Ezra's Bookshelf

Possible

by Chris Goodall ยท 294 pages

Energy analyst Chris Goodall argues that achieving net zero carbon emissions is technologically and economically feasible using methods already proven at scale. He examines each major sector - electricity generation, transportation, heating, industry, agriculture - and identifies existing technologies that can replace fossil fuels. Goodall profiles entrepreneurs and projects around the world that are demonstrating these solutions: green hydrogen production in Germany, carbon-negative concrete in Canada, regenerative agriculture in the American Midwest. His optimism is not naive but grounded in detailed analysis of costs, scalability, and deployment timelines. The book acknowledges obstacles - political resistance, incumbent industry power, infrastructure inertia - while arguing these are surmountable with sufficient will. Goodall, who has written extensively about energy and environment, brings a journalist's eye for compelling stories alongside an analyst's command of technical detail. He is particularly good at explaining why some solutions that seem promising are actually limited, while others dismissed as unrealistic are closer to viability than critics claim. For readers exhausted by climate doom and seeking reasons for hope grounded in evidence rather than wishful thinking, this book provides detailed assessment of what is actually possible. Goodall's work serves both as an informative survey of climate solutions and as a rebuttal to fatalism about the energy transition.