Kicking the Carbon Habit: Global Warming and the Case for Renewable and Nuclear Energy

by William Sweet

Book Overview

Synthesizing information from leading scientists and the most up-to-date research, science journalist William Sweet examines what the United States can do to help prevent climate devastation. He explores advances made by climate scientists over the past twenty years and addresses the various political and economic issues associated with global warming, including the practicality of reducing emissions from automobiles, the efficacy of taxing energy...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0231137109
• ISBN13: 9780231137102
• Release Date: May 2006
• Publisher: Columbia University Press
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Doubtful deals, Doctor!

Global warming is a premise, not something to prove for this book. Manmadeness is demonstrated. Strategies for a partial solution, only as far as US is concerned, are dicussed. Main thesis is the Faustian deal character of our coal burning habits. While burning wood is even worse in terms of CO2 output, the effect can be neutralized by reforestation. Not so with coal. What took millions of years to build is consumed in a mere few hundreds of years. The depletion of resources is not even the worst aspect of this process, worse is the interference in and reinforcement of climatic trends, which are in themselves dramatic enough when left alone. Looking at world pollution development I would go so far to say that it does not even matter very much whether man influences climate. The other negative impacts of pollution are bad enough to require rethinking. The inclusion of nuclear power in the arsenal for the future seems hardly avoidable, but, as another reviewer said, it is replacing one Faustian deal with another. While the book is hardly original, it is definitely worth reading. I am not entirely happy with all aspects of its presentation. For instance some of the illustrations are rather odd (e.g. the photo of the mining activist?) and the graphs are not all very professional. I also think that the text components are not that well balanced. These are minor irritations though and don't require a star reduction. I wish Mr.Sweet could make an intelligent proposal for China, which is my personal main concern. He describes the dilemmas well: no realistic alternative to large scale long term coal burning. Puzzling among the comments: there still seem to be quite a few believers in the market's ability to cure these problems. This has been a source of wonder to me since the first study of the Club of Rome came out. Thanks to Asterix Wikman and Obelix Bruno for directing me to this book! (Their summary of the book is recommendable!)

This sweet solution will work. Let's spread the word.

Anthropomorphic global warming is probably a large threat to our planet. Unfortunately the United States is doing very poorly in this area, and the rest of the world is loosing patience with us. The average American produces 20 ton of CO² per year. So what is the solution? Should we radically change the way we live, destroy modern society, perhaps starve to death? How can we significantly reduce CO² production and continue functioning as a society. The answer is that the American CO² output can be significantly reduced in a relatively short time if we focus mostly on the main source of CO² and that is COAL. My home country Sweden does not use Coal generated electricity because of Sweden's higher reliance on nuclear power and hydro electric power. This is very similar to what William Sweet prescribes. Increase the use of Nuclear Power and to a certain degree wind power. He is also suggesting a carbon tax and maybe an increased gasoline tax, but nothing of the sort that they have in Europe. This solution is possible to implement in a short time and without much cost. Nuclear power is a well-proven technology capable of producing electricity at costs that are commercially competitive right now. A new nuclear power plant takes 3-5 years to build. If you consider that the burning of coal and bio fuels kills millions of people around the world and 30,000+ Americans every year (from other pollutants than CO²), and that Nuclear Power has never killed a single American, this solution also looks good for other reasons. Sweet also advocates the increased use of wind power, however, wind power cannot realistically replace Coal in a near future. It should be noted that Sweet is not advocating nuclear power as a "long term solution" but as a relatively harmless and cheap "temporary solution" until other renewable energy sources can supply the entire country with electricity at a reasonable cost. Unfortunately people are fearful of nuclear power and many environmentalists have not embraced nuclear power. This fear is based on huge misunderstandings of its risks as well as gross exaggerations of the dangers of long term nuclear waste. For this to work people need to "wise up" and understand the science and the technology around nuclear power. For example, many people do not even understand the inverse relationship between half life and radioactive heat. It will surprise many people that the fuel for power plants Uranium 235/238 is pretty harmless and a very common substance, yes you have it your backyard, and your kids eat it in the sand box. It is also strange how we worry less about extremely radioactive substances that really cause us major harm like Radon. We all need to get smart and start being very afraid of Coal, and stop being so paranoid about nuclear power. Two thirds of Sweets book is dedicated to the history of global warming research and why we really need to worry about global warming. Unlike Al Gore he is taking a very scientific, honest and

Chapters survey not just techniques but political pros and cons, social effects, and environmental i

Kicking The Carbon Habit: Global Warming And The Case Of Renewable And Nuclear Energy doesn't adopt the usual focus on cutting oil consumption: instead it focuses on reducing coal use. Coal-fired plants produce over half of the electricity in the US, accounting for some 40 percent of the country's greenhouse gasses. Sweet doesn't advocate a singular path of change another unusual feature but proposes a mix of environmentally sound technologies from wind power to nuclear reactors. Chapters survey not just techniques but political pros and cons, social effects, and environmental impact.

Even if you've seen the movie - read this book

Al Gore's movie "An Inconvenient Truth" and his book by the same name have focused a lot of much needed attention on the topic of Global Warming due to Green House Gasses. In "Kicking the Carbon Habit" eminent science journalist William Sweet provides not only an in-depth analysis of the reality of Global Warming and its causes but a practical program for the United States to take signifigant actions toward averting an impending catastrophy. Mr. Sweet is not an alarmist but I and every thinking person should be alarmed. Despite what the nay sayers and procrastinators may claim this book proves the "Science is In", the "Time is Now" and there is a way to go. For a well documented and scholarly work "Kicking the Carbon Habit" is surprisingly readable. The "Science" is not "dumbed down" but is presented in easily understood prose lightened by anicdotes about the Scientists and the science. This book provides some optomisim that we can and will overcome the problem if we have the political will. Read it - you'll be encouraged. I was.

Excellent treatment of a "hot topic"

As Samuel Clemens said "everyone talks about the weather but no one does anything about it." The same might be said about the "hot" topic of Global Warming. This book provides a detailed and erudite, yet eminently readable, treatment of the subject everyone seems to be talking about these days. A few things set this book apart from most that seek to deal with the issue. Sweet take a scholar's approach to the topic and deals in the facts and the science of Global Warming. It seems to me that he does not have a political ax to grind; rather he logically and scientifically analyzes the problem. Coal, Sweet informs us, is far and away the major culprit in causing climate change. But Sweet doesn't merely tell us this, he explains in detail why it is so. Every position the author takes is backed up by the science and facts, which support it. The subject matter dictates that some of the chapters are more technical and thus read easier than others, but this a minor quibble. The author does an excellent job of explaining the science of Global Warming to those who are not trained scientists. Feasible solutions are discussed in detail. The approach of the author is anything but simplistic. It is apparent that this book is not written for those who are seeking sound bites or in search of politically correct talking points. For example; his suggestion that we should reconsider nuclear energy in light of current technology and the safety record of modern reactors is not likely to be popular with the masses despite the science and logic. To me his explanation of the science seems to make sense and facts are stubborn things. This is an intelligently written book for people who are not afraid to think for themselves. I believe that Kicking the Carbon Habit will appeal to a broad range of people who seek the truth surrounding Global Warming. I also think this is one of those rare books that the reader can either approach a chapter at a time, or become immersed in and read straight through. The end result will be the same; the reader will gain a solid understanding of one of the most discussed topics of our time.