A Gift for Conversation – Let’s discuss Climate Change: Why it matters. What to do about it.

A Book by Dr Louis Keal

Read the book by following the links to the book and its chapters below:

A Gift for Conversation – Let’s discuss Climate Change: Why it matters. What to do about it.

This is a limited-run, zeroth-edition copy.

Printed August 2021.

The words within this work are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial – Share Alike 4.0 International License.

This means that you are free to adapt, re-use and re-produce the text as much as you like, providing that attribution is made to Louis Keal and www.agiftforconversation.com, the work is non- commercial, and that the derivative work is covered by the same license. I hope you find this useful.

To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, PO Box 1866, Mountain View, CA 94042, USA.

Cover art and design by Louis Keal.

Illustrations by George Benson, www.stereographic.co.uk All illustrations, cover art and cover design are not covered under the Creative Commons license, and all rights are reserved.

www.agiftforconversation.com

What is this book?

This is a conversation starter about Climate Change. It explores why Climate Change matters for your life, how it happens, and what you can do about it. It’s a gift book – so if you’re reading this, someone has bought you a present. Hooray! It’s also an interactive book, with sections I encourage both you and the person who gave it to you to write.

I’ve suggested possible talking points throughout the book. Whoever gave you the book, you don’t have to have these conversations with them – talk about it with as many people as you can.

Also along the way you may notice some references and footnotes, like this one1. To keep this book short (and cheap), you can find these online.

Why do we need this book?

Public awareness and media discussion of Climate Change has reached an all-time high. The subject seems hard to avoid. So why is this book necessary?

Because if you dive deeper into Climate Change news coverage, into public debates, or into the views of British people in polls, we find a different story1: one in which most of us have almost no understanding of how Climate Change will impact our own lives. If you are reading this, the unfortunate likelihood is that Climate Change is far, far more dangerous than you think.

Most documentaries, articles, museum exhibits, and news stories about Climate Change talk in very abstract terms about what will happen to the planet. Very rarely will we be told what these changes mean for people like us, our livelihoods and communities.

You have a legal and ethical right to know about

Climate Change and how it affects your life. World governments signed a binding agreement to educate their citizens on the risks of Climate Change in 19922, and again in the Paris Climate Agreement in 20153. But practically no government has lived up to this promise4. As a result, few of us are making truly informed decisions on Climate Change. The future of runaway Climate Change we and our governments are currently choosing for today’s young people is horrifying beyond words.

But another aspect has been missed – that there is a way out, a clear path to a safer, happier future: one in which human needs are better met than ever before.

These pages attempt to share these rare, but vital, messages.

Read the book by following the links to the book and its chapters below:

How to give this book to others

Are there people in your own life who you’d like to start having these discussions with? Your own story, your own desires for the future and your own actions and struggles are powerful tools to help spread the message of Climate Change.

If you’d like to give this book to others, details for how to purchase more copies can be found at: agiftforconversation.com/climate

Where to find the references & footnotes

The references and footnotes for this book can be found online. Here you can find the articles, websites and scientific publications behind the facts and ideas in this book. Find these at: agiftforconversation.com/climate/references

Acknowledgements

Writing this book has been a fantastic experience of learning and collaboration. Many proof-readers and scientific reviewers have left their fingerprints on it.

I’m indebted to Masud, Jo H., Lucie, Pete, Abi, Tristram, Jo K., and my brother Harry for reading and improving early copies. Also to Aaron, Sam and Helena for help with the cover. Thanks too to all the friends, former colleagues, scientists, activists and writers who lent their advice.

I’m especially grateful to my partner Steph, and my dad Graham for their honesty and skill at helping me rip the book up and piece it back together again, much improved. And finally to Geo, for his talent and ideas in making such beautiful illustrations.

About the author

Dr Louis Keal is a physicist, and professional scientific communicator. In early 2021, he left a career in marketing and education in the scientific camera industry to pursue activism and voluntary work on

Climate Change action full time – starting with writing the book you’re holding now!

Louis’s other works include a vast 2.5m by 1.5m ‘portable climate science museum’. This took the form of a canvas poster for events and protests to explain the facts of Climate Change to the public. To date, over 60 of these have been produced by climate activism and outreach groups in multiple countries.

He can be contacted via: louis@agiftforconversation.com, Twitter: @Lets_Discuss_CC, Instagram: @a_gift_for_conversation.book, Facebook: facebook.com/AGiftForConv.Book