“People think we’re raising the alarm because human pressures are increasing, but that’s not the case at all. It’s just that we are learning how the planet works, and the more we learn, the more we realize how vulnerable she is.” — p. 27
As controversial subjects go, climate change is near the top of the list. It is a complicated topic that requires scientists and politicians to communicate clearly in a way that people can understand. That is a tall order for those responsible for guiding the public.
One challenge is that scientific research is often difficult to translate into language that the average person can easily understand. Scientists work with specialized terminology, complex models, and enormous spans of time that are essential to their work but can overwhelm non-specialists. Once a discussion begins with, “Four billion years ago, when the Earth was formed…,” they lose half of their audience. Most of us have trouble remembering what happened 10 or 20 years ago, so trying to grasp events that unfolded over billions of years can feel almost impossible. That communication gap makes an already difficult subject even harder to understand.
Politicians face a different challenge. Climate policy is often shaped not only by science but also by economic interests, competing priorities, and the realities of winning elections. As a result, the public frequently receives mixed messages, making it difficult to know whom to trust. Consider, for example, the recent decision to reduce the size of two national monuments in Utah that are sacred to Native Americans in order to expand drilling, mining, and logging. Supporters argue that the decision promotes economic development and energy independence, while critics see it as sacrificing cultural heritage and environmental protection. It is no surprise that many people are left wondering what the right path forward should be.
I have come to the conclusion—and I think I have mentioned this to other bloggers—that it will take a series of catastrophic events before we truly take climate change seriously. That is why I found Intervention Earth by Gwynne Dyer to be such an excellent book. It helps readers understand the basics of the problem while also exploring the different ways we might address it.
The book was recommended by my blogging friend, Jane Fritz, in January of last year. She is no longer blogging, but I want to thank her for this wonderful recommendation.
After finishing the book, I did not feel as though I should panic because the world is about to end. It is definitely not one of those books filled only with doom and gloom. Instead, Dyer strikes an effective balance between explaining the urgency of climate change and offering hope. He argues that although humanity will face significant challenges, we also have an extraordinary ability to adapt and survive.
The author presents the material in a clear and accessible way through four parts: The Planetary Trajectory, All About Emissions, Climate Geopolitics, and Desperate Scientists and Last-Ditch Ideas. As part of his research, he interviewed more than 100 scientists, climate experts, and other professionals. He also includes a list of those experts in the back of the book so readers can research their qualifications and work further if they choose.
I never fully understood the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C (2.7°F) until I read this book. There is so much political noise surrounding the issue that it is refreshing to return to credible sources that explain the science in plain language.
Part Two was my favorite, especially Chapter 6, in which the author examines today’s major energy sources—solar, nuclear, wind, and others—along with emerging technologies, carefully explaining the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Here are a few of the passages that stood out to me:
“Our planet is considerably further from the sun than Venus is. It will not experience the extreme conditions of that planet until the sun has heated up another 6 percent…actual human extinction is quite unlikely.” (p. 11)
On the importance of Arctic ice:
“The loss of the sea ice and of snow cover on land (both of which bounce most incoming sunlight back into space) will speed the warming throughout the region…the glacial melt-water raises the world’s sea levels.” (p. 32)
On hysteresis:
“Hysteresis. This is a term in physics which means that it’s easier to go through a change in one direction than to come back the opposite way. If raising the temperature by two degrees melts the Greenland ice cap, it will take considerably more than two degrees of cooling to start the ice growing again.” (p. 35)
On SUVs:
“The soaring popularity of Sport Utility Vehicles…is cancelling out almost all the emissions saved by the switch to electric.” (p. 114)
On agriculture:
“The biggest single source of greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture is livestock and manure: 5.8%…most of this is methane produced by ruminants: cattle, sheep, and goats…Methane is a relatively short-lived gas—most of it will decompose into carbon dioxide within 10 years—but during that decade it has eighty-six times the warming effect of a comparable volume of CO₂.” (pp. 127–132)
On the Arctic:
“The Arctic is now warming three or four times faster than the rest of the planet, and that’s already having major effects on the climate even in temperate parts of the Northern Hemisphere.” (p. 191)
Chapter 12 explores geoengineering techniques designed to combat climate change, including Carbon Dioxide Removal and Solar Radiation Management—an idea inspired by volcanic eruptions that release sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere and temporarily cool the planet. I found it fascinating to learn what scientists are currently researching and the enormous technical, political, and financial challenges involved. The author argues that these methods should be considered only as a last resort, but if that day comes, governments will have little choice but to invest the necessary resources.
Toward the end of the book, the author makes an observation that gave me pause. It reminds us that time is not on our side and that geoengineering, while possible, cannot replace reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
“The problem is too much heat and we know the solution: stop emitting greenhouse gases, then take the excess back out of the atmosphere to restore the atmosphere to what it was in, say, 1990. Unfortunately, that is a two-stage task: thirty years to stop GHG (greenhouse gases) emissions (Net Zero 2050), then another 50–100 years to remove the excess carbon dioxide and get back to an atmosphere and a temperature that suits us and all the other species that inhabit this planet.” (p. 304)
Politicians will likely continue to kick the can down the road, as the saying goes, delaying difficult decisions so they can maximize short-term political or economic gains while leaving future generations to deal with the consequences. In many ways, it reminds me of the ongoing debates surrounding the Social Security system in the United States.
This is an excellent book that will help readers better understand what climate change is and the options available to address it. I highly recommend it, even if, for whatever reason, you remain skeptical about climate change. At the very least, it provides a solid understanding of what the debate is about. Hopefully, it will also help you make better-informed decisions when the time comes to evaluate public policies and the proposals offered by our political leaders.
About the Author:1
Michael Gwynne Dyer is a British-Canadian military historian, author, professor, journalist, broadcaster, and retired naval officer. Dyer rose to prominence in the 1980s with the release of his television series War in 1983 and the publication of an accompanying book in 1985. Since the 1960s he has lived in London, England, where he works as a syndicated columnist. Dyer is a noted expert in Middle Eastern affairs, having completed his graduate work in this area and written several books on the subject. More recently he has focused on climate change and its geopolitical consequences.
Thoughts about leadership, history, and more 
Thanks for your review of this book, Edward. I am putting it on my reading list.
You’re right that politicians seem unable to think beyond the next election cycle. It’s sad and frightening that so many environmental policies that were moving us in the right direction have been rolled back.
As my community is currently experiencing the worst air quality in the world thanks to wildfire smoke, it’s beyond me how anyone can deny the impacts of climate change. This didn’t happen until about 5 years ago. Now it happens every summer.
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You’re welcome, Michelle. I’m sure you’re going to like the book. I think he did a great job capturing the issue and presenting what the scientific community is doing. The rollbacks and policy changes are insane. It’s like coal mining in the U.S.—instead of figuring out how to transition miners to new jobs, the government just pushes to keep the mines open, showing zero regard for the miners’ health. It’s just incredible. Yes, it seems like things are getting worse. Just reading about how bad it was in Europe a week or two ago should raise a red flag.
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Melting/disappearing glaciers; rising sea levels; extreme weather events — we’re in trouble! Ditto for many other species on the planet.
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I agree. We are getting into dangerous territory, so it’s good to learn as much as we can and try to help as best we can.
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This is a timely, important, and eye-opening book. Whatever we can do, as individuals or societies, to drop our CO₂ emissions (and other pollutants) will be of great help and an expression of care for Mother Earth, who always cares for us everyday, in many ways. Not belittling our active role in trying to amend the situation, it’s important to be aware that the Earth itself has its own warming and cooling cycles (well-known by the geologists), which help regulate, reset, and refresh life on the planet, and its own resilience, which is far bigger than what we can fully grasp, no matter our scientific and technological advancements. I truly believe that Mother Earth will make it, one way or another; the question is, will we as a species? Thank you, Edward, for this great post. Much enjoyed!!! Lots of light and blessings to you, always, my friend! 🙏✨
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Thank you very much, Susana. 🙏🏼 I completely agree with you, and I appreciate you highlighting the resilience piece. With your background, you definitely know much more about this than I do! I imagine the 1.5°C goal is closely connected to that resilience, giving the planet more time to adjust to these new conditions.
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“No one knows the time nor the hour”.
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Indeed!
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this administration is taking us the opposite way. with all the data centers, bringing back coal (why?), and basically anything to make the billionaires into trillionaires… and what is happening in utah’s national monuments is sacrilege
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I know, it’s crazy how we’re trying to go back to the old ways instead of innovating and cutting back on fossil fuels. The situation in Utah doesn’t make any sense.
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A terrific review, Edward. This book sounds like a good way for people who don’t know much about climate change to demystify the topic. Sadly, such people won’t read a book like this because they are determined to remain ignorant and maintain a convenient belief that has no scientific basis.
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Thank you so much, Robbie. You’re right that some people won’t read this book, especially if they are deniers or simply uninterested in what’s going on. I think it’s perfect for people like me: those who know the climate is changing and negatively affecting the planet, but don’t fully understand the underlying causes.
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Yes, it’s perfect for people like you and me who are interested in understanding the issues. I just wish there were more of us.
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I agree. That’s why it’s so important to keep discussing this issue, so we can reach those who are willing to listen.
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An excellent and thought-provoking review. You present the book’s central arguments with clarity while encouraging a balanced consideration of the scientific, ethical, and policy dimensions of climate intervention. It is a timely reminder that addressing climate change requires informed dialogue, responsible innovation, and global collaboration. Thank you for sharing this valuable perspective.
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You’re very welcome, and thank you for your comment, John.
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I don’t know if some little islands in the Philippines still exists in the coming decades due to world’s rising sea level. This book sounds eye-opening, and I hope it will reach a wide audience to remind us to protect Earth for the next generation to come.
Wonderful, descriptive review, Edward and I like your customized mug. It made me smile.
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Thank you so much, Hazel. Great point about sea levels due to climate change and how it’s going to affect islands in the Philippines and the rest of the Pacific, in addition to the Caribbean and other coastal cities. It’s good to get informed and support different global initiatives to save our environment. I really appreciate your comment about the mug! I was really happy with how it turned out.
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My pleasure, Edward!
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🤗
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Wow – fascinating book and review, Edward. And I LOVE your coffee cup sitting next to it!
Time is not on our side. That part seems clear. Love the snippets you provide into some of the hot topics. I think you’re right that our leadership seems intent in punting it down the road but hopefully getting educated by books like this will help us create some action. Thank you, my friend!
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Thank you so much, Wynne. I’m really happy with how the logo on the mug turned out. It’s time to have some swag! 😆 It’s definitely important that we get educated about this issue now, but I’m afraid most people will wait until the last minute to learn what they can, which means decisions will be rushed.
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Wonderful and thoughtful review. I appreciate how you approached this topic with a desire to understand rather than simply react. I also like your point that clear communication matters. Well done Edward…
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Thank you very much, Willie.
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Edward, thanks for bringing Gwynne Dyer’s book to our attention and for your review.
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You’re so welcome, Rosaliene, and thank you because I know this is a subject that you discuss often.
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Your last sentence Edward is a very good reason to read this book: “Hopefully, it will also help you make better-informed decisions when the time comes to evaluate public policies and the proposals offered by our political leaders.” We need to know what we need to know, and we need to get better at sharing our knowledge with our political leaders. The more accurate information we attain, the better we can direct our politicians. In Minnesota our Boundary Waters are in danger. The U.S. Senate voted 50-49 to overturn a 20-year mineral withdrawal that had protected 225,378 acres of public land from mining. Surveys show that 70% of Minnesotans support a ban on sulfide-ore copper mining in the Boundary Waters, but if they don’t raise their voices to their politicians, how will the politicians know what their voters want? (I miss Jane’s blogging.)
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Excellent point, Rose. Those actions at the city and state level matter, and the public needs to be informed in order to tell our representatives what we expect from them. I know elections are expensive, but something like that should be brought to a vote as a ballot measure, letting the people decide. Yes, I missed her writing too.
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this is something of utmost importance, we have to do what we can to help our planet
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Absolutely! Even though the author focuses on the large-scale actions we need to take, he also includes things individuals can do to help.
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Coincidentally, the topic of the keynote speaker at the Author Fest I attended on Saturday was that fiction, particularly science fiction and speculative fiction, can play an important role in finding solutions to climate change. I’ve linked the video of her talk in my blog post tomorrow.
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Cool! Thank you, and I’ll definitely watch the video. That’s really interesting, because Rebecca actually just mentioned a novel called The Ministry for the Future. Apparently, it has some great insights regarding the lifestyle changes we might need to adopt.
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You’re welcome! I’d love to hear what you think of Julie’s talk.
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Absolutely!
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I believe we’re only damning ourselves but not changing our ways. We’re like alcoholics who don’t want to admit that alcohol is killing them. Mother Earth will adjust as it did after the dinosaurs and the ice age. That must have been a hard book to write.
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I agree with your comment, especially about how hard it must have been to write this book. I think the author did an excellent job, and I’m sure he struggled a bit with translating what scientists were saying into something that could be easily understood by the majority of readers. When you finish reading, you get a sense that scientists know we are not going to change our behavior, so they are looking for alternatives to bypass humans in order to save the planet. Thank you, JT.
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Thanks for your review, Edward. I appreciate your insights. It’s so hard to find credible sources — and even those sometimes dip into sensationalism, which doesn’t tend to serve as the wakeup call that they hope to get. It’s nice to see a level, factual, essay on the subject.
And… Look at your coffee mug! That’s so cool! Hugs.
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You’re so welcome, Teagan. This book surprised me because it presented the information without sensationalizing it. That was a big plus for me. Thank you for noticing the mug. I was so happy when it arrived!
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Very interesting and reader-friendly Edward!! I might just send this to my Dad, he’s of the old school thinking that refuses to believe climate change is real. And LOVE the mug! So cool!! 👏🏽
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The book was an easy and fast read. The author does a great job of explaining things—probably because his military background helped in that area. Your dad might enjoy it since it’s not one of those books that tries to make the issue bigger than it is. I’m glad you noticed the mug! I created the logo and ordered the mug with it, and I think it came out really nice. Thank you, CJ.
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It’s super cool!
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Thanks! 😊
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As Vicki said, we all have a responsibility to become necessarily informed. And, I would add, to repair the world. Time is short, unless, of course, there is some miraculous discovery that will wave its magic wand and eliminate all our ills. Thanks, Edward.
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You’re welcome, Dr. Stein. I couldn’t agree more. I didn’t know that scientists were looking so hard for alternatives (that miraculous discovery) to save the day before the planet reaches the point of no return. This book was very illuminating in that respect.
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Your review sounds as if someone is truly interested in climate change, this is the book to read, Edward. Sadly, I wonder how large the audience is for this credible source? Politicians and manufacturers are all about income, and considering our environmental needs doesn’t fit the picture. You certainly are correct about that final passage. Oh, my.
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Right? That’s a long time to get us to the right place. I don’t think the audience is big enough to make a difference. Sadly, social media is the main source of information nowadays, and people get stuck in echo chambers, hearing only one side of the story. It’s better to start getting educated now, because the time will come when we need to choose the right policies and make sacrifices if we want to save the planet for future generations. Thank you, Mary.
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Thank you so much for this, Edward. The data about SUV’s eclipsing any gains from EV’s in startling. I’d not heard that. It feels like one’s civic duty these days to become more informed — armed with facts and science and data. Appreciate your review. 💝
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You’re so welcome, Vicki. He reported 40% of SUV sales, but it’s probably higher now that incentives to buy electric cars are gone. Of course, people prefer trucks and big SUVs to regular vehicles for some reason. Getting informed is going to be important because decisions will need to be made, and trying to learn things at the last minute is no bueno. It’s like doing an all-nighter in college, failing the test the next day, and wondering what happened. Thank you, my friend.
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Wow…yes! Like pulling an all-nighter…yes! Dedication is required in order to be informed and take action. Sustained dedication, vigilance, awareness and advocacy! Thank you for all of this. 💝
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You’re so welcome. 🫶🏼
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Thanks for another thoughtful review Edward. It sounds like a well written book, and a very important topic. I believe we need to take bold action now rather than keep kicking the can down the road.
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You’re welcome, and absolutely. There are a lot of things we can do to help the environment. I hadn’t realized that eliminating beef was such a simple way to help, and I’m glad that I cut it out of my diet after my gallbladder removal.
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Thanks for your review of this interesting book, Edward. You don’t shy away from topics that are difficult, and I like that. It is interesting that blogger friend Rosaliene talks about climate crisis as well in her recent post. The science that Dyer presents is important to ground us, the interconnectednness that Dr. Kyle Powys Whyte talks about in his writing seems key to our unity in confronting the changes in a unified way; having reciprocity, consent, trust, and transparency in our agreements and our plans to intervene for the earth.
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You’re welcome, Rebecca. It is a very difficult topic indeed, and one that needs more attention. I have to admit that this is an area where I’m a bit behind, but it’s never too late, right? I’ll be reading Rosaliene’s post soon, so I’m looking forward to it. I learned about Dr. Lyla June through Rosaliene and the debate about how Native Americans and other Indigenous people were naive and didn’t take advantage of natural resources to advance their societies like Europeans and others did. I believe now that Indigenous people were right and that they were wise with their use of natural resources, only using what was needed without disturbing the natural cycle of things. I just checked out Dr. Kyle Powys Whyte, and he is on the same page as Dr. June. We need to hear more from these experts. Thank you, my friend.
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There is so much to know and learn. I was interested by the fiction book: The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson. I wouldn’t advocate for many of the renegade policies. The climate solutions are very extreme, but the situation in the book is set up to be quite dire. But I thought it was well thought through about the kind of lifestyle changes it might take.
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I agree; we have a lot to learn, and the thing is, scientists are also still learning how the planet works. So, it’s definitely worth keeping a close watch on their efforts. I’m glad you touched on lifestyle changes because the author described how we went from using horses for transportation to what we have now, and people adapted relatively easily to those changes. We can definitely adopt better ways if governments and corporations present us with alternatives. The problem we have now is that big oil has a strong hold on politicians—but that’s going to change in the future, no doubt.
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Yes, I feel like there must be simple steps we can take to reduce our carbon footprints further as evidenced in many other countries in the world.
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Definitely! You know, something that is just weird is that we don’t have more train transportation, especially high-speed trains. Europe is so well connected, and I hope the U.S. will improve in this aspect. With all the open space, there is no reason not to have a train connection between our area and Madison, for example. There are some missed opportunities with regard to mass transportation for sure.
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