Post-Carbon Future: Book Highlights Real Solutions to Climate Crisis
The new book 'Building Postcarbon Futures' showcases 26 proven methods communities worldwide are using to address the climate crisis and transition to a carbon-free future.
A new book, 'Building Postcarbon Futures: Land, Justice, and Energy Transitions,' presents concrete, proven solutions to the global climate crisis. Written by landscape architect Billy Fleming, the publication details 26 case studies from 43 countries, illustrating how communities are successfully building more sustainable and equitable futures.
Fleming, an associate professor at Temple University and a former policy advisor to the Obama administration, emphasizes that solutions do not always require new technologies. The book features examples such as the Zapatista movement's 2,000-year-old milpa farming system in Mexico and the ambitious renovation of public housing in Bordeaux, France, by Lacaton & Vassal. These cases demonstrate how traditional methods and social justice are central to decarbonization efforts.
The book aims to challenge prevailing notions of climate solutions, which often focus on technological innovation while overlooking social equity. Fleming argues that many projects marketed as "green" are, in reality, forms of ecological gentrification. Instead, he highlights examples where communities have developed their own solutions, such as the Fort Nelson First Nation's geothermal energy plant or sustainable agricultural systems that emerged in response to external pressures.
'Building Postcarbon Futures' offers inspiration and guidance for designers, policymakers, and the public seeking tangible and achievable ways to construct a better, carbon-neutral future. The book's examples suggest that a more hopeful future is possible, with solutions already existing within our communities.