Climate Crisis and the Global Green New Deal

The Political Economy of Saving the Planet

By: Noam Chomsky, Robert Pollin, C.J. Polychroniou - Introduction

Narrated by: James Patrick Cronin

Length: 4 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's Summary

An engaging conversation with our most respected public intellectual around how a global Green New Deal has the potential to save humanity and the planet

The environmental crisis under way is unique in human history. It is a true existential crisis. Those alive today will decide the fate of humanity. Meanwhile, the leaders of the most powerful state in human history are dedicating themselves with passion to destroying the prospects for organized human life. At the same time, there is a solution at hand, which is the Green New Deal. 

Putting meat on the bones of the Green New Deal starts with a single simple idea: We have to absolutely stop burning fossil fuels to produce energy within the next 30 years at most; and we have to do this in a way that also supports rising living standards and expanding opportunities for working people and the poor throughout the world. This version of a Green New Deal program is, in fact, entirely realistic in terms of its purely economic and technical features. The real question is whether it is politically feasible. 

Chomsky and Pollin examine how we can build the political force to make a global Green New Deal a reality.

©2020 Noam Chomsky, Robert Pollin, C. J. Polychroniou (P)2020 Tantor

What was the purpose of this book?

I should preface that I am not a “denier”; I wholly acknowledge our dire circumstance. I do not rate this book a single star because I do not believe in the crisis.

I need not say that Noam’s previous work is brilliant - that is kind of an accepted statement by now. Part of his brilliance has been his ability to remove political bias (as well as other biases) and maintain objectivity as he reveals facts, layering one on top of another, to build a credible representation of reality. From what I can recall he rarely, if ever, throws in the trite comment or a low blow. Nor does he engage in speculative practices of stating unfounded motives of actions. I can go on... the point is that his approach is relevant here. He avoids the rhetoric that any healthy skepticism can easily disarm and then ignore as it reeks of bias - he appears to care more about the truth than being right. His approach is how you convince people that what they know just isn’t so. Ipso facto, I had high hopes that he could be a beacon of reason that could bridge ideological gaps. Unfortunately it appears that his reputation is being hijacked.

This book as well as consequences of capitalism have moments of stark divergence from his established style. I will assume it is the influence of the coauthors who are trying to gain influence by associating their positions with his reputation. The overall effect is obvious. At times, I had to force myself to keep reading. It lacked the scholarly rigor and thoughtful reasoning of his previous work.

Back to my review subject line, what was the purpose of this book?? It is political propaganda. In order to make a noticeable change we need to have everyone buy in - they must convince themselves the problems are real and we need to change. Just the title of the book will turn away most of the people that need to read it. That alone is hurting more than helping. Most of the people who will even take the time to read it are already convinced of the problem - again, what is the purpose of this?

If any deniers do read it, they will close their minds in the first chapters as the text blames President Trump for the world’s problems. Let’s be clear, Trump won in 2016 because he was running against HRC. It is that simple. Can we really say HRC is any better? An obvious example of political bias in this text is when republican legislators are prosecuted for contributing to the migration crisis at southern US boarder, by way of their policies in Guatemala. The book fails to mention President Obama’s work in Honduras. If political bias influenced this part, what else did it influence? The entire book loses credibility by association. This is atypical of Chomsky.

The democrats and republicans are in an irrational feud that will destroy our world. The are different sides of the same coin. The coin is the problem. Neoliberal policies are defended by both parties. This book will do nothing to convince the people we need to convince. The policies discussed are poorly designed. If they try to ram them through legislation then we should all be concerned

Disappointing

i generally enjoy books by Chomsky not because i agree with him, but because his well reasoned arguments are a wonderful challenge to contrary beliefs. this book was the exception. openly Marxist, anti western, anti capitalist , and completely biased.
the book does contain a lot of good information, and ideas. so may still be worth reading

Excellent Outline of Plan to Tackle Climate Change

This book proposes a global plan to tackle the climate change targets set by the IPCC (global net zero emissions by 2050). The plan laid out by the authors provides reasonable guidelines for an egalitarian transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. This book is not an introductory book on climate change. It assumes the basic knowledge and understanding that climate change is due to human greenhouse gas emission, and is an imminent danger to the environment and human civilization. The book focuses on a realistic and applicable solution to climate change. I highly recommend this book to anyone who cares about the environment and wants to have a better understanding of policy changes we can make to help us tackle the significant problems we face.

a easy listening

easy listening for those interested in having a planet for our children and grandchildren.

Good, not great

All good info, but too much of the content is framed in what I think is politically inflammatory language.

Insightful!

Incredibly insightful. Now I fully understand why the social aspect of the Green New Deal is indispensable.

Must read for the survival of Human kind

Must read for the survival of Humanity and the urgent action to save the planet from collapse.

time is running out

such important information about our world and where we are headed. Learn, people. We don't have much time.

Clearly explains the problem and provides a doable solution

This book provides a clear explanation as to why we are stagnated in resolving the crisis and offers doable solutions to stop the crisis while to an extent reconciling capitalist interests which would keep us doing nothing to preserve our planet.

A wake up call to humanity

A really easy listen, terrifying subject matter. Chomsky and Pollin discuss the action needed to save humanity, and how it will benefit us all

A must-read for surviving the Climate Crisis!

A gift from Noam Chomsky who appears to be handing over the baton to the astute economist Robert Polin in explaining what we all need to know about the way the world is not working. A brilliant, concise and clear explanation of our current problems, why they will literally be the end of us if we don't change course, and how to steer in the right direction. Listen to this. Read it. Please.

Real food for thought

I found this very thought provoking and it answered some questions I'd had in the past very eloquently.