The Premise:
Mr. Berners-Lee looks at the estimated carbon footprint of
practically everything, from sending a text-message to riding a bike to waging
a nuclear war.
The Good:
Mr. Berners-Lee is candid about his intentions and
methodology. This is not a definitive guide for exact measures, but an earnest
attempt to contribute rough estimates. It’s more of a ranking of this versus
that, so readers can start to begin to understand which of their decisions have
more of an impact on the environment and which have less. So given the choice
between giving a loved one a red rose or a red apple, the reader will have a
better understanding of which is more carbon efficient (albeit, not which is
more romantic). And, as a bonus, the author keeps things light with small doses
of humor and little to no preaching--he even acknowledges the skepticism people may have of Global Warming.
The Bad:
Because this book was written as more of a resource to be
picked up and flipped through, much like a dictionary, it is a bit redundant at
times. We are told that cows ruminate (i.e., give off methane as a result of chewing
grass and burping gas) in the sections involving milk, steak, cheese, sheep and
lamb production. It’s a small point, but one that gets old when reading straight
through.
The Verdict:
Worth a read. I hesitate to recommend an outright “buy”
because the science is continually evolving. If you want to support Mr.
Berners-Lee and his research, then buy. But regardless, if you are at all
curious about your impact on the world, it’s definitely an interesting read.
