What We Are Reading Today: A Bright Future

What We Are Reading Today: A Bright Future
Updated 02 March 2019
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What We Are Reading Today: A Bright Future

What We Are Reading Today: A Bright Future

Authors: Joshua S. Goldstein and Staffan A. Qvist

The book offers a proven, fast, inexpensive, practical way to cut greenhouse gas emissions and prevent catastrophic climate change.

In this clear-sighted and compelling book, Joshua Goldstein and Staffan Qvist explain how clean energy quickly replaced fossil fuels in such places as Sweden, France, South Korea and Ontario. Their people enjoyed prosperity and growing energy use in harmony with the natural environment. 

The authors point out that “Sweden became the most successful country in history at expanding low-carbon electricity generation and leading the way in addressing climate change.”

Clearly written and beautifully illustrated, yet footnoted with extensive technical references, the book provides a new touchstone in discussions of climate change. 

“I happen to be in sympathy with these authors’ view 

that nuclear power must be a major part of the worldwide campaign to limit and reverse global warming,” said Richard Rhodes in a review published in The New York Times.

Goldstein and Qvist contrast Sweden’s experience with that of Germany. That country decided to switch to renewables, mostly wind and solar, while eliminating nuclear power.

Today, 40 percent of Germany’s energy comes from dirty brown coal; six of Europe’s 10 most polluting power plants are German.