Water shortages, overheated cities, extreme weather – the situation in times of climate change is dire, but not hopeless. This is what the geographer and climate activist Luisa Neubauer, the journalist Christian Endt and the graphic designer Ole Häntzschel convey in their book. It contains 80 topic cards on selected aspects of the climate crisis.
Some cards send bitterly serious messages, such as the rapid increase in CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere or death rates in poor countries. Others are encouraging: there are graphics that show the potential of climate-friendly nutrition or numerous opportunities for political engagement. It’s about the increase in jobs in renewable energy and “rock star crops” with the superpower to sequester CO2. And while it is always said that measures cannot be enforced, the trio shows examples from the past where political will led to rapid changes, such as the ban on CFCs. The energy consumption of superheroes is examined with humor, from super fossil (Batman) to climate neutral (Pippi Longstocking).
Although the volume does not go into depth, it offers facts and political criticism in a concise form. He not only presents the problems, but also solutions for a climate-neutral world. Due to the well-chosen examples and creative ideas, the cards can also be used in schools. Petra Wiemann
Luisa Neubauer, Christian Endt, Ole Häntzschel
The climate atlas
80 maps for the world of tomorrow
Rowohlt, 192 p., € 28,–
ISBN 978-3-498-00705-8