Climate change is no stranger to the modern spotlight, regularly making it to the news headlines - there’s no wonder it’s making it to hard copy.
Each year is a new opportunity for people of all ages to positively contribute to the world and make progress in the fight against climate change. Efforts to sustain a prosperous ecosystem is a necessary mission to have, no matter the age. Lucky for us, there are various ways to understand how to care for our previous environment, and one of the simplest and most effective methods is to read books.
Environmental literature can encourage people by disclosing powerful messages concerning biodiversity, conservation, and ecological advocacy. The inspirational dynamism of creative expressions motivates both adults and children to treat nature kindly and responsibly.
We've gathered a list of our favorite environmental fiction and nonfiction publications with the hopes of inspiring conscious folks of all ages.
Book on Climate Change for Adults
- Revolutionary Power: An Activist’s Guide to the Energy Transformation by Shalanda Baker
Revolutionary Power focuses on how changing climate will push us to reconsider the way we produce, consume, and govern energy. The book is a detailed roadmap for energy transformation, reviewing the major energy policy sectors that are primed for action.
Baker highlights the unequal impacts of the energy system on the privileged and non-privileged sections of society. She also shares the experiences of those who are fighting to change the lopsided dynamism and those who have been left behind by our modern society. Baker uses her background as an energy-justice advocate, a lawyer, and an LGBTQ person of color to motivate activists striving to transform the current energy system and reshape our society.
- Pollution Is Colonialism by Max Liboiron
Pollution Is Colonialism questions about the role of colonialism in pollution— Max Liboiron offers a paradigm about scientific research methodologies as actions that can either support or oppose colonialism. The book focuses on plastic wastes, and exemplifies anti-colonial research projects that are associated with Indigenous, primarily Métis, conceptions of land, ethics, and other relationships. Reflecting the work of Civic Laboratory for Environmental Action Research (CLEAR), Liboiron shows how pollution is brutal enforcement of colonial land relations that demand rights to Indigenous land, rather than a consequence of capitalism. Pollution Is Colonialism is imaginative, vibrant, and spirited, rejecting pollution ideas that make Indigenous territory accessible to invaders and colonialist interests.
- Plastic Waste and Recycling: Environmental Impact, Societal Issues, Prevention, and Solutions by Trevor M. Letcher
Letcher gives an outline of the numerous forms of polymeric products, their applications, and the idea of "reduce, reuse, and recycle." Plastic Waste and Recycling also reviews the current plastic pollution impediments, illustrates waste channels and their environmental pathways, and provides a predisposing factor for plastic waste treatments. The book is a brilliant source for learning more about the mechanisms of plastic trash or recycling, notably for experts and students involved in the field of plastics.
- Devotions: The Selected Poems by Mary Oliver
Devotions is a collection of poetry on nature by American poet, Mary Oliver. It may not be your typical educational literature on the environment, but the powerful symbolism and message of the book are bound to empower the reader into seeing nature in its true form— a hauntingly beautiful blessing that surrounds us.
- Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
Salvage the Bones is a National Book Award-winning novel that is centered around (and after) Hurricane Katrina. The fiction chronicles a black family in Mississippi coping with the chain of tragedies. The plot revolves around a pregnant adolescent with an imaginative mind, Esch, who's eager to draw parallels between her personal life and that of the Greeks. A powerful book invoking the persistent love and anguish of tragedy, Salvage the Bones is a passionately poetic artistry that reaches a cheerful climax. The plot, educational aspects, and indestructible intensity of love, and unwavering commitment embodying the characters in the book is an enchantment that will last a long time for the readers.
- Turning the Tide on Plastic: How Humanity (And You) Can Make Our Globe Clean Again by Lucy Siegle
Written by a plastic expert and BBC consumer reporter, Lucy Siegle, the book neatly illustrates the level of magnitude concerning the plastic crisis. It explains the negative impacts of plastic on the environment and the steps we can take to neutralize the damages. Turning the Tide on Plastic is a holistic and educational construction— one from which we can all learn more about plastic pollution and how to slow it down.
- The Death and Life of the Great Lakes by Dan Egan
The Death and Life of the Great Lakes is a sequence of extreme ecological changes. The Great Lakes, since the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway in 1959, have been invaded by a slew of heinously intruding vertebrate species (parasitic lamprey and alewife). Efforts to destroy them only resulted in a cascade of unforeseen effects that exacerbated the situation. Lakes, especially Lake Erie, are in distress owing to parasitic fishes that forced their way across the lakes through boat hulls. The Death and Life of the Great Lakes revisiting the failed attempts to eliminate the killer-fishes is reflective of the vulnerable position of humans— humanity is on the verge of experiencing an environmental and health calamity unparalleled to events that have occurred so far.
- A Life On Our Planet by David Attenborough
Attenborough draws on his personal experience to tell his readers that we are the only ones capable of saving the planet we call home. Co-written with Jonnie Hughes, the book is an alarm bell for humans to immediately start correcting our shared errors. A Life On Our Planet is an urgent wake-up call and an indispensable education for individuals unaware of the critical situation of our deteriorating environment.
Children books on Environment and Climate Change
Children’s environmental books help address the concerns of the young ones, educate them on the environment, and how to safeguard our wonderful planet— demonstrating that together we can bring a change and make a difference.
- Eco Warriors by Nila Aye
Eco Warriors is about the environmental champions who are making a real difference in the world. The board book introduces kids to Greta Thunberg, David Attenborough, and other advocates through engaging insights and vibrant images.
- Too Much Stuff by Emily Gravett
Too Much Stuff is an amusing narrative with an environmental message for young environmentalists. The story revolves around two magpies constructing a nest for their young. Their desire to use building materials more than what is necessary overburdens the nest, resulting in the collapse of the entire nest. This is a great book to teach children about sustainable consumption— buying only the essentials.
- Planet Earth by Stacy W Kish
Planet Earth explains the wonder of the plant, from volcanic activities to animals, plants, and townships. The book offers a succession of interesting story-based scenes that are easily readable and understandable by children. A well-detailed book with knowledge depth accompanied with colorful picture layouts that provide additional information.
- Plastic Sucks! by Dougie Poynter
Plastic Sucks! explains to kids how they can contribute to the quest of eliminating plastics. Poynter jam-packs the books with helpful hints and illustrations. The book also discusses the history of plastic, simple measures we can take to become environmental superheroes, and the expertise of prominent activists and environmentalists.
- How We Know What We Know About our Changing Climate by Lynne Cherry and Gary Braasch
How we know what we know about our changing climate is an educational book explaining climate change to young children from the perspective of scientists who are researching the problem.
- Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver
Prodigal Summer is a novel covering three stories of individuals who interact with nature in the Appalachian Mountains. The book reflects an energizing blend of knowledge and tenderness, a complicated labyrinth of nature and humanity's hardships and interrelation.
- We are the Weather Makers: The History of Climate Change by Tim Flannery, Adapted by Sally M. Walker.
We are the Weather Makers is a teen adaptation outlining the evolution of climate change as well as the present situation. It is an insightful overview of the problems— encompasses a detailed explanation on the impact of greenhouse gas emissions, carbon cycle, specific examples of climate change and their causes, narratives of consequences on a range of ecosystems, potential future, and advice that encourages young adults to be catalysts for change.
What's your favorite book to read that addresses the climate change?
