From Publishers Weekly
In this timely book, Speth, dean of the Yale University School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, sounds the alarm on the seriousness of the global environmental crisis. Although he contends that it is not too late to avert disaster, he stresses that we are running out of time and that we can’t afford to let current trends continue. He acknowledges that there have been a few hopeful developments, such as the ban on ozone-depleting chemicals around the w…
Buy Red Sky at Morning: America and the Crisis of the Global Environment, Second Edition at Amazon
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 take back the role of leader that it had earlier.
For each of the environmental degradation drivers he suggests concrete transition strategies. The most fundamental of the transitions required, he stresses, and probably the most difficult to achieve fast, is the shift in our consciousness. He commends steps already under way in some of the areas, such as slowing population growth, or reducing the use of pollutants, such as DDT and PCBs. While these are vital steps, Speth cautions that they will be far from sufficient. Hence the call for an environmental revolution and the establishment of a new institution with the mandate to “manage the global environment”.
In his recommendations for future strategies, he argues that an institutional approach based on international environmental law – the second scenario – GEOpolity – might work in combination with JAZZ, and if enforced by binding international treaties. The third scenario – FROG, [First Raise Our Growth] – he completely discards as not only ineffectual but also endangering our future. This scenario will lead, he contends, to wrecking our environment and our global society. After having followed his in-depth review of the impacts of current laissez-faire attitudes, you will probably agree with him.
While he addresses economic globalization’s impact on the environment, he avoids challenging the role of the big transnational corporations. The food and pharmaceutical sectors could well represent major stumbling blocks. He deliberately remains within the market economy, convinced that the changes needed can be realized within the current systems.
Speth’s RED SKY AT MORNING is a vital book. His style is clear and personable. The book is well structured and indexed so that readers can find specific topics easily. While at times focusing heavily on the American audience, the book is important for readers from around the world. His resource guide for citizens underlines his conviction that progress will rely heavily on environmental and consumer groups, scientists, the media and enlightened business people – all part of civil society. [Friederike Knabe, Ottawa Canada]
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’s (non-governmental organizations). While I found the many pages
devoted to policy issues very useful in understanding both the way these
organizations work and how intricate the relationships among large-scale
entities must be, I prefer books that are more oriented to individuals and
small organizations, since that is my own orientation. Yet NGO’s like WWF
and EDF may be our best hope, and many of them do work on international
issues.
Two areas the author does not cover as well as others are the new fuel
sources like hydrogen (though p. 158 is good), and he also does not mention
organizations like the bioneers whose members have been working on sustainable
solutions since the first warnings about the environment were sounded years
ago, and have devised in many cases very well-thought out (and at deep levels)
solutions to a surprisingly large number of the environmental problems we face
today (he does cite A. Lovins and P. Hawkins, who are assoc. with the group).
And precisely the political process, which the author has been a part of,
has surely been a very strong force against implementing the solutions of
these “anti-establishment” groups, due to obvious money issues.
One book (or at least a web visit) I’d strongly recommend is from p. 160,
the work of Wm. McDonough (“Cradle to Cradle”).
The last chapter (available at the book’s website for download) is a
mind-boggling compendium of books and web sites (information overload
squared!) which cover the eight transitions to sustainability discussed so
well in the book.
While the author and many reviewers think that it is almost too late
to “save” the environment, I see a lot of positive because of the large
numbers of people and organizations working so diligently to create the
balance we so clearly need between using resources wisely and providing
sustainable lives for the world’s enormous population. With public awareness
and a change in politics (when?!), things will improve environmentally.
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.