Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future is a 2021 environmental book by Elizabeth Kolbert.[1] The book follows many of the themes she explored in The Sixth Extinction.
Under a White Sky is focused on the various kinds of environmental crises created by the Anthropocene and different degrees of technological solutions available to humanity to address them – while also being critical of full-blown techno-solutionism.[2] [3]
The title refers to the most extreme climate change mitigation strategy, solar geoengineering, designed to reflect sunlight from the earth. Throughout the book she explores how a technological fix for one problem can lead to further problems while also acknowledging the important role those technologies might play.[4]
Reception of the book was generally positive. The Washington Post praised it for "expertly mix[ing] travelogue, science reporting, and explanatory journalism, all with the authority of a writer confident enough to acknowledge ambiguity." The New York Times review focused on how the book explores the ambiguities of our current environmental crisis. A NPR review described the book as "tell[ing] by showing. Without beating the reader over the head, she makes it clear how far we already are from a world of undisturbed, perfectly balanced nature – and how far we must still go to find a new balance for the planet's future that still has us humans in it." The Rolling Stones Jeff Goodell lauded Kolbert by saying, "To be a well-informed citizen of Planet Earth, you need to read Elizabeth Kolbert..."[5]
Under a White Sky was shortlisted for the 2021 Wainwright Prize in the Global Conservation Writing category.[6] The book made the long list for the 2022 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction.[7] It was selected for The Washington Posts "10 Best Books of 2021" list.[8]