Red Sky at Morning: America and the Crisis of the Global Environment

by James Gustave Speth

Book Overview

In this powerful book, a renowned environmental leader warns that despite all the international negotiations of the past two decades, efforts to protect Earth's environment are not succeeding. He explains why this is so and presents eight specific steps that governments and citizens can take to achieve a sustainable future.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0300107765
• ISBN13: 9780300107760
• Release Date: March 2005
• Publisher: Yale University Press
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.1" x 7.7"

Customer Reviews

A compelling read, with an abundance of citizen resources

To add to the other reviews, I would emphasize that "Red Sky at Morning" is a great read for just about anyone, whether it's your first or your fiftieth book about environmental issues. Speth condenses a great amount of relevant and interesting information, background history, and analysis into this wonderfully readable book. Furthermore, his resources for citizen action are far more exciting and empowering than the tired old "do your part by recycling" refrain.

Excellent book, but really more a textbook than action guide

For a book whose main chapters comprise little more than 200 pages, "Red Sky At Morning" is amazingly comprehensive. Written by a high-level environmentalist in the Carter Administration, (perhaps the last Administration that really cared about such things), the book covers many aspects of the environmental state/crisis we are in, in a style that is always concise, usually with the right amount of detail (at times too much about policies!), and yet engaging at the same time. Because of the author's involvement with environmental causes from the movement's outset in the late 1960's-early 70's, the book provides a nice history of the enviromental movement as well as a deep analysis of problems and solutions that have worked or not worked. One interesting and obvious point brought out is that at the beginning the environmental movement could focus on national issues like pollution and power generation, while inevitably with globalization the issues have become far more serious, complex, and contentious. The many successes obtained by the hard-working people on the national level, aided greatly by the public's outcry for sounder policies (which today has amazingly deteriorated into widespread apathy), are much harder to come by on an international level, obviously because of conflicts with issues like the need for endless economic growth as well as national sovereignty. And yet we are reminded in the book that when scientists announced the serious degradation of the ozone layer, largely by CFC's, the world did unite in the 1980's Montreal Protocol to relatively quickly take very effective action, such that it appears that the ozone layer will restore itself by mid-century. Thus "Red Sky" provides a thorough analysis of the problems we face today, as well as models and solutions. The author feels that while there is hope, it is almost too late to effectively resolve the mass of complex issues of this potentially planetary "holocaust." Yet in the chapter "Attacking the Root Causes" he provides a very well-thought out list of eight "transitions to sustainability," such as lowering the population, reducing poverty by 1/2 by 2015, and creating environmentally benign technologies. In the chapter entitled "The Most Fundamental Transition Of All," he discusses what activists like F. Capra wrote about years ago, the "paradigm shift" to "eco-feminism," working with and caring for nature rather than conquering it. [I noted my own former idealism that has turned in part to cynicism as I read this chapter!] Yet "Red Sky" is really not directed at individuals acting alone or even in small groups. Its main focus is clearly to reach ingtelligent, young people who might want to major in environmental studies, and secondarily open-minded policy makers. Many sections have detailed policy proposals and guidelines, which is not surprising given the author's involvement with both governmental departments as well as NGO'

"We are not powerless . . . "

Readers are often intimidated by the challenges presented by climate change. That's an understandable reaction. The issues are imposing in their scope and complexity, leading us to ask: "What, as an individual, can I do?". That query is substantially answered at the end of this book. There are good reasons to buy this book and turn to the final chapter: "Resources for Citizens". It isn't necessary to read the listings in detail [they're essentially repeated on the website listed on p. 203]. A leisurely survey will indicate the extent of the support readers have to use for learning and deciding on issues to pursue. When you've finished glancing at what help is there for you, turn to page one and start learning why the resources are needed. Over the years, "Gus" Speth has risen from tactician to senior negotiator in the campaign to combat the effects of human-generated environmental crisis. His experience and ability to impart clearly the history, tactics, successes and failures of the environmental movement are brought to bear in explaining what has been achieved, and what remains to be done. Speth is adamant that many tasks confront us and we'd best get started on them. He explains how the early environmental movement overfocussed on specific topics. Victories, such as the ban on PCBs to reduce the "Ozone Hole" are welcome, but leave both participants and the general public unwarrantedly satisfied. Climate change is too great a realm to overcome by a few successful skirmishes. Fundamental changes are needed - starting with cultural outlook - do you believe your current lifestyle will endure? Climate change, he reminds us, is a global issue. Hence, a stress on international action is fundamental to addressing the problems. Why, he asks, are there United Nations organisations on health [WHO], food [FAO] and labour [ILO], but none on the environment [WEO]? Such an organisation at the highest level is required for studies, planning and administration. The disparity of pollution generation among nations, especially that of the United States, clearly indicates the richest nations must take the lead in curbing emissions while developing environmentally friendly technologies for developing countries. He points out that some nations have already taken steps that are exportable. Denmark's massive development of wind power is being duplicated in Germany and Spain. Each of these countries, with lower population and resources, already has greater wind energy capacity than the United States. Offering a programme of eight "transitions" that must be undertaken, he lists population control, poverty elimination, improved technologies, realistic pricing [what are the real costs of pollution and who bears them?], learning and research, and proper governance among his goals. All these are achievable - it merely takes an informed public and leaders to implement them. First and foremost, we must shed the dogma Speth calls FROG - "First Raise O

More JAZZ...

You may wonder what jazz could possibly have to do with "The Global Crisis of the Environment"! Speth introduces a new term, "JAZZ", to explain one of three possible scenarios for environmental governance frameworks. The concept, developed by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, describes an approach to solving global environmental challenges. Like musical jazz, it uses a multitude of diverse and "unscripted" initiatives, based on creativity, flexibility and involving a wide range of players. The good news, Speth insists, is that, increasingly, JAZZ is being played around the world - decentralized and voluntary. Activities are being driven by environmental and consumer and other citizens' groups, supported or at least "facilitated" by governments. Businesses, recognizing advantages in these developments, now participate in growing numbers and developing new partnerships. Expanding and multiplying JAZZ is one of the promising trends that can move us towards an "environmental revolution". Nothing short of it, Speth is convinced, will save our planet. In recent years, scientists, environmentalists and policy makers have learned that, solving the problems of the planet in a sustainable way requires an integrated - "ecosystem" - approach. Results have been slow and efforts must dramatically accelerate. Steps to reduce our ecological human footprint have to be augmented by the adoption of "ecological economics". A long term goal will see the economy serve primarily the advancement of human development and environmental sustainability. It will no longer remain an end in itself. New "compacts" with all sectors of society and the governments in the North and in the South will be struck. Speth does not come to his somewhat optimistic outlook lightly and he remains cautious as to its success. Based on decades of experience in the environmental field, both in the US and as part of the UN system, he submits one of the most comprehensive analyses of the environmental challenges and dangers one can find today. Filled with facts, figures, and carefully sourced, he paints a devastating picture of the state of the earth's environment. He urges us to face up to "ten drivers of environmental degradation". Added to the environmental impact of population size, affluence and technology (IPAT) are such fundamental problems as poverty, market and political failures. Complementing this examination is his excellent analysis of the inadequate international governmental efforts so far to reach global agreements on environmental protection. He exposes the weaknesses of such compromise treaties as the UN Convention on Biodiversity, Climate Change and Desertification that lack "teeth" in terms of binding protocols. He deplores the withdrawal of the current US administration from international agreements, particularly the Kyoto Protocol. He acknowledges the European leadership at this time in environmental protection and challenges America to

Ms. Carson, meet Mr. Speth

This book deserves ten stars. It is more important than the sacrosanct Silent Spring. It is impossible to overstate this book's importance. Heard about any melting polar ice lately? I wish the author had published initially in both hardcover and paperback to get it more widely disseminated.