From changing weather patterns and extreme heat to wildfires and water conservation, climate change affects communities across British Columbia and around the world. Understanding these challenges is an important first step toward finding solutions. November 2 to 8, 2026, is Climate Action Week, an annual initiative organized by the BC Library Association that brings libraries and communities together to explore climate-related issues, share knowledge, and encourage action. At the ORL, we’re celebrating with books, resources, and opportunities to learn more about our changing planet.
Show Your Stripes: A Visual History of Climate Change
The colourful stripes featured in this blog are from Show Your Stripes, a project that illustrates how temperatures have changed over time. Each stripe represents a year, with blue indicating cooler temperatures and red indicating warmer temperatures relative to the area’s average. The North America graphic displayed here offers a striking visual representation of our continent’s region’s warming climate.
Explore the Show Your Stripes website to discover temperature trends for Canada and other regions around the world.
Join the Climate Reads Book Club at our Salmon Arm Branch
Looking for an opportunity to connect with others who share your interest in climate action? Join the Shuswap Climate Action Society’s Climate Reads Book Club for an informal discussion about books exploring climate change, environmental issues, and sustainability. Share what you’ve been reading, discover new titles for your reading list, and take part in a book exchange with fellow participants.
Climate Reads Book Club In-Person
Date: Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Time: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Location: Small Meeting Room, Salmon Arm Library
Audience: Adults
You can also explore the Shuswap Climate Action Society’s Climate Reads page to discover books previously discussed by the group.
Explore Books About Climate Science and Sustainability
Looking to learn more about climate change, sustainability, and the environment? Whether you’re interested in the science behind global warming, innovative solutions, or practical ways to make a difference, the ORL’s collection has plenty to explore. We’ve put together two reading lists to help you get started.
Climate Action Week: Books for Adults
Explore the science, challenges, and possible solutions to climate change through nonfiction books covering everything from forest conservation and extreme weather to environmental policy and sustainable living.
When the Forest Breathes: Renewal and Resilience in the Natural World, by Suzanne Simard (2026)
A BC forest ecologist explores how forests respond to climate change and how scientific research and Indigenous knowledge can inform conservation and forest management.
The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis, by Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac (2020)
Two architects of the Paris Climate Agreement examine possible futures for our planet and the choices that could help create a more sustainable world.
Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future, by Elizabeth Kolbert (2021)
An investigation into ambitious environmental interventions, from carbon capture to efforts to protect endangered ecosystems, and the difficult questions these technologies raise.
When It All Burns: Fighting Fire in a Transformed World, by Jordan Thomas (2025)
A firefighter and anthropologist recounts a devastating wildfire season while examining the ecological, historical, and social factors shaping today’s increasingly destructive fires.
Becoming Earth: How Our Planet Came to Life, by Ferris Jabr (2024)
Discover how living organisms have shaped Earth’s atmosphere, landscapes, and climate, and why these interconnected systems matter for our planet’s future.
Climate Action Week: Books for Kids
Help young readers discover how our planet works, why the climate is changing, and what people of all ages can do to protect the environment. These engaging nonfiction books make complex topics easier to understand and encourage curiosity about the natural world.
A Kids Book About Climate Change, by Zanagee Artis and Olivia Greenspan (2024)
An accessible introduction to climate change that explains what’s happening to our planet, why it’s happening, and how young people can help shape a better future. Designed to encourage conversations between children and adults.
Science Comics: Wild Weather: Storms, Meteorology, and Climate, by M. K. Reed (2019)
Explore the science behind storms, weather patterns, and Earth’s climate in this entertaining nonfiction graphic novel. Discover how meteorologists predict the weather and what makes our planet’s atmosphere so fascinating.
The Story of Climate Change: A First Book About How We Can Help Save Our Planet, by Catherine Barr and Steve Williams (2021)
Discover how Earth’s climate has changed over millions of years, how human activity is affecting the planet today, and what we can do to help protect its future.
Our World Out of Balance: Understanding Climate Change and What We Can Do, by Andrea Minoglio
Discover how human activities are affecting Earth’s climate and what we can do to help restore the balance. This illustrated nonfiction guide introduces young readers to climate change through accessible explanations, practical tips, and hands-on activities that encourage environmental action.
What a Waste: 9 Ways to Fight Climate Change, by Karen Tam Wu
Discover how people around the world are finding creative ways to turn waste into useful resources. From transforming food scraps into fuel to recycling water, paper, and clothing, this engaging nonfiction book explores innovative solutions to environmental challenges and inspires young readers to rethink what we throw away.
Keep Exploring
Climate Action Week may last seven days, but there’s always more to discover. Browse the ORL’s catalogue for books and other materials about climate change, conservation, sustainability, and the environment. You can also learn more about Climate Action Week and the BC Library Association’s initiatives.
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