potent, smart book that draws on
Mark's decades of leadership on climate change, economics, and
politics. A crucial read to learn what actions will effectively
transform our world from climate crisis to a bright livable
future.' Gregor Robertson, Mayor of Vancouver (2008–2018), and
Global Ambassador for the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and
Energy
'… compulsory reading for armchair theorists.' Pilita Clark,
Financial Times
'A gem. Jaccard welds an activist's passion to a bullshit detector
honed by decades of practical experience in the muck of energy
policy. Mark has forged a uniquely personal voice out of decades of
academic work tempered by hard-won experience in the energy-climate
wars. It's smart and relevant yet also fun – finding time to
explore the carbon footprint of our sex lives. A bucket of ice
water to the face after too many soporific climate books. An
impassioned yet dispassionate call to action.' David Keith, Harvard
University, and author of A Case for Climate Engineering
'Mark Jaccard draws on three decades of extensive expertise and
experience from the forefront of academic, national, and
international energy policy to dismantle the common myths and
skewer the sacred cows that hold us back from the clean energy
transition. He doesn't shy away from discussing the difficult,
thorny issues of justice and equality, the dirty politics behind
policies, and the risks of putting all our eggs in one basket,
whether it's nuclear power or carbon pricing. If you've ever
wondered what it will take to fix climate change, this book offers
the facts, the analysis, and, ultimately, the clarity we need to
understand fully the challenges that confront us and the solutions
that will lead us to a better future.' Katharine Hayhoe, climate
scientist, Texas Tech University
'Besides taking an axe to the clichés that dominate the current
climate change debate, Mark Jaccard tackles head-on the challenge
of creating climate change policies that can achieve sustained
political support. This is the book to read if you want a
realistic, attainable, and sustainable climate change agenda. It's
also a master class in teaching about climate science.' Michael
Ignatieff, President, Central European University
'Mark Jaccard's new book is essential reading for the
concerned citizen. Some of the described 'myths' were deliberate
lies, but, armed with this deeply thoughtful book, bringing science
and human bias and political foibles together, the engaged voter
can find the path to meaningful climate action.' Elizabeth May,
Canadian Member of Parliament and Leader of the Green Party of
Canada
'At a time when all too many have given up hope in the battle to
avert catastrophic climate change, Mark Jaccard's important new
book The Citizen's Guide to Climate Success provides a roadmap
for success. Jaccard details a viable strategy for citizens working
together, placing collective pressure on politicians, to adopt
policies that will lead to rapid decarbonization of our economy and
the avoidance of truly dangerous planetary warming.' Michael E.
Mann, Director, Penn State Earth System Science Center, and
co-author of The Madhouse Effect: How Climate Change Denial is
Threatening Our Planet, Destroying Our Politics, and Driving Us
Crazy
'If you're looking for a book that cuts through the contention and
cant surrounding our climate crisis, this is the place to start.
Renowned economist Mark Jaccard identifies and demolishes ten
common myths about climate change and humanity's transition to a
low-carbon future. Then he shows what steps we should take, as
individuals and societies, to address this critical problem
effectively. Fearless in challenging received wisdom, and bold in
his prescriptions, Jaccard speaks with a clear, brilliantly
informed voice about the greatest challenge of our time.' Thomas
Homer-Dixon, University of Waterloo, and author of The Ingenuity
Gap
'I cannot think of another book that covers this ground. Mark
Jaccard has done a huge service, helping to lay out the vexed
ground of climate information, disinformation, and conflicting
conclusions. In doing so, he helps pave the way for a meaningful
conversation on effective solutions to the climate crisis. This is
a must-read and must-teach book.' Naomi Oreskes, Harvard
University, and author of Why Trust Science?
'There could not be a more timely guide to taking effective climate
action.' Tim Flannery, author of The Weather Makers
'This is a most useful primer on climate change and its
consequences for the slow-learners amongst us … the particular
virtue of the present book - that which makes it so valuable - is
that it is not just one more off-putting advocacy-driven screed.
This is no lawyer's brief, devoted to clever arguments drawing
solely on the evidence on one side. Rather, it is the dispassionate
work of a scientist.' G. T. Dempsey, Geography Realm
'A refreshingly peppy writer … Jaccard is persuasive.' Pilita
Clark, Financial Times
'The Citizen's Guide to Climate Success is an excellent
easy-to-read and politically balanced book (with one foot in the
moderate camp). It also serves as an important fact-checking
resource. And, as for relevancy and timeliness, it's indispensable
as a solid source. Don't leave home without it.' Robert Hunziker,
Countercurrents.org
'… he backs his conclusions up with the latest science and delivers
a book worth reading and discussing …' John R. Platt, The
Revelator
'The title of Jaccard's latest, The Citizen's Guide to Climate
Success, is reassuringly upbeat (success!) and promises
practicality (a guide!) for readers …' John Geddes, Maclean's
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