In his previous book, The World Is Flat, Thomas Friedman focused on the forces that are shaping the new world economy and the leveling the playing field of global business and competition. His newest work, Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution - And How it Can Renew America, is an impassioned call to action to his own country. Friedman proposes a bold new national strategy—which he calls “Geo-Greenism”— which, he argues, will not only save the planet from overheating but is essential in making America healthier, richer, more innovative, more productive, and more secure.
The book’s main thesis is that a ‘perfect storm’ of recent events and trends (9/11, Katrina, the Iraq War, the convergence of global warming, the rise of middle classes all over the world and global crowding) has thrust the issues of energy and climate onto Main Street, creating a new era in history (the Energy-Climate era). Our relevance on the world stage, our role in the development of 21st century technology and our very security rely on the US taking a leadership role through this era. In other words, instead of chanting ‘Drill Baby Drill’ and focusing on 19th century techonology-fossil fuels, both politcal parties should be committing us to leading the way towards 21st century technology- renewable energy.
The tide of clean technology, he cautions, will be both transformative and disruptive, but with real leadership in government (Friedman calls for a “Green New Deal” proposed by a “Green President” and spurred on by the “Greenest Generation”) and in business, the US must focus on the long view.
For more info, visit Thomas Friedman’s site.
