The Octopus in the Parking Garage: A Call for Climate Resilience

by Rob Verchick

One morning in Miami Beach, an unexpected guest showed up in a luxury condominium complex's parking garage: an octopus. The image quickly went viral. But the octopus--and the combination of infrastructure quirks and climate impacts that left it stranded--is more than a funny meme. It's a potent symbol of the disruptions that a changing climate has already brought to our doorsteps and the ways we will have to adjust.

Rob Verchick examines how we can manage the risks that we can no longer avoid, laying out our options as we face climate breakdown. Although reducing carbon dioxide emissions is essential, we need to adapt to address the damage we have already caused. Verchick explores what resilience looks like on the ground, from early humans on the savannas to today's shop owners and city planners. He takes the reader on a journey into the field: paddling through Louisiana's bayous, hiking in one of the last refuges of Joshua trees in the Mojave Desert, and diving off Key Largo with citizen scientists working to restore coral reefs. The book emphasizes disadvantaged communities, which bear the brunt of environmental risk, arguing that building climate resilience is a necessary step toward justice.

Engaging and accessible for nonexpert concerned citizens, The Octopus in the Parking Garage empowers readers to face the climate crisis and shows what we can do to adapt and thrive.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Animals, Environment, Nature, Natural History, Climate Change

274 pages, Hardcover

Published April 11, 2023

About the author

I'm a climate law scholar who designed climate-resilience policies in the Obama administration. I teach at Loyola University New Orleans, where I hold an endowed chair, and also at Tulane. Through my work at the Center for Progressive Reform, I work with other scholars to help communities become more resilient and just. I host the podcast "Connect the Dots" too. It's super cool.

Reviews

[brinley · Rating 1 out of 5]

The argument in favor of climate resilience was already convincing for me, and is what initially drew me to this book, but the author fails to really prepare us for much by way of what we are to face. Instead, Verchick appeals to an elite audience that has a desire to protect their private property against all odds against them - be it a natural disaster or social uprising. Ignoring the polarity of our political climate, he acts as though Biden (or other democratic politicians and lawmakers) can simply undo all of the climate damage that president's like Trump or other conservative lawmakers wreak. He literally sprinkles in Biden's catchphrase "build back better" unironically in multiple instances throughout the book. It read as satire to me, though I think the author legitimately believes that we can vote our way out of this.

To claim this book is a call for climate resilience is a bit of a stretch - it feels more like this is a desperate attempt to maintain the status quo in the midst of dramatic climate changes. Instead of confronting social upheavals and the inevitability of desperate changes to community structures, the author chooses instead to focus on how litigation, renewable energy, and funding for programs that could *potentially* benefit historically oppressed people will give us some degree of security. Not that those are bad things, necessarily, but I think they overlook the scale of the threats humans face.

I feel less than inspired, less than prepared for what a hotter climate and rising sea levels will entail. People who are displaced, lose their homes to natural disasters, or who are targeted by right-wing militias or over-militarized governments are not going to benefit from this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an early copy of the book in return for an honest review.

[Marilyn Rumph · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author attempts to deal with the realities of climate change by addressing the efforts to mitigate the effects that we are currently facing and that are predicted. He uses a variety of stories from various people and projects that are on the front-line. He discusses frankly the disparity between those who want to prevent as much damage as possible with those who want to pretend nothing is going to happen. I do think that he does an admirable job in the hopes that if enough people pitch in with mitigation, then our future population will be able to come up with solutions to turn things around, or at least prevent the end of humanity. It’s just too damn bad that we weren’t able to stop the fossil fuel industry form letting things get to this point.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early copy of the book in return for an hones treview.

[Lisa Grønsund · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've received an advanced digital copy of this book, courtesy of the author and publisher, via Netgalley, for review consideration.

RTC

[Allison Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Octopus in the Parking Garage steers the national conversation around the climate crisis in a new, more hopeful, and much-needed direction – and does so with the gravitas of an esteemed legal scholar and movement leader and the grace of an exceptional writer and storyteller. To paraphrase the author, Octopus asks readers not how we can avoid risks we can’t manage (a driver of climate despair) but rather how to manage the risks we can’t avoid (a driver of hope and change).

Action, author Rob Verchick reminds us, is the antidote to anxiety. By way of scientific evidence, academic scholarship, interviews with experts, and personal experiences, Verchick helps us think through how we might respond at the individual, community, and societal levels - and help curb the crisis while easing our collective anxiety. The result: a rare opportunity to learn about climate adaptation and mitigation and reframe our understanding of it – while also reveling in a great read that takes us kayaking, hiking, snorkeling, visiting museum exhibits, and more. Trust me, you won’t want the journey to end.

[Bookguide · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rob Verchick makes the case for climate resilience rather than hammering on about net zero and large-scale efforts for net zero. Resilience is the ability to absorb adversity, recover and carry on. It often involves growth. He believes there should be more focus on mitigating local effects by building flood defences or the like and ensuring everyone, especially the poorest, lives in safe areas, which may mean abandoning flood plains, etc. He reckons people are more likely to agree to measures that make them feel safer. Sadly I didn’t quite finish it before it expired on NetGalley, so didn’t read his final conclusions.

The book gives lots of good examples and also cites some of the thinkers who have inspired the practical solutions. I’m not sure if the increasingly forced octopus metaphors throughput the book are necessary, though it’s fun spotting them. The tone also swings between occasional academic impenetrability and and over-familiar internet speak (“Dunno. […] Something something science.”) On the whole, however, this is a very readable and hopeful look at things that might actually work to keep our planet liveable while the politicians and big business are debating and twiddling their thumbs.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the title grabbed my attention, the book overall felt more geared towards individuals with more voice. I learned a lot while reading this book - especially from the stories the author used to explain various climate-impacts and the in depth discussions of large scale systems that we live within. The concept of Resilience however is less talked about at an individual or community level and more at the systemic/policy level. The author talks a lot about the impacts of climate change on a national/global scale - and advocates for the government to intervene and make changes, but doesn’t really provide a call to action to the individual reader. While this book is important and is definitely worth a read, it was lacking just a bit for me to feel the impact of this book - and that’s why this book is a much better read for policy-makers and community leaders. What we as readers can do with this information is use this book to discuss those systems that are affected by climate change and push for changes to ensure resilience against climate events. 3.5 Stars

[Frankie Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Octopus in the Parking Garage is a telling account of how climate change is affecting our ecosystems and livelihoods around the world and most importantly in the United States. Verchik chronicles personal stories from the bayous of Louisiana to Joshua Tree to the coral reef farms in the Florida Keys to the driving factors of Con Ed’s pricing in NY. It’s a call to action regarding the bureaucratic systems currently in place and how there needs to be a huge overhaul. This is true for all populations, but especially those who are disadvantaged and will inevitably be victims of an unchecked system.
Coming off 80 degree weather in NYC, our 8th rainy weekend in a row, and a chilly start to the workweek, this book was a perfect choice.

[Danielle Holke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Accessible and surprisingly upbeat, Rob is a terrific writer who successfully marries storytelling and social jusice with climate science to drive home the message that the time is now to start taking a realistic view of climate change through the adoption of policies (and actions) of climate resilience — all while underscoring the very real fact that thousands of lives worldwide are urgently at risk and depending on our next steps. Rob's personal narrative makes it an enjoyable read and underscores his investment in the subject at hand and his love for the fascinating people he meets along the way. Proof that powerful stories can inspire people to change.

[Joyce Coffee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Octopus in the Parking Garage changed my thinking and gave me hope. Climate change impacts and resilience solutions are made accessible through the eyes of the dozen people the author profiles in this pacy read. I especially loved the lessons we can all learn from Louisiana. Leaders profiled in the book powerfully illustrate that personal risk differs for families that live near industrial areas, and all of us benefit when resilience solutions are targeted to those disproportionately affected by the intersecting impacts on inequity and flooding.

[Dr. Lehman L Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and with a legalistic view. An examination of how to accommodate rather than looking for and immediate cessation of climate change. Argues that addressing climate change is occurring and that it needs to be brought into a manageable state but that continued changes will continue even if all human influences were mitigated immediately. Therefore one must prepare to endure. Cogent and authoritative.

[Stella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for a college class but I ended up enjoying it, which is surprising since I usually hate assigned reading. It wasn't stuffy and almost read like a novel at times. It talked about important topics in depth, while also providing a solution to those problems. There *were* a few grammar errors, but that's just a pet peeve of mine.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author is a leading climate law scholar. His book is full of fascinating information on Joshua trees, coral restoration, octopi, and community resettlement attempts. He also suggests a four-step plan for dealing with the massive challenges of climate change, starting with a federal leader to coordinate things, since so many government agencies, at all levels, need to be involved.

[Rebecca Bratspies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rob Verchick is an engaging author, managing to be full of interesting stories about climate change without once crossing ton preachy. He offers a clear-sighted picture of what we are up against and how we can persist and prevail. Highly recommend!

[Samantha Norrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book! I finished it feeling more informed about climate resilience and ready to put what I learnt to practice

[emily schacht♥️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

read this for college!

[Bookguide · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rob Verchick makes the case for climate resilience rather than hammering on about reducing emissions and large-scale efforts for net zero. Resilience is the ability to absorb adversity, recover and carry on. It often involves growth. He believes there should be more focus on mitigating local effects by building flood defences or the like and ensuring everyone, especially the poorest, lives in safe areas, which may mean abandoning flood plains, etc. He reckons people are more likely to agree to measures that make them feel safer. Sadly I didn’t quite finish it before it expired on NetGalley, so didn’t read his final conclusions.

The book gives lots of good examples and also cites some of the thinkers who have inspired the practical solutions. I’m not sure if the increasingly forced octopus metaphors throughput the book are necessary, though it’s fun spotting them. The tone also swings between occasional academic impenetrability and and over-familiar internet speak (“Dunno. […] Something something science.”) On the whole, however, this is a very readable and hopeful look at things that might actually work to keep our planet liveable while the politicians and big business are debating and twiddling their thumbs.

Disclaimer: My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers. My review is a true reflection of my opinions, uninfluenced by receiving a free digital copy for review.