30 minutes to go! Waiting room open...
If you’ve received this email, it’s because you’ve signed up for the Climate Solutions Book Club or someone has forwarded you this email. We read one climate change related book each month and then meet up on Zoom to discuss.
If you’ve been forwarded this email and want to sign up, click the button below to sign up.
Dear All,
First, let me apologise for sending this to folks who have already said they cannot attend. (Substack doesn’t allow me to only send to some people).
I wanted to send out a last-minute reminder of details; I know what it’s like looking for emails in my inbox!
The meeting will start in 30 minutes at 7.30 pm GMT; the waiting room is now open if you want to join early!
Below, you will find information on the following:
Zoom information
March 2024 book choice and date/time
April 2024 Meeting format (a bit of a change) and date/time
Icebreaker questions
Books we’ll be voting on to read in May and June
Book club rules
Books from previous months
1. Zoom information
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84520227625?pwd=NS9BTElBK0RGS3pvZHplcVVodVNxZz09
Meeting ID: 845 2022 7625
Passcode: 403528
If you want to join by phone find your local number here: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kfUaIpunW
2. March 2024 book choice (meeting - 21 March at 19.30 GMT)
The book that was chosen by attendees of the last book club meeting we’ll be read in March 2024 was Five Times Faster: Rethinking the Science, Economics, and Diplomacy of Climate Change by Simon Sharpe. You can find more information on this book on Good Reads here.
3. April 2024 Meeting (meeting - 18 April at 19.30 BST)
There was a suggestion at last January’s meeting that maybe we should pick a climate solution to research and then discuss at one of our meetings. I really liked this idea and would like to give it a go.
So, for April’s meeting, we shall discuss three of Project Drawdown’s top 10 solutions to climate change (under the 1.5C scenario) for discussion.
A good starting point for reading would be the Project Drawdown descriptions for each solution (linked below)
If you would like to consider how each one of these solutions is/could be implemented in your local area (it’s up to you what you consider local town, region, state, country, continent, hemisphere).
4. Icebreaker questions
In the unlikely event of awkward silences, here are a few icebreaker questions. It's completely voluntary to use them or not.
Did you learn anything new or surprising from this book?
Did you enjoy the style of this book?
Are there lingering questions from the book you’re still thinking about?
If you could ask the author anything, what would it be?
Does this book have any insights on how the political system can be changed to protect the environment better?
Did this book inspire you to take any actions on behalf of the planet, and if so, what actions did you take or are you planning to take?
5. Books we’ll be voting for to read in May and June
These are the five books we’ll vote on in our meeting this Thursday (21st March) to read in May and June.
Wasteland: The Secret World of Waste and the Urgent Search for a Cleaner Future by Oliver Franklin-Wallis. You can find more information on this book on Good Reads here.
Energy and Equity by Ivan Illich. You can find more information on this book on Good Reads here.
Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World by John Vaillant. You can find more information on this book on Good Reads here.
The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable by Amitav Ghosh. You can find more information on this book on Good Reads here.
Survival of the Richest: Escape Fantasies of the Tech Billionaires by Douglas Rushkoff. You can find more information on this book on Good Reads here.
6. Book Club Rules
Rule 1 - Do: Talk about book club!
An excellent side effect of this book club would be more conversations about climate change. Talking about climate change is one of the most important things you could do to fight climate change. A great TED talk here if you are interested.
Rule 2 - Do: Read the book (or at least attempt to)
I get it. Sometimes, you don’t have time to read or dislike the book so much that you can’t bring yourself to finish it. Either way, do try to read each meeting’s book to contribute to the discussion.
Rule 3 - Do: Speak up
Don’t be afraid to share your thoughts, even if you disagree with the rest of your group. If everyone says the same thing, there won’t be much in the way of interesting discussion. So, let your unique voice be heard.
Rule 4 - Don’t: Steamroll or abruptly interrupt
Don't hog the conversation. Everyone's opinion matters, so it's essential to ensure everyone gets a chance to express themselves.
Rule 5 - Don’t: Feel like you have to weigh in every time.
If you don’t feel like you have something unique to say on a particular topic of conversation, it’s okay to listen. No need to repeat what others have already said!
Rule 6 - Do: Take your turn and be polite.
Sometimes, multiple people will want to contribute at the same time. If you end up in the awkward situation of talking at the same time, graciously let the other person go first and then add on to what they say.
Rule 7 - Don’t: Force anyone to contribute.
Putting a fellow book club member on the spot can make them feel uncomfortable. So instead, keep the environment welcoming, so everyone is encouraged to share their thoughts when they’re ready.
Rule 8 - Don’t: Veer away from the book
It can be easy to get sidetracked and begin talking about other books, the latest episode of You, or real life. Staying on the subject will keep the book club focused and fun.
7. Books from previous months
Some folks asked for a list of the previous books we’ve read. You can find a list of them here. You can click on each on the books to open a space to comment on the book and read other’s comments too.
If you have any questions drop me an email.
Best wishes,
Paul