The Fate of the World: A History and Future of the Climate Crisis: A sobering narrative
Volcanologist Bill McGuire's new book, 'The Fate of the World', argues that humanity is consciously ignoring the climate crisis despite clear geological evidence of impending catastrophe. The author aims to galvanize action rather than foster despair.
Why it matters
The book reflects growing public and scientific frustration with the perceived inadequacy of global climate policy in the face of extreme weather events.
This is a history book about the future. That’s how volcanologist Bill McGuire introduces his latest title on the climate crisis. The geological record, he reminds us, ‘is never wrong’, and what it has to say about our near- and longer-term future is anything but reassuring.
The closest analogue to today’s global climate occurred about three million years ago, during the mid-Piacenzian Warm Period, when sea levels were up to 25m higher than today. If global carbon dioxide levels remain at today’s levels, McGuire warns, all the world’s coastal cities will be drowned, with sea water “inundating vast areas of currently inhabited Earth”.
He dismisses recent backsliding on the climate emergency by politicians in Ireland and elsewhere under the guise of pragmatism as “dangerous drivel”, noting that doing anything less than what the science demands is recklessly irresponsible.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in