This is really interesting, if perhaps not as cohesive as it might be. It's essentially a collection of case studies, loosely linked by the idea of how urban setting adapt (or more frequently don't) to climate change. There are chapters on the Norfolk naval base, on floating neighbourhoods in Lagos, on flood prevention measures in Venice, on real estate in Miami... that sort of thing. More than anything, I think, the over-riding theme is on compromise continually undermined by determined blindness. Goodell talks to a number of officials, business people, and scientists who understand the reality of climate change, and are trying to push through counter-measures that will be accepted by the populations that they serve (and are part of), knowing that those measures will not be enough. Most of the solutions offered here are - and are frequently admitted to be - measures designed primarily to buy time, because dragging down progress are those populations who have a vested interest (financial or otherwise) in clinging to familiarity and ignorance.

Honestly, it's hard not to read about this latter group and not feel various shades of contempt. The ancient businessman who refuses to address climate change in his real estate plans because he's not going to live long enough to see the worst of it, so he doesn't give a damn about how future generations suffer so long as he gets his. The small handful of wealthy homeowners living in a flood zone, whose lawsuits have forced the local council to maintain the constantly washed-away infrastructure that services their homes, even at the cost of bankrupting the community. And even, sad to say, the ordinary people who keep rebuilding their homes in danger zones and keep needing to be bailed out because of it and who nonetheless keep voting for politicians who are actively denying climate change... Goodell tries hard to make me feel for them, and how much they love their homes, and I admit I felt a twinge for them, at times - not the rich, well-educated people, but the poor who don't know any better - but it was only a twinge, because let's face it: at this point they are choosing not to know better and, judgemental person that I am, I am judging hard.

More interesting are the solutions being offered, some of them really innovative, like the floating school designed by Nigerian architect Kunlé Adeyemi. More of this, please, I am sick of reading about ostriches.