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“An excellent layman’s perspective of the climate problem today, how it has evolved over time, and the different approaches to solving the problem. I recommend it highly.”
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“Provides a clear understanding of the technical complexities of reaching zero carbon. Hampshire-Waugh approaches the subject with intellectual rigour, boundless curiosity, and compelling story telling. A must read for anyone interested in climate change and net-zero.”
“The Author’s sustainability story takes us from the 18th century through to the present day. Insightful and inspiring!”
“Mathew brings his wide ranging experience of financial markets, particularly in modelling and forecasting, to add a unique insight to the climate challenge. On one hand, helping us understand how fossil fuels drove prosperity and let the world’s population escape the poverty trap, whilst on the other how rising levels of CO2 in the atmosphere placed the world at mortal risk. In this book, Mathew’s financial understanding comes to the fore, revealing why we need a sound understanding of economics, climate science and financial modelling to give us the signals we need to act today.”
“The book that says it all and answers all questions. A comprehensive account of the history of humanity that has led to not only increased prosperity, but also climate change. And the actions and systems change that is now required to prevent dangerous global warming.
Backed by data, analysis and science, Hampshire-Waugh explains how climate change, if left unchecked, threatens to unravel 200 years of human progress. But it need not end this way. The author shows that building a net zero carbon economy is within human reach through focused innovation, riding down the experience curve and reaching scale in clean energy technologies and solutions. Mathew shows how we can solve climate change and air pollution whilst driving development in the poorest parts of the world, and without compromise for those already accustomed to the highest quality of life. Hampshire-Waugh lays out the economic, technological, social and political considerations, showing that even with a global population growing to at least 10 billion, we can achieve greater human progress and prosperity with much lower energy consumption, at a much lower cost, through a net-zero transition. Our efforts to scale up and invest in clean energy technologies over the next 20 years will determine life on earth for the next 100.
Mathew shares his personal journey to net-zero and the changes he and his family have made to reduce their personal carbon emissions without any compromises to lifestyle. Showing that together we can shape the future and empower change.”
- GEETU SHARMA, FOUNDER OF ALPHASFUTURE LLC, A SUSTAINABILITY FOCUSED INVESTMENT BUSINSESS.
Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite
Five Stars
Climate Change and the Road to Net-Zero by Mathew Hampshire-Waugh is a layman-friendly discourse on the pressing issues of climate change and how we, as a species, have dramatically changed the natural landscape, and the power that we possess to take action in living harmoniously with Mother Nature. Hampshire-Waugh brings you his years of experience as an equity analyst and forecaster of technology trends and financial performances to give you a front seat view of both sides of the coin: how fossil fuels contributed to economic advancement, while at the same time, placing Earth on life support for the rising levels of greenhouse gas emissions. He uses his financial training to emphasize the need for economic and environmental literacy not just to pay attention to the chronic symptoms of climate change but to take action now.
Another important factor that you can learn from Mathew Hampshire-Waugh's book is that we all possess a certain moral value we can use for nature’s benefit and a means of spreading kindness to one another. To take action in keeping climate change in check is to protect life and health and is a giant act of respect for humanity. The feasibility of a net-zero carbon economy is not far from reach, and it can go hand in hand with technological advances without any compromise. As of this review, clean energy technologies are becoming recognized among major industries, and it is to be hoped that facts and studies presented in Climate Change and the Road to Net-Zero will further sustain and inspire all of us to curb climate change. Investing in clean energy that will sustain life on Earth for generations.
From the Author
I wrote CLIMATE CHANGE and the road to NET-ZERO to provide a generalist reader with a clear, comprehensive, and objective take on the issues surrounding climate change and air pollution. The book walks the reader through a history of energy, innovation, and the rise of human civilisation; how scientists have come to understand our past climate and can now forecast future change; the problems economists encounter as they attempt to piece together the potential monetary and social damages from climate inaction; and a technology agnostic assessment of potential climate change solutions (from climate-engineering to mitigation) including their costs, risks, and limitations.
The book demonstrates why sustainable technologies such as wind, solar, and batteries get cheaper with scale of production, not time, and why a rapid transition to a fully-fledged net-zero system will end up significantly cheaper than remaining bound to fossil fuels, whilst also avoiding the worst impacts of climate change, and preventing nearly eight million premature deaths each year from air pollution.
I hope Climate Change and the road to Net-Zero delivers an understanding of humanity’s relationship with Earth that is as intriguing as Simon Lewis and Mark Maslin’s The Human Planet, or Yuval Noah Harari’s Sapiens. I very much hope too that the book conveys the passion and call to action of David Wallace-Well’s The Uninhabitable Earth, coupled with the sober economic analysis of The Climate Casino by William Nordhaus or Capital in the 21st century by Thomas Piketty, and that it provides the technical rigour of Sustainable Energy Without The Hot Air by David MacKay, the rationality of Hans Rosling’s Factfulness, and the eternal hope of The Future We Choose by Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac.
I believe net-zero will be cheaper, cleaner, safer, more reliable, more sustainable, and will create more employment than if we remain bound to fossil fuels. After reading the book, I hope you will agree.
- Mathew Hampshire-Waugh, Author.