Rapid and unpredictable climate changes pose perils that are multifaceted and affect every part of our planet. The major risks run from food scarcity, health threats to humans from air and water pollution and diseases, ecosystem disruptions, ocean acidification, polar ice melt and coastal flooding. The list goes on and on. These are not imagined threats, nor are they distant. They are real and they are on our doorstep. They pose an existential threat to the entire human race and to Spaceship Earth.
The causes of accelerating climate change are unquestionably anthropogenic, and the solutions, unquestionably, lie with us. Where have we gone wrong? How do we correct that? And, more importantly, what steps must we take, not only to arrest but to reverse the drivers of global climate change?
Research, scientific writings and policy debates, on managing the causes and consequences of “runaway” climate change, are rife with the “what” and “how” of actions to be undertaken. It is a crowded and often confusing field, and this is where Vinod Thomas’ book1, “Risk and Resilience in the Era of Climate Change”, shines.
In its nine chapters, the book discusses many of the hazards related to climate change. Drawing upon the extant research and policy debates, and his own long involvement at the highest levels of research and policy dialogue, the author discusses actions that must be taken to address the underlying causes. These are, imposing carbon taxes to control emissions, incentives for “green” energy generation, considering risks head-on and investing to climate proof people and infrastructure, innovative ways to increase funding for climate resilience and mitigation, building up social capital and networks, strengthening collective action, improved messaging and communication at all levels, etc.
At the same time, the book gives a good flavor of the many challenges and pitfalls to implementation and how those might be tackled. These are, continued underinvestment in social capital, the obsession with traditionally measured GDP—to the omission of ecosystem degradation—as a measure of development, widespread misconception that there exists a hard tradeoff between growth and environment, continued provision of harmful subsidies, woeful progress on international cooperation on managing climate change, etc.
Throughout, the book is peppered with examples of successful initiatives in support of the authors’ assertions. These examples also provide evidence and encouragement that well-conceived actions will succeed and yield virtuous outcomes.
In the opinion of this reviewer, the author ably navigates a tortuous landscape of what should be done to tackle climate change and puts the spotlight on sustainable development, as the central focus of growth and increased welfare, for all countries. Drawing upon the messages in the book, I see operational sustainable development as comprising of 3 distinct yet inter-connected dimensions—Green, Clean and Resilient. Green refers to an economy in which natural resources, including oceans, land, and forests, are sustainably managed (for use and conservation) to improve livelihoods and ensure food security. Clean refers to a low-pollution, low-emission economy in which cleaner air and water, rivers and cities, enable people to lead healthy, productive lives. Resilient means being prepared for economic shocks and natural disasters and adapting effectively to climate change by investing pre-emptively in “climate-proofing” people.
Affirming this three-dimensional approach, as our mantra of development, may also give us the needed traction with politicians and policymakers (especially), whose lack of commitment, the book suggests, poses serious constraints to action.
The author, correctly, conveys the sense of urgency for action and charts a clear path to the needed actions. Were this a “whodunit”, I would have stopped here for fear of giving the game away. This is not a whodunit, but a serious and thoughtful work. The game is well afoot, and I urge you to read the book and absorb its messages for yourself. At 218 pages (excluding the postscript), it seems deceptively slim to tackle a topic so vast as climate change. But it is packed with deep insights coupled with practical recommendations. Thus, it needs to be read carefully by doers (read that as, “all of us”) concerned with managing climate change and its consequences.
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The reviewer is an environment and natural resource economist by training. He worked at the World Bank for over 25 years, before retiring as Senior Natural Resource Economist. His work at the Bank focused on sustainable development, climate change, forest management and governance of natural resources.
1 Thomas, Vinod. 2024. Risk and Resilience in the Era of Climate Change. Palgrave Macmillan, 2nd edition.
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KEYWORDS Climate Change, green, resilient, sustainable development
