Professor Conkin releases new book, ‘The State of the Earth'

Distinguished Professor of History, Emeritus Paul Conkin released his new book "The State of the Earth: Environmental Challenges on the Road to 2100," taking the view of how humanity came to this crosswords and how Americans can craft policies that may preserve a healthy earth.

The litany of woe has become familiar and seemingly overwhelming. The earth is running out of fossil fuel and facing chaotic weather due to global warming. Water will soon be scarce, and world population continues to explode, taxing diminishing resources. All true to some extent. But despite the temptation for doom and gloom, all is not lost, says Conkin.

Sorting through such environmental problems, Conkin presents reason for hope, specifically in the recent efforts by the leading industrialized countries to cut down emissions.

Alternative fuels, new technology and nuclear power all offer promising prospects for the cutback on emissions.

But if it is not checked, population growth and the subsequent need for continued economic expansion could ultimately overtake all the well-meaning efforts, Conkin said.

"My background is as a historian, and I draw on that, but I'm not trying to write an environmental history about how we arrived where we are today," Conkin said. "I have attempted to do what historians rarely do - look way ahead rather than backwards. I believe I understand the various sciences well enough to do a fair and honest job of presenting many very complex issues to a lay audience."