No Miracles Needed: How Today's Technology Can Save Our Climate and Clean Our Air Paperback – 2 Feb. 2023

Very important book for everybody, including policymakers, to read.Everybody needs to understand the content of this book.

A handbook for ditchling fossil fuels with detailed descriptions of all the existing technologies that can today (2023) make that happen. And a useful resource to give detailed answers to those who say ‘but what happens if the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine’.

I bought this because I read his 2009 paper and was impressed.Although this is a good overview of the technology, I was struck by several inaccuracies about subjects where I had done a lot of research myself. Here are a few examples:Hydrogen - he says liquefying hydrogen uses 13% of the fuel's energy. The true figure is 30% plus as quoted in all other sources I have checked. This is important as it is a limiting factor in the use of this fuel.Efficiency of ICE cars vs battery cars - he says ICE cars are only 17-20% efficient. This kind of efficiency refers to ancient gas guzzlers and modern engines easily achieve 30% plus. This inaccuracy gives critics an easy target and undermines an otherwise good case.Air source heat pumps - he claims they are only suitable for mild climates, but that just isn't true. They are by far the main source of heating in Scandinavia, which is hardly mild. By imposing this limitation he is unnecessarily undermining his case.Those are just the howlers I spotted. This kind of sloppy research makes me feel reluctant to reference this book elsewhere.

Clearly written, comprehensive review of how the world can transition to zero carbon, wind, water and solar energy, saving millions of lives annually, the casualties of current air pollution from fossil fuel burning. And of course saving the climate from devastating heating which will destroy most of the world's agriculture in a few decades under 'buiness as usual'. The wartime scale investment needed for transition will provide a major stimulus to all economies, generating close to full employment for the first (peace)- time in history.Essential reading for all politicians and voters.

The main message is that, although the continuation of human civilisation is at risk from climate change, we can solve the problems through existing technology. Those technologies are WWS - Wind, Water, Sun. It only needs the informed support of everyone - Governments and individuals- to make it happen.

Bought this as it sounded a great call to arms peice but it's so badly written it's hard to get into it. It's basically got the structure of an academic book but they've dumbed it down, so you're left with a hard to read mess which feels condensending at times. The editor should be taken out and shot