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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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The Future We Choose summary
Christiana Figueres
Tom Rivett-Carnac
Surviving the Climate Crisis
27 mins
Brief summary
The Future We Choose by Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac is a motivational book that emphasizes the importance of individuals taking action to combat climate change by outlining practical steps towards a sustainable future.
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The Future We Choose
Summary of 9 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 9
Unless we act now, we are on the path to an unlivable world.
Picture this. It’s morning, and you wake up and check your phone. You do this every day, not to respond to your text messages, but to read the air quality report and see if it’s safe to go outside. Through the window, you can see it’s a clear, sunny day, but your app tells you that air pollution and ozone levels are high. You will have to wear your specially designed face mask at all times.
You’ll also have to cope with the intense heat. The world is much hotter now than it was when you were young, and there’s no longer anything that can be done to change that.
The year is 2050. In another 50 years, many areas of the planet are likely to be uninhabitable.
The key message here is: Unless we act now, we are on the path to an unlivable world.
We’ll end up living in this hypothetical world even if we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and keep global warming to under 2 degrees Celsius. In other words, this is our future, regardless of whether we achieve the main target of the 2015 Paris climate agreement. And once we reach a point where we can no longer control the warming, other tipping points follow.
The melting of the Arctic ice sheets is one of the most critical. Since this white ice is responsible for reflecting large amounts of the sun’s heat away from earth, its melting proves utterly disastrous. Sea levels rise, and without the ice, we are now even more defenseless against hotter and hotter temperatures.
The rising seas also bring major flooding. Coastal cities across the globe have their infrastructure devastated, and while they flood, inland areas dry up. Heatwaves create deserts out of once-lush areas, and many places can no longer support any form of life.
Extreme weather events, like hurricanes and tropical storms, are also more common than ever. The resulting destruction kills or displaces millions of people and creates a massive refugee crisis.
Even the surviving cities aren’t exactly pleasant places to live now. In Paris, summer temperatures regularly hit 44 degrees Celsius or 111 Fahrenheit. And that’s nothing. In central India, temperatures reach 60 degrees Celsius (that’s 140 Fahrenheit) for 45 days of the year.
It’s fair to say that everyone is suffering deeply, enraged at the politicians and citizens of the past who refused to act in the face of the climate crisis.
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What is The Future We Choose about?
The Future We Choose (2020) presents us with two potential visions of life on earth: one of sweltering heat, diminishing biodiversity, and severely declining quality of life, and one where the planet’s temperature has stabilized, life flourishes, and humanity prospers. The world we choose will depend on the actions we take now, in what is a critical decade in the fight against climate change. While the prospect may seem daunting, it’s time to rise to the challenge and determine our future.
The Future We Choose Review
The Future We Choose (2020) by Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac is an essential book that explores the urgent need for global action to combat climate change. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- With a powerful call to action and concrete solutions, it empowers readers to contribute to a sustainable future and make a positive impact on the planet.
- By sharing personal stories and experiences from their work in international climate negotiations, the authors make complex scientific concepts accessible and relatable.
- The book's optimistic and hopeful tone motivates readers to take action, emphasizing the possibility of a better future if we choose to act now.
Who should read The Future We Choose?
- Climate crusaders feeling hopeless about their cause
- Anyone who wants to know how they can contribute to a sustainable world
- Those worried about the future
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The Future We Choose FAQs
What is the main message of The Future We Choose?
The main message of The Future We Choose is that we all have the power to shape a better future for our planet.
How long does it take to read The Future We Choose?
The reading time for The Future We Choose varies depending on the reader, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is The Future We Choose a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Future We Choose is worth reading for its inspiring perspective on climate action and its practical approach to creating a sustainable future.
Who is the author of The Future We Choose?
The authors of The Future We Choose are Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac.
What to read after The Future We Choose?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Future We Choose, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Necessary Revolution by Peter Senge
- Drawdown by Paul Hawken (ed.)
- How Bad Are Bananas? by Mike Berners-Lee
- Losing Earth by Nathaniel Rich
- Let It Go by Peter Walsh
- Hope for Cynics by Jamil Zaki
- Not the End of the World by Hannah Ritchie
- We Are the Weather by Jonathan Safran Foer
- Dynamic Drive by Molly Fletcher
- The Confidence Gap by Russ Harris