Breathe
Seven Ways to Win a Greener World
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- £8.99
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- £8.99
Publisher Description
'A breath of fresh air' Observer
'Passionate and authentic' GQ
'Refreshing and galvanising' Vogue
'Rousing and thoughtful' Independent
'Quite the page-turner' Evening Standard
To win the climate war, you first need to win the climate argument.
For many years, Sadiq wasn't fully aware of the dangers posed by air pollution, nor its connection with climate change. Then, aged 43, he was unexpectedly diagnosed with adult-onset asthma - brought on by the polluted London air he had been breathing for decades.
Scandalised, Sadiq underwent a political transformation that would see him become one of the most prominent global politicians fighting (and winning) elections on green issues. Since becoming Mayor of London in 2016, he has declared a climate emergency, introduced the world's first Ultra-Low Emission Zone, and turned London into the first-ever 'National Park City'.
Now, Sadiq draws on his experiences to reveal the seven ways environmental action gets blown off course - and how to get it back on track. Whether by building coalitions across the political spectrum, putting social justice at the heart of green politics, or showing that the climate crisis is a health crisis too, he offers a playbook for anyone - voter, activist or politician - who wants to win the argument on the environment.
It will help create a world where we can all breathe again.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
The proud son of a South London bus driver, politician Sadiq Khan was always a supporter of green issues. Yet it wasn’t until he was diagnosed with adult-onset asthma due to the capital’s polluted air that he became truly galvanised to clean up the city. As London Mayor, Khan was in a unique position to do something about it—only to find himself facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles at every turn. A combination of memoir, manifesto and policy playbook, his book explains how the climate change crusader overcame cynicism, apathy and cost concerns to turn London into a pioneering green city. Khan combines political diaries with personal stories—including the nine-year-old girl’s death that drives him and his minor heart attack at the Cop26 summit. He persuasively argues how hands-on eco policies can win elections, not lose them, and align with a belief in social justice. With a former lawyer’s eye for detail, it occasionally feels like a college thesis but Khan is undeniably passionate and his tireless enthusiasm is inspirational. His love of London leaps from every page and Breathe becomes a rousing call to action.