In a world where the effects of climate change are becoming increasingly evident, Aakash Ranison brings a refreshing and detailed perspective that empowers individuals to make a positive impact. As an environmentalist, nomadic traveler, filmmaker, and advocate for sustainability, Ranison continues to raise awareness about environmental issues and encourage sustainable practices.
Whether you are an environmental enthusiast, or a concerned citizen looking for actionable steps to contribute to a greener future, I’m a Climate Optimist is a call to action that enables readers to view climate change not just as a crisis but as an opportunity for growth and change. And we must change, NOW!
Here’s an excerpt from the book with valuable insights and guidance to navigate the climate crisis and create a better world for ourselves and generations to come.
I’M a Climate Optimist || Aakash Ranison
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The Blind Leading the Blind: A Lack of Vision
What we tend to forget while discussing climate change is the simple fact that our planet doesn’t need our help. Our planet doesn’t need us at all, and would probably prefer to be left alone.
The natural world is no stranger to extinction-level events. From the meteors that destroyed the dinosaurs to ice ages that lasted over 1,00,000 years, our planet has seen many species emerge, thrive, and become lost to the immense power of nature.
Humankind has lived through the longest summer ever recorded on our planet, but just like the dinosaurs and all those who came and went after, there is no guarantee of survival in the future.
While our planet will survive the next extinction level event, and the ones to come after, we very likely will not.
Most of us today are content to go about our lives, droning on through the mundane motions of schooling, building careers, finding a suitable mate, raising a family and dying in our sleep, all while exploiting our natural world and driving the knife deeper into its wounds, barely sparing a sideways glance at the destruction as we do so.
As we die, we leave the world a little worse for us having been there. With every birth, the cycle repeats itself. This is because our generation, like the generations before us, suffers from a lack of vision.
We live in a world of instant gratification—instant deliveries, instant messaging, instant noodles and even instant banking. We have lost our ability to be patient, work hard and see results and invest today in a future that will come to pass tomorrow.
But there are no quick fixes to climate change and global warming.
You see, it’s not about eradicating carbon dioxide, methane or nitrous oxide—these are the ingredients that make life possible. The greenhouse effect is not a force for evil, but it is what makes our atmosphere hospitable for life. It is a state of imbalance that can turn these life-giving forces against us.
But there are no quick fixes to attaining balance, either. We need to realize that even if every person on the planet began fixing their ways now, there would still be a period of transition as our natural world corrects itself.
Think of our consumption patterns as a credit card—if your credit limit is a lakh, and you spend it but replenish it with a lakh of your money, your spending is balanced, and you are free from the danger of debt. However, if you spend two lakh, and do not have the money to pay the bank to offset the debt you have accumulated, you are in for a world of trouble and will have to work to pay it off.
In much the same way, we must offset our debts to our planet, and give back what we have taken from our natural world to keep it from turning against us. But how do we do this?
To save ourselves, we must invest in the future. We must take advantage of the power of knowledge as it can instill trust in our individual choices. We must choose to think bigger, envision sustainable futures and work towards them patiently.
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Get your copy of I’m a Climate Optimist by Aakash Ranison on Amazon.
This World Environment Day, embark on a vibrant journey through the pages of these captivating books, and let the wonders of nature ignite your imagination! Get ready to dive into thrilling adventures in the wilderness, uncover heart-warming tales about the natural world, and inspire young minds to become guardians of our precious planet. With every turn of the page, these recommended reads will transport young nature lovers into a world teeming with life and empower them to make a positive impact on their surroundings. So grab a copy, embrace the colourful illustrations, and set off on an eco-friendly expedition that will leave you breathless and inspired!
Passepartout, Is That You? || Menaka Raman
When a shipment of exotic animals is rescued, Shyam discovers that a star tortoise has been accidentally left behind. Entrusted with its care, Shyam’s grandfather, a policeman who was overseeing the rescue operation, sets off in pursuit of the van to reunite the tortoise with the others. Meanwhile, the mischievous tortoise escapes from the police station. With the help of his loyal companion Kanamma, Shyam embarks on a thrilling quest to locate the adventurous tortoise before his grandfather returns.
This heart-warming tale beautifully conveys important messages about our responsibility towards endangered and exotic animals, the value of friendship, and the power of perseverance. Join Shyam on an unforgettable journey filled with excitement, and let this fun hook book, Passepartout, Is That You?, captivate young readers while imparting valuable life lessons.
Strangus Derangus and Other Adventures Of Little Shambu (Book 1) || Reena Ittyerah Puri and illustrated by Savio Mascarenhanes
What would you say of a boy who loves rushing headlong into trouble?
That’s what Little Shambu does with his dog, the loyal Dum Dum, in tow. But as his best friend, Shanti, would tell you, it always leads him into exciting adventures involving lost cats, mysterious carrot thieves, a strange and exotic creature and stolen pandas.
In The Bear’s Den and More Adventures of Little Shambu (Book 2) || Reena Ittyerah Puri and illustrated by Savio Mascarenhanes
What would you say of a boy who continues to find himself in sticky situations?
That’s what Little Shambu does with his dog, the loyal Dum Dum, in tow. But as his best friend, Shanti, would tell you, it always leads him into exciting adventures involving grouchy bears, rattling cattle, slouchy snakes and runaway elephants.
Dum Dum To The Rescue and Yet More Adventures of Little Shambu (Book 3) || || By Reena Ittyerah Puri and illustrated by Savio Mascarenhanes
What would you say of a boy who gets into trouble over and over again?
That’s what Little Shambu does with his dog, the loyal Dum Dum, in tow. But as his best friend, Shanti, would tell you, it always leads him into exciting adventures involving homely chickens and a crafty fox, mischievous mice, moustached men and confusing encounters with aliens.
Escape into the fantastic world of Little Shambu with these brand-new adventures of the beloved character from TINKLE.
Trunk Call for Ajju || Anjana Nagabhushana
8-year-old Ajay Kumaraswamy or Ajju was leading a seemingly regular life — getting into trouble with his parents with Kini Maasi, working out countable and uncountable nouns with his best friend Karthik and learning to be a budding guitarist with his music teacher Miss Alva. However, when Kini Maasi shares the story about Molly, a hurt baby elephant in distant Zimbawe needing help, he doubles up with Karthik to figure out how to raise funds. Based on a true story about an injured baby elephant, Trunk Call for Ajju is sure to warm your heart. Sensitively written, Anjana’s debut novel is a sensitive tale about the love for animals and change of heart. Simply told with a lot of humour, the book is peppered with black and white illustrations which would help a reluctant young reader to pick this book.
The Girl Who Was a Forest Janaki Ammal || Lavanya Karthik
Janaki is on an enchanting journey as she dreams of a secret world beyond the confines of her town. In this beautifully illustrated 48-paged biography, young readers will be inspired by Janaki’s connection with nature and how it guides her to become India’s first woman botanist. Through vivid pictures and easy-to-comprehend narrative, this book will ignite the imagination of children and encourage them to bring a change in their environment. A delightful addition to any young reader’s collection, this book from the Dreamer’s Series is sure to spark curiosity and a love for nature.
All Time Favourite Nature Stories || Ruskin Bond
This collection of 25 gorgeously illustrated short stories curated by Ruskin is a celebration of his love for nature. Part fiction and part real, and a continuation of the All-Time Favourite series by him, these stories will inspire a renewed love for nature – one of the most powerful and mysterious forces of the universe.
An homage to his childhood spent in the hills of Kasauli, Shimla, Dehra, and Landour, the collection takes you to a land and time when man thrived in the natural beauty around him.
Unearthed: An Environmental History of Independent India || Meghaa Gupta
Through meticulous historical research, the author takes us on a journey through time, exploring the significant events that have shaped the country’s ecology and environment policies. The book covers a wide range of topics, from the Green Revolution and Milk Revolution to nuclear energy advancements, the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, the Taj Mahal crisis, water scarcity in Chennai, and many more pivotal moments in history. What sets this book apart is its unique environmental perspective, providing a chronological documentation of these events and their ecological impact making it a captivating read for children as well as adults.
Naturalist Ruddy || Rohan Chakravarthy
Embark on a thrilling adventure across India’s diverse natural habitats with the curious protagonist, Ruddy, as he unravels the captivating mysteries of the natural world in this one-of-a-kind comic book. Perfect for parents seeking engaging reads for their children, this book offers an easy and quick reading experience. Mystery and detective story enthusiasts will be captivated by the collection, as it introduces a cast of characters drawn from the rich wildlife, flora, and fauna that the author encountered during his expeditions to various sanctuaries. This World Environment Day, embark on an exciting journey with Ruddy Mongoose and discover the wonders of nature in a truly entertaining and educational way.
As extreme weather patterns reshape our world, from relentless monsoon rains to rising heat disrupting lives and landscapes, the urgency to understand and combat climate change has never been greater. Check out our curated list of must-read books about climate change and conservation that offer insights and inspiration to help us rethink our relationship with the environment.
It’s one Earth, one future—let’s make the change today!
Sea Ice? Now You Don’t ! || Rohan Chakravarty
The multi-award winning series of comics,Green Humour is back as the third anthology Sea Ice? Now You Don’t! From penguins balancing their nests on thin ice to tigers basking in their own glamour whilst worrying about their future, from ghazal-loving bats to whales dumping marine plastic waste right back at us- meet an array of wild animals with their own list of concerns, and their own brand of humour. The comics will take you from the high skies to geothermal mines in the very bottom of the ocean, and from sweltering tropical mangroves to the icy poles, engaging you in discussions about ecology, biology, nature conservation, and the politics of governing nature. This is a wild ride for sure, but NOT one which needs you to leave your brains at home!
I’M A Climate Optimist || Akash Ranison
Whenever climate change as a topic pops up in a conversation, someone ends the conversation with ‘What can I do about it?’ I’m A Climate Optimist is the answer to those all, what can I dos. Covering all the aspects of day-to-day life like food, textile, transportation, tourism, beauty, home, education, business, etc along with Industry specific expert comments. Get hold of this June release to learn the art of making our planet more liveable and sustainable.
Get hold of this book to learn the art of making our planet more liveable and sustainable.
Greening The Earth || Edited by K. Satchidanandan & Nishi Chawla
Greening the Earth is a rare anthology that brings together global poetic responses to one of the major crises faced by humanity in our time: environmental degradation and the threat it poses to the very survival of the human species. Poets from across the world respond here in their diverse voices-of anger, despair, and empathy to the present ecological damage prompted by human greed, pray for the re-greening of our little planet and celebrate a possible future where we live in harmony with every form of creation.
The Case For Nature || Siddharth Shrikanth
In a world where carbon emissions and climate financing are rightly rising up the agenda, there exists another catastrophe that is often overlooked but just as dire-the global collapse of our ecosystems. Siddarth Shrikanth’s The Case for Nature presents a compelling vision for tackling this other crisis by rethinking our relationship with nature in economic, social, and even personal terms.
The Case for Nature is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand how nature can help us forge a more sustainable future and what they can do to contribute to this vision.
Pugmarks and Carbon Footprints || Rohan Chakravarty
Pugmarks and Carbon Footprints is a collection of gag cartoons and comic strips based exclusively on wildlife and nature. Staying true to their theme, the cartoons and comics in the book will speak about wildlife, ecology, interesting trivia about the lives of wild animals, and how the lives of these creatures are entwined with ours. Other than providing some much needed comic relief during environmental doomsday, the book will equip the reader with snippet-sized information about environmental issues in an easily palatable manner.
Superpowers on the Shore || Sejal Mehta
The Indian coastline hosts some magnificent intertidal species: solar-powered slugs, escape artist octopuses, venomous jellies, harpooning conus sea snails, to name just a few. It is as biodiverse as a forest wildlife safari, and twice as secretive. From bioluminescence and advanced sonic capabilities to camouflage and shape-shifting, these cloaked assassins are capable of otherworldly skill. Superpowers on the Shore by Sejal Mehta is a dazzling, assured look at some of the creatures with whom we share our world, our water, our monsoons, our beaches, and the sandcastles therein.
The Heartbeat of Trees || Peter Wohlleben
In The Heartbeat of Trees, renowned forester Peter Wohlleben draws on new scientific discoveries to show how humans are deeply connected to the natural world. In an era of cell-phone addiction, climate change and urban life, many of us fear that we’ve lost our connection to nature. But Wohlleben is convinced that the age-old ties linking humans to the forest remain alive and intact. Drawing on science and cutting-edge research, The Heartbeat of Trees reveals the profound interactions humans can have with nature, exploring the language of the forest, the consciousness of plants and the eroding boundary between flora and fauna.
Leopard Diaries || Sanjay Gubbi
In Leopard Diaries: The Rosette in India, Sanjay Gubbi, who has studied and documented the leopard for nearly a decade, gives us a close look at this fascinating creature. From detailing its food habits to throwing new light on how the young are reared, from offering suggestions on tackling leopard-human conflict to imagining the future of this arresting animal, this book is a 360-degree view of the leopard, its ecological context, its fraught relationship with the human world, and how wildlife and human beings can find a way to co-exist.
Flood And Fury || Viju B
The floods that devastated large parts of Kerala in 2018 were not an isolated, freak phenomenon; rather, they signalled something graver-the ecological devastation of the Western Ghats. Travelling in this region, documenting the devastating large-scale mining, quarrying, deforestation and mismanagement of water resources, at the same time mapping its culture, history and ecology, Viju B. investigates the crisis in the Western Ghats and suggests policy measures urgently required to mitigate it.
Working To Restore || Esha Chhabra
Journalist Esha Chhabra draws on her decades of reporting to explore the nuanced realities and promise of regenerative business operations. Working to Restore examines revolutionary approaches in nine areas: agriculture, waste, supply chain, inclusivity for the collective good, women in the workforce, travel, health, energy, and finance. The companies profiled are solving global issues: promoting responsible production and consumption, creating equitable opportunities for all, encouraging climate action, and more. Chhabra highlights how their work moves beyond the greenwashed idea of ‘sustainability’ into a new era of regeneration and restoration.
Bare Necessities || Sahar Mansoor, Tim De Ridder
Bare Necessities is your one-stop guide on how to move towards a more sustainable lifestyle in India. Filled with activities, insights, recipes, tips and how-to guides, it is a must-read for anyone wanting to make a positive change in their life and in the environment.
The Nutmeg’s Curse || Amitav Ghosh
Written against the backdrop of the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter protests, and interweaving discussions on everything from climate change, the migrant crisis, and the animist spirituality of indigenous communities around the world, The Nutmeg’s Curse offers a sharp critique of Western society, and reveals the profoundly remarkable ways in which human history is shaped by non-human forces.
The Great Derangement || Amitav Ghosh
In The Great Derangement, a groundbreaking return to non-fiction, Ghosh examines our inability-at the level of literature, history and politics-to grasp the scale and violence of climate change. The climate crisis asks us to imagine other forms of human existence-a task to which fiction, Ghosh argues, is the best suited of all forms. The Great Derangement serves as a brilliant writer’s summons to confront the most urgent task of our time.
Garden Up || Dr. Ekta Chaudhary
YouTube sensation Ekta Chaudhary has been teaching gardening to her millions of followers, and for the first time, she is putting it all down in an easy-to-use, fun and simple beginner’s guide to growing plants at home. Rich in information on the amount of light plants need, the kind of soil to use and plants that can thrive indoors and outdoors, with answers to all ‘silly’ questions, Garden Up will gift anyone a green thumb.
How To Raise A Plant Baby || Vinayak Garg
Written for all plant parents trying to raise their plant babies in an urban setting, How To Raise A Plant Baby is built on basic principles that keep plants healthy and covers all topics that any plant parent need to know-how to prepare their space, how to choose the right plants for their home, how to care for the plants and keep them happy and how to get family and friends started with plants of their own.
This Handmade Life || Nandita Iyer
This Handmade Life is all about finding a passion and becoming really good at it. Divided into seven sections-baking, fermenting, self-care, kitchen gardening, soap-making, spices and stitching-this book tells us it is all right to slow down and take up simple projects that bring us unadulterated joy.
It is deeply unfortunate that it took a pandemic and its damage to make us realise what we should have known from the very beginning – we owe our environment sustainable and responsible use. No man is an island, and certainly not when it comes to the natural world. Deanne Panday, in her book Balance, takes a deep dive into the climate crisis and the depth of human complicity in the destruction of our natural world.
The climate of the world has seen a drastic global change merely over the past few decades. We have arrived at a point in the Anthropocene where the damaging impact of human footprint has become irreversible. The increased emission of carbon dioxide has increased health risks and long-term respiratory damage. One living in a metropolitan city is no stranger to this – checking the AQI levels of our cities and towns fills us with dread, and yet this dread remains insufficient in motivating us to radically change our lifestyle.
The increase of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane has resulted in heat waves, where days are getting hotter. Extreme heat can lead to more droughts and hot, dry conditions can, in turn, spark off wildfires. We have recently seen devastating fires in Australia and California. Heat waves lead to drought, which would translate into food scarcity and eventually famines especially in countries reliant largely on agriculture.
Balance||Deanne Panday
The ozone layer has not been an exception in the damage done to the natural environment of the planet. While in the stratosphere it absorbs ultraviolet rays from the sun, the story changes closer to ground. Ground-level ozone is emitted from industrial facilities and electric utilities, motor-vehicle exhaust, petrol vapours and chemical solvents. Breathing ozone can result in chest pain, throat irritation, coughing and congestion. More ozone is formed in summer because there is more ultraviolent radiation from the sun then. It has been estimated that ozone mortality will be more pronounced in India and China, eastern United States, most of Europe and southern Africa.
Covid-19 is not the only that will plague our lives. Other climate sensitive diseases like cholera, malaria, the West Nile virus etc are expected to magnify. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the rise in temperatures, along with an increase in population, could put many more people at risk of being infected by it. The reproductive, survival and biting rates of the Aedes aegypti mosquito species, which carries dengue, are strongly influenced by temperature, precipitation and humidity. Mosquitoes are cold-blooded creatures and seek out warmer environments to regulate their body temperatures.
Greenhouse gases also have an impact on the spread of infectious diseases, since they affect rainfall and temperatures. Higher greenhouse gas emissions also impact nutrients in food – A higher carbon dioxide concentration reduces nutrients such as proteins, vitamin A and folate, which are already in short supply for lakhs of people around the world.
Fertilizers are also responsible for several health disorders. Algal and cyanobacterial blooms produce toxins that are harmful to wildlife and humans. Warmer ocean temperatures and precipitation promote their growth, and their main ingredient is nitrogen. The heavy use of nitro-based fertilizers to grow our food causes a range of illnesses in human beings, such as headaches, vomiting, diarrhoea, numbness and tingling.
The planet we inhabit now is vastly different from the one that existed even thirty years ago. The deterioration has been incredibly rapid. At this point, where restoration might be an option anymore, it is high time we at least begin the process of mitigation instead of myopically pursuing personal comforts.
