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The New Climate War

The Fight to Take Back Our Planet

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About this listen

Shortlisted for the FT/McKinsey Business Book of the Year award

A renowned climate scientist shows how fossil fuel companies have waged a thirty-year campaign to deflect blame and responsibility and delay action on climate change, and offers a battle plan for how we can save the planet.

Recycle. Fly less. Eat less meat. These are some of the ways that we've been told can slow climate change. But the inordinate emphasis on individual behavior is the result of a marketing campaign that has succeeded in placing the responsibility for fixing climate change squarely on the shoulders of individuals.


Fossil fuel companies have followed the example of other industries deflecting blame (think "guns don't kill people, people kill people") or greenwashing (think of the beverage industry's "Crying Indian" commercials of the 1970s). Meanwhile, they've blocked efforts to regulate or price carbon emissions, run PR campaigns aimed at discrediting viable alternatives, and have abdicated their responsibility in fixing the problem they've created. The result has been disastrous for our planet.

In The New Climate War, Mann argues that all is not lost. He draws the battle lines between the people and the polluters-fossil fuel companies, right-wing plutocrats, and petrostates. And he outlines a plan for forcing our governments and corporations to wake up and make real change, including:
  • A common-sense, attainable approach to carbon pricing- and a revision of the well-intentioned but flawed currently proposed version of the Green New Deal;
  • Allowing renewable energy to compete fairly against fossil fuels
  • Debunking the false narratives and arguments that have worked their way into the climate debate and driven a wedge between even those who support climate change solutions
  • Combatting climate doomism and despair-mongering
With immensely powerful vested interests aligned in defense of the fossil fuel status quo, the societal tipping point won't happen without the active participation of citizens everywhere aiding in the collective push forward. This book will reach, inform, and enable citizens everywhere to join this battle for our planet. Earth Sciences Environment Politics & Government Science Paleontology Natural History Inspiring Climate Science Climate Wars

Critic reviews

"Fossil fuel companies have, for decades longer than I have been alive, been the largest contributors to the climate crisis that affects my generation today--all in pursuit of profits and growth. In The New Climate War, Michael Mann holds them to account, and shows us how we can take the bold steps we must all take together to win the battle to save this planet."—Greta Thunberg, climate activist
"This book takes the reader behind the front lines into the decades long information war waged by the fossil fuel industry and those that share their interests. From his perspective as a leader in the battle for scientific reason, Michael Mann provides hope and a roadmap for all of us to address the systemic issues fueling climate change, and shows how we can come together to wage a new war in the fight for our future."
—Leonardo DiCaprio, actor and environmental activist
"Few people bear more scars from the climate wars than Michael Mann--and few have fought longer and harder for a basic, rational approach to dealing with this greatest of crises. Because of his persistence--and that of so many others--we are finally making progress!"—Bill McKibben, author of Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out?
"With this book, Michael Mann details the challenges we face from enemies ("inactivists") both without and within while dropping critically important breadcrumbs for us to follow to lead us out of the forest of despair and set us on the path of victory in a battle we must win. We need an army of Michaels, stat!"
—Don Cheadle, actor, activist, UN global goodwill ambassador
"Pulling no punches, Michael Mann lays out our predicament and tells the shocking story of persistent climate denial and corporate deception. We are in a war for the planet, but one we are now on the verge of winning. And he deftly cuts through the propaganda and shows us the path forward."—Jerry Brown, California governor, 1975-1983, 2011-2019
"Mann shows that corporations and lobbyists have been successful in convincing us that climate change will be fine, if we just recycle our bottles and turn out the lights. Instead, he says, global warming is a problem way too hot for any one person to handle. He's optimistic though, because he sees what we really can and will do. Read his book, and let's get to work."—Bill Nye, Science Educator, CEO The Planetary Society
"For over two decades, Michael Mann has been our Janus at the gates, defending climate science from corporate-funded insinuations of confusion and suspicion. We would not have progressed this far had it not been for his unflinching and brilliant rejoinders to the traffickers of doubt. This chronicle of ongoing climate injustice may make you mad, but hopefully it will make us act. This is the only civilization we have. Mann is its resolute champion once again."—Paul Hawken, Founder, Project Drawdown
All stars
Most relevant
"And now on to the liars." Michael E. Mann has written a fine book updating a confused public about pressing issues. This, however, is not an adequate reason for the constant references to relatively petty twitter spats he has been involved in. Tell me the pattern, dude, not every example.

Reason for hope

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An inspiring and data-based overview of the state of our climate and the governing narrative.

Inspiring

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This book challenges us to not be inactive, to encourage us that we have agency and to not be Doomist in our attitudes to action on the Climate Catastrophe

Great encouragement on climate action

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Climate denialists, alarmists and doomists are all forensically named, shamed and critiqued in this well written book by climate scientist and communicator Michael Mann. But the overriding message is clear - using existing technology - switching from fossil fuels to renewables offers a path that avoids worsening climate change. All that’s needed is focus from policy setters. Highly recommend.

Forensic assessment of the climate war by General Mann

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I take everything with a pinch of salt never believing in one side of any story.

I thought this book was an interesting listen and worth the time invested.

I tend to dislike emotionally written books which this is very emotionally driven at times but I still found the points valid.

My only real dislike is the tangent taken with COVID-19 that I don’t feel adds value or even weight to an opinion when discussing global climate.

A book I wasn’t looking forwarded to

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