The Rise Of Climate Change Literature 

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time, and it's no wonder that it has caught the attention of both fiction and non-fiction writers alike. From dystopian novels to data-driven analyses, there are countless books that explore the impacts of global warming on our planet and our society.

In the last few years, the popularity of climate change literature has skyrocketed, as people become more aware of the urgent need to address the issue. In this light, recent books like “The New Climate War: The Fight to Take Back Our Planet” by Michael E Mann, “Greenhouse Planet” by Professor Lewis Ziska, Amitav Ghosh’s “The Living Mountain” are gaining a lot of traction and have caught the attention of avid readers, policymakers, experts and observers. 

“The New Climate War: The Fight to Take Back Our Planet” (2021) by Michael E Mann is a compelling analysis of the climate change movement, its challenges, and the strategies required to overcome them. Mann, Presidential Distinguished Professor of Earth & Environmental Science at the University of Pennsylvania, argues that the climate war has entered a new phase, in which entrenched interests, including fossil fuel companies and their political allies, have adopted new tactics to undermine the climate movement. Prarthana Borah, Director, CDP, India is very keen on reading The New Climate War as she has heard rave reviews about it. “But if you ask me nothing can beat Tim Flannery's “Weather Makers”. It was one of the first and one of the best,” says Borah. 

Amitav Ghosh is a renowned Indian author who has made significant contributions to contemporary literature, particularly in the areas of history, culture, and identity. In recent years, Ghosh has also turned his attention to the urgent issue of climate change, addressing it through his writing. His latest book “The Living Mountain” delves into the issue of climate change through the lens of human history and literature. The book is a collection of essays that explores the complex relationship between humans and nature, and how it has been shaped over time. Ghosh draws on his experiences of living in various parts of the world, from the Sundarbans in India to the Arctic Circle, to illustrate the impact of climate change on different ecosystems and cultures. 

Some of his past novels on the subject include "The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable," “Gun Island” and “Nutmeg’s Curse. In “The Great Derangement” he argued that the Western idea of human exceptionalism has created a false sense of separation between humans and the natural world, leading to the belief that humans can control and exploit the environment without consequences, whereas "Gun Island" explores the impact of climate change on human society and culture. In addition to his novels, Ghosh has also written essays and given lectures on climate change, urging society to take action to address the crisis. 

Damandeep Singh, Associate Partner in the Climate Change and Sustainability Services (CCaSS) practice of EY India, recently read “India in a Warming World" by Navroz K Dubash and is now starting with Amitav Ghosh’s “The Nutmeg’s Curse”. “India in a Warming World” published in 2019, explores India's involvement with climate change and contends that there is no longer a road to development free from the effects of climate change, thus India, like other nations, must address the issue. Singh is also planning to read “How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need” by Bill Gates published in 2021. Gates provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of the climate crisis and provides a clear and compelling roadmap for how we can mitigate the effects of climate change and prevent a global catastrophe.

Specific to Indian context is "Heavy Metal: How a Global Corporation Poisoned Kodaikanal", by journalist-author Ameer Shahul which probes the worst mercury poisoning incident in Indian history, in Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu. The book published by PanMacmillan India was released just a few days ago. 

CO2 is plant food, of course, but too much of it doesn’t benefit plants, says Professor Lewis Ziska, in his latest book "Greenhouse Planet". The author underlines in his book that the increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is altering the climate and has the potential to cause significant damage to global food systems. 

For those who want to explore some old classics, there is "The Uninhabitable Earth" by David Wallace-Wells, "This Changes Everything" by Naomi Klein, and "The Sixth Extinction" by Elizabeth Kolbert. These books present the facts and the science behind climate change in a way that is accessible and compelling to readers. 

There are some really intriguing fiction books woven around the subject of the environmental crisis, like Margaret Atwood's "MaddAddam" trilogy and Paolo Bacigalupi's "The Water Knife. They offer a glimpse into the possible consequences of inaction and serve as a warning of what could happen if we don't take action now.