This book has been written by an environmental and civil/structural engineer who spoke for the World Federation of Engineering Organizations at COP21 in Paris 2015. After preparing several technical papers on risks and low carbon, the author intended this novel to provide an easy method for readers to hear the harsh details of what the future holds and how we have reached that crisis. It has been developed up to 2018 prior to the inspirational intervention of Greta Thunberg and other activists. Unfortunately there have been no major developments up to 2024.
Some will find aspects of the story controversial:
• A male author has imagined life and the future through the eyes of a young, slightly autistic female outsider who sees truths that others reject.
• The risks from global warming have not been downplayed.
• The author has resisted removal of regional accents in characters.
A few aspects of the plot have been overtaken by events, but little has otherwise changed:
• Strife in Syria was originally intended to be just a theoretical risk. The war is now a historical feature.
• While the Paris Accord is still a target for many experts and governments, global warming will reach 1.5°C in 2024 and is highly likely to accelerate to 2.0°C for 2030.
• While discussion of climate change is now more acceptable, there have been no signs yet of effective action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• To keep warming to ‘safe levels’ IPCC warns that greenhouse gases in the atmosphere need to be reduced. Neither scientists nor engineers have proposals to accomplish any reduction.
• Construction is still based on high-carbon concrete and steel. There is still no recognition of negative-carbon structures in solid timber.
• The young generation still face devastating temperature rises.
This plot is a work of fiction. Opinions on climate have been collected, but are not intended to represent the views of any individuals or institutions.
R Thorniley
MA(Oxon) CEng CEnv FICE FISructE MIHT IHBC FRSA
Dedicated to the next generation; sorry.
“When I consider the magnitude of the subject which I am to bring before you – a subject in which the interests, not of the Country, nor of Europe alone, but the whole World and of posterity are involved …. it is impossible for me not to feel both terrified and concerned at my own inadequacies for such a task.”
William Wilberforce, 1789 abolition speech at the start of his campaign against slavery
“The eyes of all future generations are upon you. And if you choose to fail us, I say – we will never forgive you.”
Great Thunberg, UN Climate Summit, New York 23 September 2019
The rights of R Thorniley to be identified as the author of this work have been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
Greenhush Novel 