New Environmental Science Books

Have a browse of this collection of new and on order books on the topic of environmental science. In this list each author brings their expertise to ask what we can do in the face of the climate crisis, where we might find solutions and how we as a collective can work together to care for our planet and futures. Have a read!

Natural Connection: What indigenous wisdom & marginalised people teach us about environmental action by Longdon, Joycelyn
An urgent and important book about how the work and practices of indigenous and marginalised communities offer new perspectives on the climate movement. This book is split into six parts (rage, imagination, innovation, theory, healing and care), which build together to offer the reader a new perspective on the natural world and their place within the environmental movement.

Carbon : the book of life by Hawken, Paul
A philosophical and poetic exploration of carbon and our connections with this building block element. Described by reviewers as "an extended love poem about life’s most basic chemical", readers are saying that this book is both an optimistic look at our future, while also being a serious call-to-action for humanity to work with our planet to save it and ourselves. In this book Hawken asks the reader to unlearn their fears about the element and relearn how our Earth works, with the aim of repairing our relationship to the natural world.

Pātaka kai : growing kai sovereignty / Hutchings, Jessica, 1972-
The modern global food industry has had a profound effect on our environment, with scientists citing many concerns including a loss of biodiversity, dwindling soil quality and water pollution. The book explores how these global food structures have resulted in a system which both alienates people from their traditional food practices. Pātaka Kai delves into topics of food sovereignty and environmentalism through insightful narratives from indigenous food growers from Aotearoa, Rēkohu and Te Moananui-a-Kiwa. Reviewers are praising this publication as "a manifesto for change", "demonstrating the power of localised, community-driven solutions". Some of the many inspiring stories include a vegetable garden as a form of protest at Ihumātao, community gardens in Taranaki, and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei planting a rongoā rākau, a forest of medicinal plants.

Hope Dies Last: Visionary People Across the World, Fighting to Find Us a Future by Weisman, Alan
Hope Dies Last takes a look at a number of visionary people around the world working on the front lines against the effects of climate change. It's overall a celebration of the work some incredible people are doing to try to save our collective future that will put some hope into your heart.

Just Earth : How a Fairer World Will Save the Planet by Juniper, Tony
Adding to the common thread that connects these new items, this title also aims to take the nebulous, intimidating threat of climate change and suggest systematic social changes which might offer actionable and tangible solutions. Just Earth is framed around the connection between our climate crisis and economic inequality. Extrapolating from expert interviews and 40 years of personal experience in activism, this author makes the argument that we cannot hope to create new ways of life to save ourselves from climate change before we fix the aspects of our economic systems that got us into our current situation. An accessible look at a complex issue.

Waste wars : the wild afterlife of your trash by Clapp, Alexander
An exposé on what happens to our trash, and the devastating effects of the global garbage trade. A lot of people don't know much about the consumption economy built on our waste; journalist Alexandar Clapp has chased stories around the world to get to the bottom of this topic. In this book Clapp chases our trash from the bin to the often shady and unethical practices being carried out around the world.