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Not the End of the World: How We Can Be the First Generation to Build a Sustainable Planet Hardcover – January 9, 2024

by Hannah Ritchie (Author)
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This "eye-opening and essential" book (Bill Gates) will transform how you see our biggest environmental problems—and explains how we can solve them.

It’s become common to tell kids that they’re going to die from climate change. We are constantly bombarded by doomsday headlines that tell us the soil won’t be able to support crops, fish will vanish from our oceans, and that we should reconsider having children.

But in this bold, radically hopeful book, data scientist Hannah Ritchie argues that if we zoom out, a very different picture emerges. In fact, the data shows we’ve made so much progress on these problems that we could be on track to achieve true sustainability for the first time in human history. Did you know that:
  • Carbon emissions per capita are actually down
  • Deforestation peaked back in the 1980s
  • The air we breathe now is vastly improved from centuries ago
  • And more people died from natural disasters a hundred years ago?

Packed with the latest research, practical guidance, and enlightening graphics, this book will make you rethink almost everything you’ve been told about the environment. Not the End of the World will give you the tools to understand our current crisis and make lifestyle changes that actually have an impact. Hannah cuts through the noise by outlining what works, what doesn’t, and what we urgently need to focus on so we can leave a sustainable planet for future generations.      

These problems are big. But they are solvable. We are not doomed. We can build a better future for everyone. Let’s turn that opportunity into reality.
 
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  1. Print length
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  3. Publisher
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  4. Publication date
    January 9, 2024
  5. Dimensions
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  6. ISBN-10
    031653675X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0316536752
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  1. Popular highlight

    Optimism is seeing challenges as opportunities to make progress; it’s having the confidence that there are things we can do to make a difference.
    242 Kindle readers highlighted this

  2. Popular highlight

    In 1987, the UN defined sustainable development as ‘meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’.
    179 Kindle readers highlighted this

  3. Popular highlight

    Many changes that do profoundly shape the world are not rare, exciting or headline-grabbing. They are persistent things that happen day by day and year by year until decades pass and the world has been altered beyond recognition.
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From the Publisher

The problems are big. But they are solvable.

Ecopragmatism at its best

Truly essential

Hannah Ritchie does for the environment what Hans Rosling did for health

An unmissable myth-busting book to save our planet

A refreshingly upbeat guide to achieving sustainability

This book will banish your feeling of doom

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Not the End of the World is eye-opening and essential. With comprehensive data and sometimes counterintuitive conclusions, Hannah Ritchie does for the environment what Hans Rosling did for health. She argues that we shouldn’t be nostalgic for a time when half the global population died before adulthood, and she makes a convincing case that things are getting better—even though there’s so much more to do. I hope people around the world read this book, understand our planet isn’t a lost cause, and get inspired to help fix it."―Bill Gates, author of How to Avoid a Climate Disaster

"The climate and environmental crisis now has its Hans Rosling. Hannah Ritchie has charted an invigorating, inspiring, often surprising tour of recent human history and the many marks of progress it contains. Will the world make good on that optimism in the future? That is up to the rest of us."―David Wallace-Wells, author of The Uninhabitable Earth

"I find it hard to express how much I love this book. Hannah Ritchie brilliantly picks up where Hans Rosling left off. Her book shines with practicality and positivity. It will banish your feelings of doom, help you focus on what’s really important, and make you want to be a part of the most effective solutions to our greatest challenges. Let's get this book into the hands of as many policy makers, politicians and fellow citizens as possible."―Rutger Bregman, author of Humankind

“An unmissable myth-busting book to save our planet— read it.”―Tim Spector, author of Food For Life

“Data is a superpower. Let Hannah Ritchie show you the world as it really is. Then go out and change it for the better.”―Mark Lynas, author of Six Degrees

"An inspiring data-mine which gives us not only real guidance, but the most necessary ingredient of all: hope . . . truly essential"

―Margaret Atwood, TED2023

“Ecopragmatism at its best shines throughout this book... The surprising message in the data is that human civilization is far along toward solving planetary problems. Hannah Ritchie shows how building on the successful trends can finish the job.”―Stewart Brand, founder of Whole Earth Catalog and author of Whole Earth Discipline

“Such a clear-eyed view of the state we're in, giving a sharp picture of the challenges ahead, and an inspiring vision of the problems we've already solved. Everyone who reads it will learn a lot – I did.”―Tim Harford, author of How to Make the World Add Up

“A refreshingly upbeat guide to achieving sustainability. Ritchie attacks cynicism, doomerism and apathy with a barrage of data revealing the extent of our progress and illuminating the best paths ahead.”―Gaia Vince, author of Nomad Century

“A refreshing perspective on the problems that the world faces, providing plenty of optimism while not sugar-coating the deep structural challenges at the root of it all.”―Helen Czerski, author of Blue Machine

“Some deny there are environmental problems, others deny that we can solve them. Hannah Ritchie reveals that they are both wrong.”―Johan Norberg, author of In Defense of Global Capitalism and Progress

"Combining scientific expertise with convincing statistics, an Oxford researcher offers an antidote to do-nothing doomsayers...This book is a refreshing change and, as a call to further action, puts forward a sensible, equitable agenda."―Kirkus Reviews

“Every policymaker on the Left and the Right should read the new book Fragile Neighborhoods by Seth Kaplan.”―Timothy P. Carney, Washington Examiner

About the Author

Dr. Hannah Ritchie is Senior Researcher in the Programme for Global Development at the University of Oxford. She is also Deputy Editor and Lead Researcher at the highly influential online publication Our World in Data. In 2022, Ritchie was named Scotland’s Youth Climate Champion and New Scientist called her “The woman who gave COVID-19 data to the world.”   

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Little, Brown Spark (January 9, 2024)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 031653675X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0316536752
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.14 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.4 x 1.19 x 9.65 inches
  • Customer Reviews:

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Hannah Ritchie

Hannah Ritchie

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
908 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book straightforward, thoughtful, and pragmatic. They also appreciate the data-driven perspective and helpful voice.

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ReadabilityToneViewpoint
9 customers mention "Readability"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and straightforward. They also say it states it all clearly without condescension or unnecessary complexity. Readers also say the author is great and debunks many myths about making a change.

"...An accessible read, but deeply rooted in the evidence, it provides striking insights and 'ah-hah' moments on every page...." Read more

"This is a good overview of where we are in addressing climate change and related sustainability crises...." Read more

"Extremely well written, even to giving to timely footnotes in the Kindle I read...." Read more

"...the best books I have read about climate change and certainly the most readable. I would highly recommend it." Read more

8 customers mention "Tone"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the tone thoughtful, pragmatic, and breath of positivity.

"...An accessible read, but deeply rooted in the evidence, it provides striking insights and 'ah-hah' moments on every page...." Read more

"...This book offers both hope and realistic choices both individually and collectively for realistic actions now to improve our global living choices...." Read more

"Full of great perspectives, optimism, and on many our world’s biggest problems." Read more

"...A easy, straightforward read . A great antidote to pessimism" Read more

8 customers mention "Viewpoint"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's viewpoint great, data-driven, and deeply rooted in the evidence. They also appreciate the nice balance of science, reason, and an appreciation of tradeoffs. Readers also mention that the data is accurate and unbiased.

"...An accessible read, but deeply rooted in the evidence, it provides striking insights and 'ah-hah' moments on every page...." Read more

"...is, however, extensively supported with footnotes and presents mainstream scientific views that have plenty of support...." Read more

"Cuts through a lot of myths and helps people understand what to worry about out and what not to. Inspiring." Read more

"...The book contains 100+ graphs, 335 references, hundreds if not thousands of interesting facts...." Read more

A clear explanation of a confusing and counterintuitive truth
5 out of 5 stars
A clear explanation of a confusing and counterintuitive truth
If you are worried about the future, read this book. I promised you will still be worried: this is not climate denialism or blind optimism. But you will come a way with a much better understanding of what we face, and what problems we don't face because of the progress we have already made. We can beat this, if we understand it.Hannah Ritchie is not merely an spectator or analyst: she is at the forefront of this research and has been preaching the nuanced truth of environmentalism for years. And she does not stand alone. Our World In Data is the the culmination of years of work from many legendary environmentalists, researchers, and educators. You may recognize OWID from the many famous visualizations they've made over the years.Not the End of the World is arguably the distilled brilliance of many minds over the last 30 years. Hannah Ritchie states it all clearly, and without condescension or unnecessary complexity.I hope this book gives you same clarity it gave me, about how much danger we really face, and what actions really matter.- Note: I've been following Hans Rosling, Max Roser, Hannah Ritchie, and OWID for years. I've been desperately waiting for this book, because it explains these concepts better than I ever could. Please excuse me while I buy 5 more copies to force on my friends and family lolol.
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Top reviews from the United States

Neil F Gregory
5.0 out of 5 stars Great anti-dote to eco-pessimism
Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2024
Verified Purchase
Hannah brings the facts, statistics and science to debunk climate fatalism and eco-pessimism. An accessible read, but deeply rooted in the evidence, it provides striking insights and 'ah-hah' moments on every page. Read it and share it with your friends - if more people had this information at hand, we could have more sensible discussions on what to do about climate change, plastic pollution, loss of biodiversity etc.
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Susan W
5.0 out of 5 stars The World is still on fire, but we may be able to bring it under control
Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2024
Verified Purchase
This is a good overview of where we are in addressing climate change and related sustainability crises. Hannah does a great job of marshaling data to support her assessment. As some have noted, the book does not go into a lot of detail defending some of her conclusions. It is, however, extensively supported with footnotes and presents mainstream scientific views that have plenty of support.

As one who works "down in the trenches" addressing climate change, I found Hannah's macro analysis very helpful in giving me perspective. Conclusion: yes, the world is on fire, but maybe we will be able to bring it under control.
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Graham Hill
4.0 out of 5 stars Great book. A breath of positivity.
Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2024
Verified Purchase
Cuts through a lot of myths and helps people understand what to worry about out and what not to. Inspiring.
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Cynthia L. Jasman
5.0 out of 5 stars Gives options for realistic Choices
Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2024
Verified Purchase
Extremely well written, even to giving to timely footnotes in the Kindle I read. This book offers both hope and realistic choices both individually and collectively for realistic actions now to improve our global living choices. I recommend reading this book.
One person found this helpful
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jjroxable
5.0 out of 5 stars Great writer and debunks many myths about making a change
Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2024
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Provides optimism for the reader and practical advice on things make a difference and those that don't.
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Thomas Wikman
5.0 out of 5 stars A Factful Approach to the Environment
Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2024
Verified Purchase
The facts regarding the environment can be confusing. The fossil fuel industry, climate deniers, right-wing pundits and politicians are bombarding us with falsehoods, but poorly informed environmentalists and sensationalist media are misleading us as well. The author takes special issue with doomism, the belief that it’s too late and that we are all going to die. Both denialism and doomism, as well as efforts to minimize the problems lead to inaction. What we need is to have the correct information and to be realistic, which will make it possible for us to take the best action.

In the spirit of “Hans Rosling / Factfulness” she tells us about our successes and about our progress by using data. She shows us how things really are and how we can solve our current big problems. She explains that we are reducing malnutrition, eradicating poverty, and extending people’s life span all around the world despite a growing population. She mentions that we successfully tackled pollution in many large cities in the west, as well as the acid rain problem and the ozone layer/hole. Sulphur dioxide, a major cause of acid rain, has fallen by 95% in the US since the 1970’s largely thanks to scrubbers. By 2018 the emissions of ozone-depleting gases had fallen by 99.7%. The list goes on. When we make big environmental problems smaller, we stop talking about them.

Climate change / global warming is a more difficult problem, but we are having some success here as well. The climate policies we have enacted so far are making a big difference. For example, greenhouse gas emissions in the US have fallen by more than 20% over the last 15 years. From 1990 to 2019 the greenhouse gas emissions fell by 21% despite the economy growing by 55% (in the 1990’s the emissions were still increasing). My native country Sweden is doing even better. Greenhouse gas emissions in Sweden has fallen by 39% over the same period despite the economy growing by 55%.

The origins of the world’s carbon emissions are: 25% Electricity and Heat, 24% Agriculture and Forestry, Industry 16%, Transport 14%, direct from buildings 6%, and other energy 10%. In the US Transportation is 28% and Agriculture 10%. Agriculture includes the effects of deforestation. The good news is that the price of renewables is dropping, and they are now the cheapest while EV cars have become affordable. In Norway 88% of car sales in 2022 were electric. In Sweden, my native country, 54% of car sales in 2022 were electric. The author urges people to switch to electric vehicles – they really are more climate friendly, contrary to what many will tell you here in Texas where I live. Even if their electricity comes from a dirty grid, they are cleaner than gasoline cars, and with respect to minerals, mining, and land use their impact is much smaller than that of the gasoline cars they replace.

She also suggests that we try to avoid driving big SUV, fly less, try to use or support renewables, eat less red meat, depending on our circumstances (absolutism and judgmentalism is counterproductive). She advocates for carbon prices as an effective means to reducing emissions. Things that don’t matter or are counterproductive are recycling, not using plastic bags when shopping, turning off your laptop when you don’t use it, buying local (often makes emissions worse), buying organic food (often greatly increases land use), etc.

She mentions that landfills in the US and Europe are very well managed and are not a big environmental problem, unlike the developing countries. 1% of the plastic in the Ocean comes from Europe and I read elsewhere that 1% comes from the United States. The plastic in the ocean originates mostly in Asia and Latin America. A fact she mentions that may not sit well with some environmentalists is that nuclear power is a safe and clean source of energy, just like renewables, but without the problem with intermittency.

In this review I mentioned a few facts from the book to give a taste of the content. Naturally, there is a whole lot more. All these claims and stats, as well as hundreds of other sometimes surprising claims that she makes she supports by referencing reliable sources and peer reviewed research. The book contains 100+ graphs, 335 references, hundreds if not thousands of interesting facts. I can add that Hannah Ritchie (PhD) is a young Scottish data scientist, senior researcher at the University of Oxford in the Oxford Martin School, deputy editor at Our World in Data, and she is the head of research at Our World in Data. She is quite an impressive young lady. I think this book is one of the most informative books on the topic of the environment that I have ever read. I think most of us will learn something important from this book. If there is a fact from the book that I’ve mentioned in my review that you doubt, why don’t you buy the book and find out the details and where it comes from. Maybe you will see the world with new eyes.

A final note is that the statement in the title “How We Can Be the First Generation to Build a Sustainable Planet” comes from the fact that using UN’s definition of sustainability we humans have never been sustainable, but with science, technology and good policy we can be sustainable.
19 people found this helpful
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bwah
5.0 out of 5 stars thought provoking.
Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2024
Verified Purchase
this appears to be based on the scientific evidence available at the time it was written. Some of the conclusions will likely change as we learn more but the author tries to look carefully at the information available to come to conclusions.
The book was very helpful to me.
One person found this helpful
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OldSchoolSlashers
4.0 out of 5 stars Lots of data, weak thesis
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2024
Verified Purchase
There’s lots of good info presented here (no surprise, this author is from an Oxford data research center - Our World in Data), but there’s not really a compelling explanation for *why* all these trends will continue other than “our system makes progress”. That’s true, but why? If we’re going to rely on economic growth and new technologies to solve all our problems, then there needs to be a deeper explanation for how and why these things have worked and will continue to work. Ritchie’s explanations are shallow. All data and no theory. That’s a recipe for getting bitten in the a** because the past is never a perfect guide to the future.

Worth reading for the encouraging data, but other authors offer better explanations for the where, when, why, and how behind the trends we’ve seen up to date - and what to expect going forward into the future.
30 people found this helpful
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Flavio
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic diagnosis of the current climate state of play
Reviewed in Brazil on May 14, 2024
Verified Purchase
Well written, to the point and pleasant reading. Important messages and lessons on how to be more sustainable. The book also deals with false perceptions on how to be eco-friendly. Enjoy!
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Christians Lesesessel
5.0 out of 5 stars Relevantes Buch zum Thema globale Nachhaltigkeit
Reviewed in Germany on June 1, 2024
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Bei allen derzeitigen Fragestellungen zur Nachhaltigkeit, gibt es eine zentrale Frage, die kontrovers diskutiert wird. Kann die Menschheit nachhaltig leben und gleichzeitig den Wohlstand der westlichen Welt erreichen? Oder müssen die Menschen in der westlichen Welt gar Abstriche in ihrem Wohlstand machen? Mit «Not the End of the World» leistet Hannah Ritchie einen Beitrag zu dieser Frage.

Wie der Titel des Buches «Not the End of the World» andeutet, nimmt Hannah Ritchie nicht die Haltung ein, dass es «schon zu spät ist» (Klimaschutz) oder «der Trend ist nicht aufzuhalten ist» (Artenvielfalt). Vielmehr vertritt sie den Standpunkt, dass die Menschen schon viel erreicht haben und dass wir als Menschheit alle notwendigen Möglichkeiten (Technologie, globale Vernetzung) haben, um global nachhaltig leben zu können und gleichzeitig Alle den westlichen Lebensstandard erreichen können.

Dazu sind Veränderungen unumgänglich. Aber wie sehen diese Veränderungen aus? Die Menschen müssen nach Meinung von Hannah Ritchie auf nichts verzichten, sondern ihre Gewohnheiten ändern und auf eine nachhaltige Lebensweise ausrichten. Ressourcen stellt uns die Erde ausreichend dazu zur Verfügung.

Den grössten Teil des Buches verwendet die Autorin dazu aufzuzeigen, welche Änderungen aus ihrer Sicht notwendig sind und warum sie diese vorschlägt. Auch zeigt sie aus ihrer Sicht auf, warum vieldiskutierte Änderungen nicht zielführend sind. Die Vorschläge macht sie aufgrund ihrer beruflichen Tätigkeit (Senior Researcher «Global Development» University of Oxford, Lead Researcher Our World in Data) und ihren Forschungen auf diesem Gebiet.

Aus meiner Sicht ist das Buch «Not the End of the World» ein sehr guter Beitrag durch Diskussion zur globalen Nachhaltigkeitsdiskussion. Hannah Ritchie beleuchtet dabei das Thema aus einer nüchternen und zahlengetriebenen Betrachtungsweise. Ich schliesse mich ihrer Meinung an, dass es «nicht schon zu spät ist» und wir das Thema weniger emotional und politisch, sondern rational betrachten müssen.

Aber ich habe auch meine Kritikpunkte. Hannah Ritchie sieht die Ernährung als globales System. Das globale System anfällig sein können haben wir in letzter Zeit mehrmals erfahren. Globale System «reparieren» sich auch wieder – da stimme ich zu – aber dies dauert seine Zeit. Und wenn ein Teil der Erde nicht ausreichend mit Nahrung für einige Monate versorgt wird, dann ist das aus meiner Sicht ein signifikantes Problem.

Auch Nuklearenergie in die Kategorie «nachhaltig» einzuordnen, ohne in die «Rechnung» die Risiken mit einzubeziehen, ist aus meiner Sicht zu kurzsichtig. Der Argumentation «Wir haben die Technologie im Griff und deshalb ist davon auszugehen, es passiert nichts» folge ich nicht. Ich bin von «Murphys Law» überzeugt.
Das Buch ist auch auf deutsch unter dem Titel «Hoffnung für Verzweifelte: Wie wir als erste Generation die Erde zu einem besseren Ort machen» im Piper-Verlag erschienen.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating and well argued
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 14, 2024
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A hugely informative and pragmatic book, and a great read. The author makes the case for a hopeful, sustainable future and busts a lot of myths about what will and won't work. She illustrates some simple steps to lead a more environmentally friendly life without feeling unnecessary guilt. I'd thoroughly recommend this extremely well written and researched book.
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Philippe Miclotte
1.0 out of 5 stars Levertermijn onwaarschijnlijk onzanvaardbaar
Reviewed in Belgium on April 6, 2024
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Het boek voldoeg helemaal - de levertermijn van 5 maand : not quite. Amai Amazon. 🤌
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Rob
5.0 out of 5 stars Our World in Data in Hans Rosling style on environmental economics.
Reviewed in the Netherlands on March 26, 2024
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I would like to describe the book as Our World in Data meets Hans Rosling on environmental economics.

Being a data nerd myselfs I am glad to gave seen pretty decent analyses of our past and current situation.

From a controls perspective I know that the history
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