Review: Global warming is here and it's getting personal! What else can we think judging by the range of books aimed at getting the individual to make a difference. 20 years ago this book wouldn't be seen because the idea of one person affecting a global problem would be seen as impossible. There's still a great deal of 'sales resistance' but this is declining as people see that a small action multiplied by a large number of people is a large result. The figures haven't changed but by re-aligning them with some sensible focus work (re-branding in marketing terms) this can be achieved. Of course, economic changes help but any avenue is valid especially if we consider how school students can become involved.

This author chooses the food analogy. By consuming less (energy is the usual measure here) we can trim down our impact (and possibly waistlines if we follow the walking ideas!). Chapter one sets the scene by setting up the diet idea - healthy body/planet and by suggesting a series of awards. This might seem simplistic but as we all know, in education students can be hooked on these ideas. Marketers call it 'pester-power' - children's demand for the latest toy - but imaging harnessing it to climate action and you can see where the author is coming from. Chapter two provides good reasons for helping out. An unusual range is presented here from ethics to economics: a realisation that there are many reasons to deal with climate change and not all of them economic. Chapter three is very brief and just gets the reader focussed on the main stages - the idea is to use energy as our 'diet' item. From here, the book goes through a series of ideas where energy can be saved without noticeable change of lifestyle. This is interesting in that it assumes that in modern 'Western' society, there will be no change if people have to lose out on anything. Of course, current petrol prices (rising rapidly at the time of writing) may do for climate change what all the books can't but we will need to see. Back at the text chapters four to six examine the energy needs of household appliances, temperature control and purchasing decisions. There are a lot of ideas and heaps of maths which would appeal to students wishing to literally count the cost. The last part of chapter six paves the way for chapter seven. It looks at where our food comes from with the notion that it should be locally produced. This focus on food (transport) energy is taken up by chapter seven which examines fuel options for transport (although not the public transit or bike/walk strategies). Chapter 8 considers how wider communities can work for even more results. Chapter nine asks the reader to summarise their changes and see whether they are gold, sliver or bronze participants. A final note suggests that we should act now for our children's sake.

There is much to recommend in this book. It's chief virtue lies in its approach. The diet analogy should work with students and the use of data tables opens up a wealth of ideas for education. Although aimed at a general audience I would suggest it would be an idea text for sustainable education courses and teacher training programmes. Getting students involved in this sort of work could actually make the difference the author seeks.