informative inspiring medium-paced
challenging informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

Loved learning about some of the direct, current consequences of the climate emergency in various parts of Africa, and I love how she highlighted that the effects would sooner be felt by women/girls, people from the Global South, and marginalised peoples in the Global North.

A bit repetitive but glad I read this book.

Vanessa Nakate’s first book is a powerful story, a memoir and a manifesto about climate justice.
hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

A really good look at the intersection of climate change and race, and how the choices of certain areas of the world end up affecting the rest of the world.
informative inspiring medium-paced

Vanessa Nakate is a must read for all climate activists in the Global North.

As someone who studies climate & environmental justice, much of the information in this wasn’t new to me. However Nakate’s perspective and voice is incredibly important. 4 stars instead of 5 because the work invokes a lot of binary thinking about gender and Nakate simps over Greta thunberg in a way that is more obvious/cringe than I think she thinks it is. Definitely a good starting point for those who want to learn more about climate activism and climate justice from a majority world perspective (although the way she talks about justice can also be applied to the global north)!!!

5/5

TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Racial Abuse
SA References
Violence

Review:
Nakate writes a fantastic book that sums up the global climate crisis in simple terms. I finished her story with four clear learnings.

1. The countries doing the least to contribute to the climate crisis are the ones who will suffer the most. I.e. the Global South will suffer devastating consequences whilst the polluting giants in the Global North will suffer far less. It is crucial to research ecological devastation in the Global South, uplift PGM voices and ensure Global South activists are being heard.

2. Climate change underpins every UN SDG (sustainable development goal). In essence, underneath sexism, racism, classism and violence is climate change. When farmers crops are destroyed it puts pressure on the households, this pressure is enacted on others in negative ways. In order to make a better world, we must begin by healing our planet.

3. Women are at the forefront of the climate crisis. Women's education is paramount if we want to change things, and we need more women in decision making rooms to speak up for the health of our planet. The majority of climate activists are female-identifying, and it is women who will bear the brunt of the devastating effects.

4. In the words of Greta Thunberg, no one is too small to make a difference. We can all speak out against the climate crisis, we can all begin living lives that have significantly less impact on the planet. We can write to decision-makers, vote for decision-makers and become them ourselves. If we all remain silent, we will deteriorate along with the planet.

I finished this novel feeling heartbroken but also hopeful. Hopeful that the new generation, my generation, will be the ones to save our planet. We must speak out. We must act now. This is an emergency and it should be treated as such.

I recommend to all who call the earth home.

Clear. Direct. Vivid. I love the way Nakate has confidence in her voice and her home and her story. It's an excellent example of how "the personal is political" – and vice versa.