By Robin Leichenko & Karen O’Brien

Climate change is often described as the central challenge of our time. Even teaching about climate change can be profoundly challenging. Some students feel that the problem is already hopeless and that runaway climate change is inevitable. Others are more optimistic, convinced that the problem can be solved through technological innovations or through radical social change. And others may believe that humans have no influence on the climate system. In Climate and Society: Transforming the Future, we present an integrative approach to climate change that is intended to reach students who come to this issue from different places, mindsets, and worldviews. We have tried to create a textbook that is both informative and empowering, providing students with concepts, analytical frameworks, and tools to make sense of this complex issue. We also emphasize a range of openings and opportunities for equitable and sustainable solutions.

Climate and Society: Transforming the Future is designed as a primary textbook for undergraduate courses on climate change and society. It is based on the premise that climate change is a critical social challenge, but also a pivotal opportunity for transformative change. It is meant for students and general audiences who are interested in learning more about the environmental, political, economic, and cultural aspects of climate change, and about broader and deeper approaches to climate change solutions. Our aim is to bring climate change into the curriculum through a hopeful and positive message, showing students that they matter and that they can make a difference.

Some key highlights of the book include:

Robin Leichenko is Professor of Geography at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.
Karen O’Brien is Professor in the Department of Sociology and Human Geography at the University of Oslo.

Climate and Society: Transforming the Future is now available from Polity.