The Big Fix: Seven Practical Steps to Save Our Planet

Hal Harvey · Justin Gillis

Sep 2022 · Sold by Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

A “smart, honest, and down-to-earth” (Elizabeth Kolbert) citizen’s guide to the seven urgent changes that will really make a difference for our climate.

If you think the only thing you can do to combat climate change is to install a smart thermostat or cook plant-based meat, you’re thinking too small.

In The Big Fix, energy policy advisor Hal Harvey and longtime New York Times reporter Justin Gillis offer a new, hopeful way to engage with one of the greatest problems of our age. Writing in a lively, accessible style, the pair illuminate how the really big decisions that affect our climate get made—whether by the most obscure public utilities commissions or in the lofty halls of state capitols—and reveal how each of us can influence these decisions to deliver change. The pair focus on the seven areas of our political economy where ambitious but practical changes will have the greatest effect: from what kind of power plants to build to how much insulation new houses require to how efficient cars must be before they’re allowed on the road.

Equal parts pragmatic and inspiring—and “full of illustrative stories and compelling evidence” (Al Gore)—The Big Fix provides an action plan for anyone serious about holding our governments accountable and saving our threatened planet.

Ratings and reviews

If you read only one thing this year on fixing climate change, then this easy-to-read book is it. Instead of buying green products, this book provides actionable tactics that make the average citizen far more powerful by using their voice. For example individuals can exert significant pressure to demand cheaper, cleaner electricity in their states, by merely by attending public utility hearings (in person or via video call). And the process to becoming a 'green citizen' is surprisingly easy.

Clear action agenda We've been hearing about the Global Warming issue, with increasing fervor, since the mid-70's. This fascinating book takes us all the way through the history, the politics, and the position we're in today. We simply cannot ignore this situation any longer, and this book is an excellent place to start making the necessary changes in our own habits and priorities. I really enjoyed how easy it was to read, with the issues clearly presented and enough science to make the case without flying over the heads of those of us outside academia. I enjoyed the relatable anecdotes, the personal, companionable voice, and the underlying wisdom of the power within. This is a well-written, well-researched treatise that should not be missed. I'm purchasing a copy for each of my adult children and am prepared to quiz them on it if necessary to make sure they've read and understood it. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

About the author

Hal Harvey is the chief executive of Energy Innovation, a nonpartisan climate policy firm that advises leaders around the world on how to drive down greenhouse gas emissions. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering from Stanford University.

Justin Gillis is an award-winning journalist with four decades of experience explaining complex issues in simple language for major daily newspapers, including The New York Times, where he was the lead reporter on climate science; The Washington Post; and the Miami Herald. He was recently a fellow at the Harvard University Center for the Environment.