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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Earth for All summary
Sandrine Dixson-Decleve
Owen Gaffney
Jayati Ghosh
Jorgen Randers
Johan Rockstrom
Per Espen Stoknes
A Survival Guide for Humanity
17 mins
Brief summary
'Earth for All' by Sandrine Dixson-Decleve, Owen Gaffney, Jayati Ghosh, Jorgen Randers, Johan Rockstrom and Per Espen Stoknes details how a Healthy planet and thriving society go hand in hand; providing solutions for climate change and inequality to ensure a sustainable future.
Table of Contents
Earth for All
Summary of 4 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 4
Inequality keeps the planet from prospering.
In India, a family lose their farm. Recent rice harvests have been ravaged by drought and the profits from their meager harvests have been eroded by multinational agro-companies undercutting the sale price for rice crops. Drought-resistant rice seeds are available, but the family simply can’t afford to purchase them.
Meanwhile, in California, a billionaire boards his private jet for a 15-minute flight between two cities.
There’s something wrong with this picture.
Gross wealth inequality is one of the most pressing problems facing our planet. The richest billion people in the world consume 72 percent of the planet’s resources. The poorest 1.2 billion, most of whom reside in low-income countries, consume 1 percent. Moreover, high-income countries cause the most carbon emissions, yet low-income countries shoulder a disproportionate share of the negative effects of these emissions. Outsourcing production to low-income countries has seen wealthy corporations offload polluting manufacturing processes to the developing world.
Until low-income countries prosper economically, they will continue to struggle to implement the green technologies necessary to combat climate change that is, for them, a particularly urgent problem. Low-income countries, and indeed low-income communities within high-income countries, need a pathway out of poverty. The problem? They can’t simply emulate high-income countries which became prosperous through ecologically ruinous industrialization.
Instead, the global economic system needs a rethink.
Currently, the IMF regulates a global debt structure that sees countries borrowing and lending to each other with substantial interest. Many low-income countries are held back by massive debt obligations. Repayments – funds that could otherwise be reinvested into social and ecological initiatives – are estimated to cost some African countries 4 percent of GDP a year. This has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic which saw debt in low-income countries soar to $86 billion.
A comprehensive global debt relief package would immediately improve the economies of low-income countries. Debt weakens local currency and negatively impacts liquidity – lifting debts would strengthen currencies and free up cash to invest in social initiatives and local industry. A global Green New Deal – one that legislates against corporations investing in polluting industries in the developing world – would incentivize all economies to switch to green technologies. A carbon tax levied squarely at carbon producers – crucially, one that distinguishes between the country or corporation responsible for emissions and the country where emissions are recorded – should reduce the global carbon footprint. If intellectual property laws which protect the patents on new green technologies were relaxed, poorer countries would be able to swiftly implement ecological, sustainable farming and manufacturing processes.
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What is Earth for All about?
Earth for All (2022) is more than a book – it’s a survival guide. After centuries of industrialization, population growth, and rising inequality, our planet is now at a tipping point. We are already learning to live with pandemics, war, wildfires, and more. This guide offers timely, practical solutions for the urgent problems facing humankind.
Earth for All Review
Earth for All (2021) is a thought-provoking book that explores the urgent need for collective action in addressing the challenges our planet faces. Here's what makes this book worth reading:
- It presents a multi-faceted perspective on environmental issues, with contributions from experts in various fields, offering a comprehensive understanding of the topic.
- By providing concrete solutions to save our planet, it empowers readers to take actionable steps towards a sustainable future.
- Through its cogent arguments and accessible language, the book manages to engage readers on a complex subject, making it far from boring.
Who should read Earth for All?
- People concerned about climate change
- Activists seeking a better future
- Residents of planet Earth – in other words, all of us!
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Earth for All FAQs
What is the main message of Earth for All?
The main message of Earth for All is that we must urgently address the global challenges facing our planet and work together towards a sustainable future.
How long does it take to read Earth for All?
The reading time for Earth for All varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Earth for All a good book? Is it worth reading?
Earth for All is a compelling and informative read. It provides valuable insights into the pressing environmental issues we face and offers practical solutions for a sustainable future.
Who is the author of Earth for All?
The authors of Earth for All are Sandrine Dixson-Decleve, Owen Gaffney, Jayati Ghosh, Jorgen Randers, Johan Rockstrom, and Per Espen Stoknes.
What to read after Earth for All?
If you're wondering what to read next after Earth for All, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Nomad Century by Gaia Vince
- We Are the Weather by Jonathan Safran Foer
- The Future We Choose by Christiana Figueres
- The Skill Code by Matt Beane
- Red Flags, Green Flags by Ali Fenwick
- Focal Point by Brian Tracy
- Atlas of AI by Kate Crawford
- As A Man Thinketh by James Allen
- Super Human by Dave Asprey
- The Shortest History of Economics by Andrew Leigh