Tim Flannery: The Weather Makers
Weather Makers is still a vital book
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Wednesday, 27, Jun 2007 02:20
Out Now - Penguin.
Bill Bryson: "It would be hard to imagine a better or more important book."
Mankind is a destructive species, tearing in to the earth's surface to dredge up million-year-old resources and spewing the fumes out in to the atmosphere has seen us become the masters of the planet. But coal-smeared skies and changing climates are now recognised as the biggest threat to our survival as a species.
These worries may be legitimate, but two years after Tim Flannery's book was first published in hardback, it seems today's environment-conscious society of hybrids and carbon off-setting has got the message. So what purpose can this paperback release serve?
It remains as useful an introduction as ever thanks mainly to Flannery's willingness to dive into an in-depth examination of all aspects of climate change - breaking down the scientific basics to show just how delicately the world's ecosystem stands in balance. As he unfolds layer upon layer of detail onto half-remembered geography classes, in the first chapters Flannery unveils the fragility of a system that miraculously fell into place to allow all life, not just humanity, to thrive. He emphasises that the life cycle of the earth has seen huge variation over thousands of years, but points out that relatively minor changes can have spiralling effects which would see the planet become much less hospitable to life. And, switching from kindly lecturer to prophet of misfortune, Flannery presents reams of just-as-detailed evidence to show mankind is having just such an effect, and in double-quick time.
He's kind to his readers, recognising that some relief is needed between laying out the scientific basis for his arguments, and so intersperses the opening chapters of this introductory guide to climate change with visceral descriptions - such as explaining the importance of water vapour through comparing uncomfortably muggy, sleepless New York nights with the cool calm of the desert.
But having explained the processes in motion, Flannery turns to examining what can be done. His ire focuses in part on the coal industry which is far more polluting than oil, itself hardly a clean resource. Having driven the West's industrial revolution, just as those countries are belatedly turning away from it to renewable fuels, vast factories are being set up in China, India and the rest of the developing world which fuels Flannery' concerns that its use could accelerate.
However, the facts are set out succinctly and allowed to speak for themselves - Flannery is no alarmist, despite his concerns. There is no inflammatory language or hectoring of the reader and, although he may single out governments and industries for their policies, Flannery continues to cajole and convince rather than apportion blame to individuals.
It is this quiet conviction that comes through as one of the most affecting parts of the book - such is the methodical, all-encompassing manner which Flannery covers the subject that it seems as if no stone is unturned. The act of taking in such a stream of facts lets the argument seep in and should leave little room for doubt in the mind of most readers.
However, Flannery struggles at times with the scale of the subject. Admirably trying to cram all aspects into this guide leads Flannery to err on the side of caution perhaps too much - explaining some points well but then jumping on to the next chapter before any in depth analysis of the deeper consequences. But while this is at times frustrating and interrupts the flow slightly, it would be extremely tough to hit the right balance throughout.
Apart from prompt action to cut emissions or a slow boiling death of the species, Flannery envisages a world of vast regulation to keep a firm grip on the environment. In his Orwellian nightmare, Flannery sees the Kyoto Protocol leading to an international organisation to ration energy and balance out the effects of climate change in order to keep conditions acceptable for survival - eventually leading to this bureaucracy ordering a forced reduction in the human population.
But to avoid such an unpalatable future or the eventual demise of the human race, Flannery calls for prompt action. Although there has been some movement, especially in offsetting carbon emissions, since the book was first published, Flannery's criticisms of Australia and America in particular largely remain. And on a broader scale, the issues he raises are still as urgent as ever - and The Weather Makers is still excellent as both a Cliffs Notes for concerned readers to get their facts straight and an impassioned call for action.
Nick Claxton