There Is No Planet B

'... a lively and cogent assessment of what is happening to the Earth's biosphere and resources. He tells us what we can do if we want to make a difference, and tread more softly on the planet. All citizens should be grateful for this information-packed and wide-ranging primer.' Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal

'This is a massively entertaining compendium of bite-sized facts ... It's also massively important, given the current state of the planet.' Bill McKibben, author of Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out?

'Who should read There is No Planet B? Everyone. Mike Berners-Lee has written a far-ranging and truth-telling handbook that is as readable as it is instructive.' Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker and author of The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History

'This clearly written and organized book is so sensible and useful that it becomes an unexpected aesthetic pleasure as well as a guide to action. No matter how much you already know, this book will help orient you to where we are now on this, the only planet we have (I can testify that Mars won't do). It would be best if everyone read it.' Kim Stanley Robinson, author of the Mars trilogy and New York 2140

'A much-needed, critically important, straight-talking handbook for absolutely everyone on our long-suffering planet. We ignore it at our peril.' Mark Carwardine, co-author (with Douglas Adams) of Last Chance to See

'Mike has created a wonderfully abundant buffet-table of knowledge about sustainability and you can enjoy it all at one sitting or benefit from visiting for bite-size chunks. Either way, you'll come away wiser, healthier and also entertained. In our household, we noticed people couldn't resist picking up a draft copy for a quick look and dipping in for far longer than they'd expected. Mike doesn't preach, instead he shares his insights with warmth and wit, and his book could not be more timely.' David Shukman, BBC Science Editor

'I absolutely love this book. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by the scale of the global challenges we face, then read this book. There Is No Planet B is full of practical guidance, evidence-based and robust, yet completely accessible, and sets out the difference any one of us can make. In an increasingly complex and confusing world, this book stands out as a beacon of common sense, clarity and - crucially - hope.' Caroline Lucas, Member of Parliament for Brighton Pavilion

'It asks all the searching and systemic questions I want to ask as humanity peers over a precipice ... and has a bloody good go at answering them with data, experience and integrity.' Pooran Desai, Bioregional and Oneplanet.com

'Mike Berners-Lee has a unique ability to communicate vital information on some of the world's most pressing challenges. In this highly readable book, he shows how severe our problems are, but also what we can do to reduce the threats we face.' Chris Goodall, author of Ten Technologies to Fix Ene...

Mike Berners-Lee thinks, writes, researches and consults on sustainability and responses to the challenges of the twenty-first century. He is the founder of Small World Consulting (SWC), an associate company of Lancaster University, which works with organisations from small businesses to the biggest tech giants. SWC is a leader in the field of carbon metrics, targets and actions. His previous books include How Bad Are Bananas?: The Carbon Footprint of Everything (2010) and The Burning Question: We Can't Burn Half the World's Oil, Coal, and Gas. So How Do We Quit? (2013, co-written with Duncan Clark). This book explores the big picture of climate change and the underlying global dynamics, asking what mix of politics, economics, psychology and technology is really required to deal with the problem. Berners-Lee is a professor in the Institute for Social Futures at Lancaster University, where he develops practical tools for thinking about the future, and researches the global food system and carbon metrics.

Acknowledgments; Notes on units; 1. Introduction; 2. Food; 3. More on climate and environment; 4. Energy; 5. Travel and transport; 6. Growth, money and metrics; 7. People and work; 8. Business and technology; 9. Values, truth and trust; 10. Conclusion: thinking skills for today's world; 11. Big picture summary; 12. What can I do? Summary; Appendix: climate change basics; Alphabetical quick tour; Endnotes; Index.