Unraveling the Tapestry of Life and Civilization: The Causes and Consequences of Climate Change (and Other Threats to Biodiversity)

This book tells the story of how fossil fuel use is altering the climate of our planet and adversely affecting the Earth's ecosystems and our ability to produce food, both of which are necessary to sustain civilization. The book addresses common questions regarding the science of climate change and why we should trust the warnings of climate scientists, rather than those who try to cast doubt on the science of climate change. To reinforce this, the first part of the book describes the efforts by the fossil fuel industry, and the astroturf organizations they fund, to falsely discredit the science of climate change in an attempt to delay the transition to alternative energy sources. The book then discusses the evidence for climate change and its consequences, and how we know that the changes which are now occurring are not natural. Because the human population is so large and growing, the demands we are placing on the Earth's resources are exceeding the planet's ability to provide them. As a result, we are degrading ecosystems in ways which, in tandem with climate change, threaten biodiversity and civilization. These cannot be considered in isolation if we are to fully understand the significance of these threats. Consequently, the implications of population growth and resource use are both discussed, as are many of the environmental impacts associated with the extraction and use of fossil fuels, as well as their adverse effects on human health. The solution to many of these problems lies in the adoption of alternative energy sources, and the last part of the book discusses the pros and cons of these sources so that readers can make informed decisions regarding the options that are available to us. Our diet also contributes significantly to climate change and threatens biodiversity, so this is discussed as well. Ultimately, this book makes a strong case for switching from fossil fuels to alternative, green energy sources as quickly as possible.