Environmental authors offer hope and solutions amid 2025’s climate policy setbacks

While 2025 has been marked by significant environmental policy reversals—from increased fossil fuel support in the United States to weakened deforestation protections in the European Union—a new collection of books offers both sobering analysis and inspiring solutions to our planet’s mounting challenges.

Despite political backsliding on climate action and reduced international development aid, storytellers from journalism, science, law, and visual arts have produced compelling works that tackle our environmental crises head-on. These 10 notable conservation books provide clear-eyed examinations of the “scary situations” facing Earth while highlighting the dedicated individuals working tirelessly to find solutions.

The timing couldn’t be more crucial. As scientists continue documenting alarming data about our planet’s declining health, and influential figures like Bill Gates downplay climate threats, these authors offer a different perspective. Their works chronicle the efforts of people confronting fishery collapses, habitat fragmentation threatening wildlife, and environmental crimes that often go unnoticed.

Rather than contributing to feelings of helplessness that can arise from constant negative environmental news, these books serve as both wake-up calls and sources of inspiration. They demonstrate that while political leadership may falter, countless individuals across various fields continue advancing conservation efforts and developing innovative approaches to environmental protection. For readers seeking to understand both the magnitude of our environmental challenges and the pathways forward, these works provide essential insights into the ongoing fight for our planet’s future.