Is Science Enough?

Forty Critical Questions About Climate Justice

By: Aviva Chomsky

Narrated by: Moe Egan

Length: 8 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

Why social, racial, and economic justice are just as crucial as science in determining how humans can reverse climate catastrophe

We are facing a climate catastrophe. A plethora of studies describe the damage we’ve already done, the droughts, the wildfires, the super-storms, the melting glaciers, the heat waves, and the displaced people fleeing lands that are becoming uninhabitable. Many people understand that we are facing a climate emergency, but may be fuzzy on technical, policy, and social justice aspects. In Is Science Enough?, Aviva Chomsky breaks down the concepts, terminology, and debates for activists, students, and anyone concerned about climate change. She argues that science is not enough to change course: we need put social, racial, and economic justice front and center and overhaul the global growth economy.

Chomsky’s accessible primer focuses on 5 key issues:

1. Technical questions: What exactly are “clean,” “renewable,” and “zero-emission” energy sources? How much do different sectors (power generation, transportation, agriculture, industry, etc.) contribute to climate change? Can forests serve as a carbon sink?
2. Policy questions: What is the Green New Deal? How does a cap-and-trade system work? How does the United States subsidize the fossil fuel industry?
3. What can I do as an individual?: Do we need to consume less? What kinds of individual actions can make the most difference? Should we all be vegetarians?
4. Social, racial, and economic justice: What’s the relationship of inequality to climate change? What do race and racism have to do with climate change? How are pandemics related to climate change?
5. Broadening the lens: What is economic growth? How important is it, and how does it affect the environment? What is degrowth?

©2022 Aviva Chomsky (P)2022 Beacon Press

Critic reviews

“Chomsky makes a convincing case that capitalism bears a heavy responsibility for the current situation, and she offers a superb education on efforts to reduce emissions.” (Kirkus Reviews)

“Avi Chomsky’s essential primer on climate change goes beyond the usual scientific, technical, and policy dimensions to focus much-needed attention on the ways power and inequality matter too. It deftly and lucidly puts the impending ecological disaster in proper perspective, framing it as an environmental and social crisis.” (Chad Montrie, author of A People’s History of Environmentalism in the United States)

“In a world where everyone seems to have answers but only to the wrong questions, Chomsky offers clear, next-level inquiries into what science and technology can actually deliver. Should you buy an EV? Become a vegetarian? Invest in energy tech? Chomsky’s grounded and astute questioning charts a brave path through the dubious assumptions and hype holding us back from meaningful action.” (Ozzie Zehner, author of Green Illusions and producer of Planet of the Humans)

Narration too inflammatory

Learned a few things, especially that the USA and Europe are evil and that China and Marxist Leninist will save the planet from destruction. Also learned that since Judaism created banking and that leaving your offspring the means to live a little better than yourself is the true cause of human destruction of the planet. Amazing!
The book is bunk.