Few issues require as much research as climate change science. You have to know a whole lot about the biosphere, about energy, about the politics of adapting to climate change and investing in mitigating tools. It’s a confusing, and daunting, mass of information. George Monbiot, however, appears to have done a good job getting through what appears to be all of it, and he shows it in his book, Heat: How to Stop the Planet from Burning.

In a chapter discussing the incredible damage done to the environment by our growing penchant for traveling by plane, Monbiot states the case—both for and against—for practically every alternative. He steers us through the pros and cons of planes using, say, hydrogen; of supersonic planes which travel in the stratosphere rather than the troposphere (apparently a very bad thing); and of taking trains across great distances instead. His conclusion: we have to dramatically—perhaps by about 96 percent—reduce our flights. There’s simply no alternative fuel and no way of making our current fleet, or any conceivable one, efficient enough to carry on the way we do.

And this recurs throughout this dense and informative book. Monbiot’s essential claim is that by 2030 we must reduce our carbon emissions by 90% if we hope to preserve something resembling our current ecosystem. This is possible, he says, if we can muster the political will. He even says it wouldn’t alter our lifestyles by very much. We can still enjoy comfortable, modern lives.

But, of course, it’s difficult to imagine the political will being there when it counts. His chapter “The Denial Industry” displays with great force the extent to which oil industries and others invested in making money off damaging the planet have gotten their foot in the door of the media and government in order to misinform the public about the seriousness of climate change. The task of getting our public officials to think beyond upcoming elections and towards the overarching responsibility to our environment is immense, but Monbiot believes it’s one we can still achieve.

Canada has been a hotspot for international climate activists this week. We’ve got Al Gore in Toronto, warning among other things that using tar sands oil takes away any advantages of greening our vehicle fleet. Then there’s Britain’s George Monbiot speaking this Saturday at the University of Toronto (2-4PM) on the “Countdown to Copenhagen: Who in Canada is Killing the International Climate Treaty?” Possibly even more interesting will be Tuesday night’s Munk Debate with Monbiot, Elizabeth May, and on the pro-climate change side, Bjorn Lomborg and Lord Nigel Lawson.

Lots of potential inspiration to elicit further action.

With the announcement that Barack Obama will be attending the Copenhagen talks and bringing hard carbon reduction targets with him, and that Canada’s Parliament passed a resolution that we too must bring strong targets, allow me to provide two more suggestions for action this week, in hopes of putting the political pressure on Harper to make him do it.

Rebecca noted Tuesday that Prime Ministerial phone lines were blocked by Mississauga students calling for climate action. They politely refrained when someone from the office apparently asked them to stop calling, but by then the point was made.

To add to actions to be taken by supporters of the Canadian Youth Delegation and others, how about we all do the same? Organize an event and call: (613) 992-4211. Already hosting a talk? Get everyone’s cell phones out. How about a school democracy project like the one in Mississauga?

My last columns have suggested action by getting religious, rural and other groups on board to achieve climate results in the political realm. There are many high-profile folks who could be encouraged to write open letters to the Prime Minister or to newspapers for action. Since religious organizations are good places to get support, how about starting with the United Church of Canada and move right from there? Their national leader has called for climate action before.

Municipal leaders in Tory ridings, agricultural organizations and service clubs like Rotary could go a long way in lending their hand—but they likely need a nudge from you. I challenge some folks to start writing and posting their letters here, giving each other a hand in getting the work done.

Further action in the West may be starting, as both Environment Minister Jim Prentice and former Environment Minister Rona Ambrose both had their offices occupied this week by climate activists, including by a 70-something professor emeritus.

And contrary to some recent comments I’ve received to my column — I don’t worship the alter of former American President uh, Vice-President Al Gore. But I do think, if we don’t succeed in getting the Conservatives on board, we might do ourselves a favour and try acting a little crazy.