Hot Flat and Crowded- Thomas Friedman

The book “Hot Flat and Crowded” by Thomas L. Friedman is a maddening read because it brings you on the surface with the bare fact that how frightening our environmental crisis is. Here the title of the book very smartly puts forward the entire zest of the book. The 3 words, “Hot”, ‘Flat’ and ‘Crowded’ are references to the 3 global trends that are converging: climate change, the growth of the middle classes around the world and the world population speeding past 6 billion people.

The first part of the book outlays all the pollution and the energy issues that are planet is or would be facing in the time to come. While the second part focuses on the technologies and businesses that we might need to use to make it work. The author in a lucid style highlights the current energy crisis, the biodiversity issue and the role of the emerging countries as well as the developed ones in the green revolution. From the burning of the tropical forests which contributes 20-25% of the carbon emission driving the climate change to the economic
imperative in America’s remaining addicted to oil, the author brings forward complete facts and figures to support his argument.

The author tries to bring to fore the energy dependency in an American lifestyle and its effect in the coming energy crisis. The book suggests the need of the American government to wake up to the fact that if it does strategize its policies with an agenda to build a clean energy infrastructure, probably there exists a fair chance that other countries like China would outgrow US in this. The author leaves no doubt that the economic opportunities have shifted from IT (Information Technology) to ET (Environmental Technology).

The proficiency of the author in the subject can be judged in the second half when he discusses the solution to the present energy crisis. His discussion on the appliance energy efficiency, metering and smart grid appliances is enlightening for sure. He, very importantly, recognizes the role of the government in controlling the greenhouse gas emissions along with maximizing energy efficiency.

In all, the book leaves you with a feeling of urgency to act towards improving the present conditions around us. It brings forward, every individual’s role in bringing about a green revolution with the practicality that things cannot be fixed in a day. It happens to be an incredibly important book at a very critical time.

Contributed by Shikha Pande