Earth: The Sequel by Fred Krupp and Miriam Horn, is a book about the future – the future of the earth, the future of civilization, and the future of energy. It is a refreshingly hopeful look at global warming, the message being that we CAN change the way we live, we have the knowledge, we are perfecting the technology, and we still have time to turn around the damage we’ve already caused the environment through unbridled abuse of fossil fuels.

I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in knowing exactly where we stand on clean, renewable energy and how it effects the survivability of our planet – from a scientific, financial and bureaucratic point of view.

Earth: The Sequel is broken into chapters that describe emerging clean energy solutions including: solar, biofuels (fuels from living creatures such as algae), oceans (wave energy), and hot springs (water naturally heated to incredible temperatures just below the surface of the earth).

Earth: The Sequel is fascinating, but not what I’d call an “easy” read, unless science and technology are your thing. But I would say, it is a must read – even if it takes you a while to get through it. Each new energy solution possibility described was more exciting than the last. I came away understanding that we can maintain our lifestyles and quality of life without destroying the planet – it IS possible. However, time is of the essence.

On page 42, the authors bluntly state:

“The goal, the urgent necessity, is to reduce global warming pollution in the atmosphere enough to pull us back from the precipice before the changes in Earth’s ecosystem and weather patterns become so rapid and so vast that we will no longer be able to reverse the catastrophe.”

So if we are so close to solving the problem…what’s the hold up?

Many of the technologies described in the book are still being developed, tested and perfected. This work costs money, and while energy is still one of the hotter prospects among venture capitalists, the current economic conditions have slowed funding.

The key, say the authors, is the impending “cap and trade system” on emissions. Basically this system would create a new commodities market – the buying and selling of energy credits. A cap, or firm upper limit, on emissions would be imposed by the government. Industrial companies would get a certain amount of emissions “credits”. Those that exceed their credits would have to buy from those that beat their targets. This will encourage companies to fund, research and implement the cleanest sources of energy possible, in order to be in a position to sell as many unused credits as possible.

Until this cap and trade system is implemented, companies will continue to drag their feet with little to no motivation to improve their emissions. Research in these new technologies will continue to suffer.

It’s tough to say when this change will finally come to pass. Engineers, scientists and entrepreneurs are on the verge of great things. It is now up to the government to provide the tipping point element on clean energy and save the planet.