Best Environmental Economics Books of 2026

Radical Inclusion by David Moinina Sengeh is an inspiring and powerful read that presents seven principles for creating a more just workplace, home, and world. Sengeh's personal experiences encountering exclusion and his efforts to guarantee pregnant girls' right to education in Sierra Leone serve as a parable for advocating for change and reimagining systems that perpetuate exclusion. The book offers a roadmap for pursuing radical inclusion in our own lives and work, making it essential reading for modern leaders and anyone who hopes to help unleash the power of a world that is truly, radically inclusive.

Nature's Best Hope by Douglas W. Tallamy offers a grassroots approach to conservation by turning yards into habitats for wildlife. The book provides practical and easy suggestions for individuals to preserve wildlife and the planet for future generations. Tallamy's vision for a private initiative approach to conservation is immune from the whims of government policy. The book is a must-read for those concerned about the environment and offers a blueprint for taking action. Overall, Nature's Best Hope is a persuasive and original book that provides a solution to the urgent situation of wildlife populations in decline.

The book "Fossil Future: Why Global Human Flourishing Requires More Oil, Coal, and Natural Gas--Not Less" challenges the common belief that the use of fossil fuels has a negative impact on climate change. The author, Alex Epstein, argues that the benefits of fossil fuels outweigh their side effects and are essential for global human flourishing. He suggests that a combination of using more fossil fuels, better climate mastery, and establishing energy freedom policies is the path to a better future. Epstein's "human flourishing framework" and his unique insights make this book a must-read for those interested in environmental economics.

Cobalt Red is a groundbreaking exposé of the immense toll taken on the people and environment of the Democratic Republic of the Congo by cobalt mining. Investigator Siddharth Kara has traveled deep into cobalt territory to document the testimonies of the people living and dying for cobalt. The book reveals the brutal mining practices, traces the supply chain of child-mined cobalt, and gathers shocking testimonies of people who endure immense suffering. Kara argues that we must all care about what is happening in the Congo because we are all implicated. This is a crucial book for anyone interested in environmental economics and human rights.

Saving Time by Jenny Odell is a paradigm-destroying book that explores the problems that arise from our dominant conceptions of time. Odell shows how our painful relationship to time is not only connected to persisting social inequities but to the climate crisis, existential dread, and a lethal fatalism. The book offers different ways to experience time - inspired by pre-industrial cultures, ecological cues, and geological timescales - that can bring within reach a more humane, responsive way of living. Saving Time is a subversive, hopeful, and deeply insightful book that challenges readers to become stewards of different rhythms of life in which time is not reducible to standardized units.

The international bestseller, "Thinking in Systems," is a must-read for anyone looking to solve problems on a personal or global scale. The book offers insight into systems thinking skills that are critical for 21st-century life. Donella Meadows, the lead author of the bestseller "Limits to Growth," delves into the science behind global dilemmas and reminds readers to pay attention to what is important. The book is a concise and essential primer for problem-solving, and it helps readers avoid confusion and helplessness in an ever-growing complicated world.

California Burning: The Fall of Pacific Gas and Electric--and What It Means for America's Power Grid is a must-read book for those interested in environmental economics. Katherine Blunt's deeply reported and character-driven narrative explores the decline of California's largest utility company and the human cost of infrastructure failure. Blunt chronicles the evolution of PG&E's shareholder base, from innovators to aggressive investors keen on reaping dividends. The book serves as a cautionary tale for utilities across the nation, especially as climate change makes aging infrastructure more vulnerable, with potentially fatal consequences.

Guardians of the Valley is an inspiring and deeply researched book about the legendary conservationist John Muir and his friendship with editor Robert Underwood Johnson. The book follows their journey to Yosemite Valley, where they witnessed the destruction of nature caused by mining, tourism, and logging. The pact they formed led to the creation of Yosemite National Park, marking a watershed moment in the American environmental movement. The book highlights the transformative power of nature and the importance of friendship in making a difference. Overall, Guardians of the Valley is a timely and powerful read that sheds light on the environmental challenges we face today.

One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia is an inspiring children's book that tells the true story of Isatou Ceesay, an African woman who started a recycling movement to combat the pollution caused by plastic bags in her community. The book not only highlights the urgent need to address the plastic pollution crisis but also encourages readers to take action to make a difference in their own communities. The charming collage illustrations and simple but lyrical text make this a beautiful and thought-provoking tale of ecological awareness and the impact of one person's determination and ingenuity in creating positive change.