★★2025 Journalist's Scientist of the Year Award★★
★★Professor Baekmin Kim's Hot New Book★★

Transition, not extinction
In the age of climate crisis, speak of hope instead of fear.

We have been experiencing record heat waves and cold spells in recent years.
In an era where once-in-a-hundred-year meteorological disasters are no longer unfamiliar, the media is fueling people's fear and anxiety by promoting the "climate crisis doomsday theory."
But is humanity truly headed for extinction? "The Earth may be destroyed by 2100." This is a classic warning slogan, emblematic of the current climate crisis discourse.
However, Professor Baekmin Kim, author of “There is no extinction” and a renowned climatologist, directly refutes this exaggerated narrative that “climate crisis = apocalypse.”
The climate crisis clock is merely a symbolic indicator that oversimplifies complex science, and the Earth will not be destroyed immediately when the clock reaches 0:00:00.


He also points out that “the message of doom delivered by the media is actually making the public feel helpless,” and emphasizes that what is needed now is the will to act without giving up.
Humanity has already escaped the worst-case scenario (SSP5-8.5) and will move toward a sustainable future through the transformation of energy and economic systems.
This book proposes that we move beyond fear narratives like, “If the average global temperature rises by 1.5℃, humanity will be finished,” and explore practical responses we can implement now.
The message this book delivers is hopeful.
Climate is not an apocalypse, it's a transition, and our choices and actions will determine our future.
Now is the time to discuss realistic solutions for humanity's energy transition, from a perspective of hope rather than fear.

The biggest problem with the climate crisis clock is that it reduces a complex reality to a simple countdown.
It creates the illusion that if only the numbers that are ticking down like a time bomb would stop, everything would be solved.
The reality is not like that at all.
Even if the clock reaches zero and stops, your daily life won't suddenly fall apart that day.

--- p.41~42

Blaming all disasters solely on greenhouse gases obscures the essence of the problem and underestimates the power of the vast system that is nature.
We must face the human-induced crisis, but we must not forget the inherent terror of weather.

--- p.70

People often use the terms 'global warming' and 'climate change' interchangeably.
Global warming refers to the phenomenon in which the average temperature of the Earth rises.
Climate change, on the other hand, is a comprehensive concept that encompasses long-term changes in the entire Earth system, including not only temperature but also precipitation patterns, sea level, wind, and humidity.
It's like the difference between a "high fever" and a "cold." If global warming is simply a symptom of a fever, then climate change is like a cold.

--- p.103

The climate crisis is now a concrete reality unfolding on our land, and our response must be tailored to the unique circumstances of our lives. Global studies like the IPCC report are a crucial compass that illuminates the broader trends of the climate crisis, but they alone cannot prevent flooding in our neighborhoods.
Because global climate models only show us low-resolution maps of the world, what we really need are high-resolution maps that detail down to the streets of our towns.

--- p.185

If 'carbon neutrality' is a duty and task imposed on us by the international community, 'energy independence' is a long-held national aspiration and desire of the Republic of Korea that has persisted for decades.
The geopolitical shackle of being an energy-poor nation has been a shackle holding back the South Korean economy for the past half-century, and an Achilles' heel threatening national security amid rapidly changing international circumstances.

--- p.230

Carbon dioxide is invisible, but our actions are.
Every tree we plant, every solar panel we install, every public transportation and low-carbon product we choose, and every vote we cast for a better world all come together to create visible hope.

--- p.278~279