Five Times Faster: Rethinking the Science, Economics, and Diplomacy of Climate Change

Economist Sharpe, a senior fellow at the World Resources Institute, debuts with an idealistic guide to fighting global warming. Asserting that radical changes in thinking need to be made within the climate movement, Sharpe calls for activists and policymakers to unite behind the goal of decarbonizing “the world economy five times faster than we currently are.” Among other methods to shake up the “equilibrium” favored by current economic models, Sharpe contends that governments need to develop proper risk assessments that demonstrate the dangers of climate change to their citizens, that massive investments in renewable energy are needed, and that carbon taxes have done little to decrease global warming. He also claims that stringent regulations against fossil fuels will spur innovations in heating, transportation, and other sources of greenhouse gases. Though Sharpe’s prose is crisp and urgent, he doesn’t fully reckon with the political obstacles that stand in the way of such radical shifts in economic and public policy. Still, this is a stimulating and well-intentioned call for change. (June)