July 2023 MBR The Environmental Studies Shelf

The Environmental Studies Shelf

Five Times Faster
Simon Sharpe
Cambridge University Press
One Liberty Plaza, Fl. 20, New York, NY 10006
www.cambridge.org
9781009326490, $24.95, HC, 344pp

https://www.amazon.com/Five-Times-Faster-Rethinking-Economics/dp/100932649X

Synopsis: The premise of "Five Times Faster: Rethinking the Science, Economics, and Diplomacy of Climate Change" by Simon Sharpe is that we need to act five times faster than we presently are if we are to avoid dangerous climate change.

As Greenland melts, Australia burns, and greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, we think we know who the villains are: oil companies, consumerism, weak political leaders. But what if the real blocks to progress are the ideas and institutions that are supposed to be helping us?

"Five Times Faster" is an inside story from Simon Sharpe, who has spent ten years at the forefront of climate change policy and diplomacy. In our fight to avoid dangerous climate change, science is pulling its punches, diplomacy is picking the wrong battles, and economics has been fighting for the other side.

"Five Times Faster" is provocative and engaging study that sets out how we should rethink our strategies and reorganise our efforts in the fields of science, economics, and diplomacy, so that we can act fast enough to stay safe.

Critique: Timely, informative, exceptionally well presented, "Five Times Faster: Rethinking the Science, Economics, and Diplomacy of Climate Change" is a significant and documented alarm call that if unheeded will result in a total and global catastrophe for the human race -- and pretty much every other species of life on earth. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community, college, and university Environmental Studies collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, political activists, professional environmentalists, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject of dealing with Climate Change, "Five Times Faster" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $23.70).

Editorial Note: Simon Sharpe (https://www.wri.org/profile/simon-sharpe) is Director of Economics for the Climate Champions Team and a Senior Fellow at the World Resources Institute. He designed and led flagship international campaigns of the UK's Presidency of the UN climate change talks (COP 26) in 2020-2021; worked as the head of private office to a minister of energy and climate change in the UK Government; and has served on diplomatic postings in China and India. He has published influential academic papers and created groundbreaking international initiatives in climate change risk assessment, economics, policy, and diplomacy.

Ocean Carbon Dioxide Removal for Climate Mitigation
Romany M. Webb, et al.
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court, Northampton, MA 01060-3815
www.e-elgar.com
9781802208849, $175.00, HC, 344pp

https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/usd/ocean-carbon-dioxide-removal-for-climate-mitigation-9781802208849.html

Synopsis: Examining the existing legal framework for ocean carbon dioxide removal (CDR), "Ocean Carbon Dioxide Removal for Climate Mitigation: The Legal Framework" provides highlights potential legal challenges and opportunities associated with using the ocean to remove and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Described are five commonly discussed ocean CDR techniques, including rock-based ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE), electrochemical OAE, ocean fertilization, artificial upwelling and downwelling, and seaweed cultivation, and explores the legal issues that different techniques could raise.

"Ocean Carbon Dioxide Removal for Climate Mitigation: The Legal Framework" is a timely and comprehensive exploration of the laws governing ocean CDR research and deployment at the international level and domestically in seven countries across Asia, Europe, and North America. The analysis highlights the complexities and uncertainties associated with applying existing international and domestic law to ocean CDR, providing lawyers and policymakers with invaluable insights into areas where legal reforms are needed to facilitate in-ocean research and deployment.

Essential reading for lawyers, policymakers, and others interested in advancing innovative climate change solutions, "Ocean Carbon Dioxide Removal for Climate Mitigation: The Legal Framework" will also appeal to academic and private sector scientists who are conducting research into ocean CDR.

Critique: Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by academicians Romany M. Webb, Korey Silverman-Roati, and Michael B. Gerrard of the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, Columbia Law School, "Ocean Carbon Dioxide Removal for Climate Mitigation: The Legal Framework" is a ground breaking study consisting of an Introduction, a Conclusion, and eleven erudite and seminal essays by experts in the field of environmental science. Expertly organized and presented, "Ocean Carbon Dioxide Removal for Climate Mitigation: The Legal Framework" features a complete listing of the contributors and their credentials, as well as a number of Tables, Illustrations, and a thirteen page Index -- making "Ocean Carbon Dioxide Removal for Climate Mitigation: The Legal Framework" an essential and core addition to personal, professional, college, university, and governmental library Environmental, Ecosystem, and Natural Resources collections and supplemental Environmental Law curriculum studies lists.

Editorial Note #1: Romany M. Webb (https://climate.law.columbia.edu/directory/romany-m-webb) is Associate Research Scholar and Deputy Director, Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, Columbia Law School.

Editorial Note #2: Korey Silverman-Roati (https://climate.law.columbia.edu/directory/korey-silverman-roati) is Associate Research Scholar and Climate Law Fellow, Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, Columbia Law School.

Editorial Note #3: Michael B. Gerrard (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Gerrard) is the Andrew Sabin Professor of Professional Practice and Faculty Director, Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, Columbia Law School.

Social Forestry: Tending the Land as People of Place
Tomi Hazel Vaarde
Synergetic Press
https://synergeticpress.com
9781957869063, $29.95, PB, 512pp

https://www.amazon.com/Social-Forestry-Tending-People-Place/dp/1957869062

Synopsis: The environment/ecological science of Social Forestry connects villages and communities to their forests and adjoining bodies of water. It includes forest management, protection, and regeneration of deforested lands with the objective of improving the rural, environmental, and social development. Through ecological assessment, carbon sequestration, and generating wildcrafts, people re-establish their wonder in the woods.

With the publication of "Social Forestry: Tending the Land as People of Place", author Tomi Hazel Vaarde, (a collaborator of Siskiyou Permaculture), uses poetry, photographs, drawings, and data to outline philosophies and concepts of Social Forestry. By weaving culturally sensitive stories, myths, and lessons from a range of customs and traditions including North American Indigenous communities and Vaarde's own Quaker upbringing, Vaarde explores how holistic land and community management approaches can facilitate resolution of some of our most dire local and global crises.

Vaarde's "Social Forestry" is critical to overcoming eco-grief while instilling necessary changes to the West Coast landscape for fire mitigation and restoration of complex forest systems for generations to come.

Many indigenous peoples have learned regenerative management by living for generations in and with a sense of place, but few examples of whole-system planning and participation are evident in modern society. Climate adaptation, human survival, and conservation efforts to maintain biodiversity that supports life on Earth require radical, back-to-the-roots grounding and intentional dedication.

"Social Forestry" helps readers remember the ways of the wild while implementing local food production, collaboration with conservation efforts, forest management, and stabilization of headwaters to build resilience for the long term. To live in harmony with our surroundings, we need to re-skill, always remembering those who came before us and acting in ways that honor traditional wisdom of people and place.

Critique: "Social Forestry: Tending the Land as People of Place" is enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of 31 4-color posters and 54 images, an informative Foreword by Starhawk, a twelve page Principles Clipboard, a thirty-four page Bibliography, and a three page Index. Comprehensively informative, exceptionally well organized, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in presentation, "Social Forestry: Tending the Land as People of Place" is especially and unreservedly recommended as a core addition to personal, professional, community, college, and university library Ecology & Environmentalism collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, political activists, governmental policy makers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject tht "Social Forestry: Tending the Land as People of Place" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.49).

Editorial Note #1: Tomi Hazel Vaarde (https://synergeticpress.com/team/tomi-hazel-vaarde) is a long time resident of the Southern Oregon/Mount Shasta bioregion first settling here in the early 70's. After having earned degrees in Forestry and Systematic Botany from Syracuse University and SUNY College of Forestry, 1969, Hazel taught Wild Edible Plants and Woods-lore at Laney College in Oakland CA in the early 70's. Hazel has taught dozens of Permaculture courses over the last 37 years, primarily in Southern Oregon and Northern California. These include the PDC, Permaculture Teachers Training, and advanced courses in Optical Surveying, Social Forestry and Farm Planning.

Editorial Note #2: Starhawk (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starhawk) is an author, activist, permaculture designer and teacher, and a prominent voice in modern earth-based spirituality and ecofeminism. She is the author or co-author of thirteen books, including The Spiral Dance: A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess and the ecotopian novel The Fifth Sacred Thing, and its sequel City of Refuge.

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