David Lipsky’s book, “The Parrot and the Igloo: Climate and the Science of Denial,” offers a comprehensive and unflinching examination of climate change and the efforts made by the fossil fuel industry and climate change deniers to obstruct action. Lipsky traces the history of climate science, from the discovery of the greenhouse effect by 19th-century researchers to the warnings of trailblazers like Roger Revelle and James Hansen.
These climate scientists have long recognized the risks posed by human activities and have sounded the alarm on the urgent need for action. However, Lipsky highlights the individuals who have made a career out of pushing back against the science of climate change. From scientists like S. Fred Singer and Fred Seitz, who were funded by the tobacco and fossil fuel industries to deny the dangers of secondhand smoke and climate change, to attention-seeking figures like Lord Christopher Monckton and James Delingpole, who propagated misinformation about climate science.
Lipsky also explores the motivations behind their denialism, suggesting it may stem from a response to their own career setbacks. While these stories have been told before in books like “Merchants of Doubt” and “The New Climate War,” Lipsky’s writing style and ability to translate the science could reach a new audience who may be unaware of the crimes committed in the pursuit of profit.
However, the book occasionally indulges in self-indulgent tangents and comparisons that detract from its overall impact. Threaded throughout the book are accounts of American presidents who pledged action on climate change but failed to deliver, often due to a lack of political will, industry influence, or unfortunate timing.
Overall, “The Parrot and the Igloo” aims to inform and engage readers in the urgent need to address climate change, exposing the tactics and falsehoods employed by those who seek to deny the reality of this global crisis.
The post The Parrot and the Igloo: Climate Change and Science Denial appeared first on TS2 SPACE.
