There is so much bad information on climate change as well as “greenwashing” (companies trying to look like they are good climate citizens when they really aren’t) that it can be a challenge to get solid information. We all need to think critically about what we read, hear or see, but here are some sources of information on the climate crisis that I have found helpful. —Jim Thompson, Founder of THIS! Is What We Did
Books
All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis (2020)
from Ayana Elizabeth Johnson & Katharine K. Wilkinson, Editors.
Lovely essays and poetry that inform and inspire.
The Arsenal of Democracy: FDR, Detroit, and an Epic Quest to Arm an America at War by A.J. Baime
Fascinating story of how the U.S. mobilized to help win World War 2 with important insights for our needed mobilization to “win” the climate fight.
Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out? (2019) by Bill McKibben
Essential reading to understand the threats we face by the person who has done as much as anyone to rouse the public to effective action.
Merchants of Doubt: How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues from Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming (2010)
By Naomi Oreskes & Erik M. Conway
Essential reading to understand how fossil fuel industry executives, who knew about global warming for decades, chose to use their power to confuse the public and place the entire planet in jeopardy in the pursuit of short-term greed.
Oil and Honey: The Education of an Unlikely Activist by Bill McKibben
How Bill McKibben became Bill McKibben and why we need to emulate his journey.
On Fire: The (Burning) Case for a GREEN NEW DEAL by Naomi Klein
Why the Green New Deal (or something even bigger) is required for planetary survival written in easily accessible prose.
The Photo Ark: One Man’s Quest to Document the World’s Animals by Joel Sartore
Hefty coffee table book with amazing photos of animals that helps make us aware of all we are losing unless we act.
The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming (2019)
By David Wallace-Wells
Confronts the very brutal facts about the climate crisis. Well written but can be hard to read (except in small bits) because it does such a chilling job of helping us understand just what we will face if we don’t act.
Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of Nonviolent Conflict by Erica Chenoweth & Maria Stephan
Really groundbreaking work of crucial importance to climate change activists.
Racial and Environmental Justice
THIS! is committed to environmental and racial justice. These books are full of important insights about how we can all support anti-racist policies and practices. As Professor Kendi says, “Do-nothing climate policy is racist policy.”
How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
Must-read book that includes description of “ethnic racism” and how it keeps people of different skin color, level of education, occupation, gender and the like from achieving solidarity, the real super power that we need to fight the climate crisis.
White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin Diangelo
So many insights on how well-meaning White people make life hard for Black people and practical steps that can be taken to stop it.
Novels
If you’ve ever heard it said, “It may not have happened but it’s true!” then you know the importance of fictional stories to provide insights that aren’t obvious. These novels are worth your time.
The Overstory: A Novel by Richard Powers
Hard to describe so let’s let Bill McKibben do so: “This book is beyond special…It’s a kind of breakthrough in the ways we think about and understand the world around us, at a moment when that is desperately needed.”
A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World by C. A. Fletcher
A quote from the beginning of the book that is relevant to us: “…if you steal my dog, you can at least expect me to come after you. Because if we aren’t loyal to the things we love, what’s the point?” Yes, what is the point? Exciting adventure story.
Books Relevant to Climate Change to Be Read by and to Children
The Ballad of Tubs Marshfield
—Cara Hoffman
Bernard Pepperlin
—Cara Hoffman
Newsletters
The Climate Crisis: A free weekly newsletter from “The New Yorker” written by Bill McKibben. Must read stuff!
The Daily Poster: Political journalism from Bernie Sanders’ former campaign speechwriter, David Sirota, and colleagues. Fascinating reading that has prodded the corporate media to look at things it usually doesn’t cover (but should). Highly recommended.
ExxonKnews: A newsletter focused on holding big oil accountable.
Grist: Great stuff on climate with multiple newsletters (daily, weekly, etc.) that are easy and enjoyable to read.
Heated: Wide-ranging useful perspectives and information on climate change from journalist Emily Atkins.
Inside Climate News: Lots of useful and interesting articles on current climate actions including reports of fossil fuel industry misbehavior.
Podcasts
THIS! Founder Jim Thompson talks about youth sports and climate change in this podcast.
Talks on Video
Katharine Hayhoe, Texas Tech Climate Scientist (17 minute TED Talk)
A film narrated from The Intercept by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
Organizations
350.org: Started by Bill McKibben and some college students, now one of the premier climate-change-fighting nonprofits.
Sunrise Movement: One of the most hopeful developments of the last few years, Sunrise Movement is a rapidly growing movement of young people who understand the stakes and how little time we have to deal with the climate crisis. It played a big role in public awareness of the Green New Deal, which is a big deal. Willing to take on Democrats and Republicans who resist Climate action. Send them money!
Climate Reality Project: Started by former Vice President Al Gore, CRP has trained thousands of people to speak for the climate.
THIS! Is What We Did: Don’t forget about THIS!
Films
A Life on Our Planet (Netflix: subscription required) Richard Attenborough’s take on climate change is different and lovely and pretty much a must-see.