How can climate change be prevented from dramatically worsening living conditions on earth? Among the proposed measures there are always technical solutions that are intended to have a major impact on the climate system. The best-selling author Marc Elsberg dedicates himself to the geoengineering approach in his new novel “°C-Celsius”, in which he effectively combines climate protection, natural science and thriller suspense.
Right at the beginning of the novel, the end of the world seems within reach. Huge planes take off from mainland China and head for Taiwan. Is humanity at the brink of a world war? But the international observers are taught otherwise. The Chinese government will soon reveal its true goals. Instead of a war, Beijing is striving to save the global climate.
How can the climate be saved?
The launch of the large aircraft marks the beginning of a remarkable project that can and should change the living conditions on earth. Instead of focusing mainly on CO2 reduction as before, the Chinese want to use the so-called large parasol technology to repair the climate. The large machines bring chemicals into the atmosphere, which should combine to form a shady layer. Less sunshine, less warming. That’s the logic behind the project.
Of course, the project has many critics, whose arguments Elsberg presents just as comprehensively and seriously as the arguments for the company. One of the main characters of the novel works for the UN climate agency and not only illustrates a personal fate in the climate emergency of the near future, but also provides a lot of information on the subject.
Many sub-stories are combined
In the novel, Elsberg combines numerous storylines into a complex narrative. The research of an American journalist is particularly important. He uncovers a conspiracy that probably prepared the project years ago as part of a film shoot. Much remains unclear, but what is certain is that it is dangerous.
The novel is given additional impetus by a competing project from other states whose goals are far more radical than anything the Chinese parasol could ever achieve. Elsberg tells these developments with a large number of characters and constantly changing perspectives and storylines. The 600 pages of the novel are divided into 142 chapters, which also provide variety in that some continue the action directly, while others project into the future what would result from the suggestions for the concrete lives of the people in the long term.
In addition to the suspense elements, the novel focuses on the potential consequences of technical climate crisis solutions for the world population. Elsberg, who has built on current scientific developments in previous novels such as “Blackout”, “Zero” and “Helix”, always goes into the conditions under which the projects take place. He has one of his main characters say: “The earth is not an apartment whose thermostat you can simply turn around.”
In his novel, Elsberg offers many protagonists, constantly changing locations on four continents and scientific insights into climate issues. Above all, he creates excitement through the equally fascinating and perhaps dangerous potential technical developments. It is therefore not surprising that “°C-Celsius” ended up on the bestseller lists shortly after publication.
Marc Elsberg’s book “°C-Celsius” (ISBN 978-3-7645-0633-9) has been published by Blanvalet Verlag and costs 26.00 euros.
