The Atlas of Disappearing Places by Christina Conklin

Weaving together contemporary stories and speculative “future histories” for each place, this work considers both the serious consequences if we continue to pursue business as usual, and what we can do-from government policies to grassroots activism-to write a different, more hopeful story.Ī beautiful work of art and an indispensable resource to learn more about the devastating consequences of the climate crisis-as well as possibilities for individual and collective action- The Atlas of Disappearing Places will engage and inspire readers on the most pressing issue of our time.

The authors describe four climate change impacts-changing chemistry, warming waters, strengthening storms, and rising seas-using the metaphor of the ocean as a body to draw parallels between natural systems and human systems.Įach chapter paints a portrait of an existential threat in a particular place, detailing what will be lost if we do not take bold action now. Through a rich combination of place-based storytelling, clear explanations of climate science and policy, and beautifully rendered maps that use a unique ink-on-dried-seaweed technique, The Atlas of Disappearing Places depicts twenty locations across the globe, from Shanghai and Antarctica to Houston and the Cook Islands.

Despite these dire circumstances, most of us don’t have a clear sense of how the interconnected crises in our ocean are affecting the climate system, food webs, coastal cities, and biodiversity, and which solutions can help us co-create a better future. Seas are rising, oceans are acidifying, ice is melting, coasts are flooding, species are dying, and communities are faltering. The good news is that we already have what we need to build a better future.” -from the introduction The bad news is that we will experience great loss. “The direction in which our planet is headed isn't a good one, and most of us don’t know how to change it. A beautiful and engaging guide to global warming’s impacts around the world

The Atlas of Disappearing Places by Christina Conklin