Environomics: How the Global Economy is Going Green - Dharshini David

You might have heard people say that, in the end, whether we stop or speed up climate change simply boils down to economics. In this book, economist and author Dharshini David proceeds from this principle to explain how economics shapes the way we adapt to climate change.

David uses the arc of a single day—from switching on the lights to getting groceries—as a framework for showing how the different systems that we rely on are responding to the climate problem. This keeps things grounded and easy to follow, even as the book touches on massive global systems with many moving parts. It also enables the reader to see their place in all of this. The sweeping scope, together with the book’s readability, makes it an excellent introduction to understanding where our key industries are in terms of adapting to climate change.

Instead of focusing on scientific or technological targets, the book situates climate change within the workings of markets. This brings home the crucial point that the economy is central to whether climate solutions succeed or fail. Effective climate action depends not just on innovation but on the coordination of entire global systems. The author’s background in finance helps her to translate the complexities of energy and fuel markets, supply chains, and global finance into clear and relatable examples.

What’s refreshing is that all this is solidly underpinned by evidence and a balanced outlook. Often, books on climate change that are meant to be reader-friendly veer into best- or worst-case scenarios in an effort to make their point. But what if you just want information? This book resists the more sensational appeal of both easy pessimism and relentless optimism, all without becoming overly technical. David provides a reasoned overview of exactly how we’re doing today, and how that’s likely to evolve.

This realism is the key strength of Environomics. It reports on measurable progress, such as the rising accessibility of renewable energy, while also confronting ongoing challenges like greenwashing, political inertia, and inequality.

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Who It's Best For: Anyone who wants a thoughtful and balanced overview of how the ‘greening’ of global industry is actually going, and to better understand how economics underpins the transition to a more environmentally sustainable world.

Difficulty: Easy. The framing is designed to provide a digestible introduction to a complex topic.

Read Time: A week: relatively short, but packed with info.

Pages: 272 pages (paperback)