The Coal Curse: Resources, Climate and Australia's Future: Quarterly Essay 78

Discover 'The Coal Curse: Resources, Climate and Australia's Future,' a thought-provoking essay by Judith Brett, published in Quarterly Essay 78. This compelling trade paperback delves into Australia's economic reliance on fossil fuels, specifically coal and LNG, while exploring the implications of this dependence in the context of climate change and global sustainability. With a keen analysis of the so-called 'resource curse,' Judith Brett discusses Australia’s unique economic profile and the limitations of heavy raw material dependence in a rapidly changing world. As international tourism and education are halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this essay poses crucial questions: Should we continue to lean on fossil fuels, or is it time to pivot towards renewable energy and local manufacturing? Uncover the impact of the mining industry on politics and its fear-driven campaigns, which have shaped Australia’s leadership landscape. Through rigorous research and insightful commentary, Brett provides readers with evidence-based perspectives on potential policy changes needed to secure a sustainable future for generations to come. Perfect for readers interested in Australian economics, climate policy, and environmental studies, 'The Coal Curse' is essential reading that challenges us to rethink our path forward and prioritize planetary health over short-term economic gains. With FREE shipping and located in Smartfox NZ, this brand-new edition is a valuable addition to any conscious reader's collection.
Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9781760642297
Format: Trade paperback (UK)
Year: 2020
Publisher: Black Inc
Pages: 144


Description:
Australia is a wealthy nation with the economic profile of a developing country - heavy on raw materials, and low on innovation and skilled manufacturing. Once we rode on the sheep's back for our overseas trade; today we rely on cartloads of coal and tankers of LNG. So must we double down on fossil fuels, now that Covid-19 has halted the flow of international students and tourists? Or is there a better way forward, which supports renewable energy and local manufacturing?
Judith Brett traces the unusual history of Australia's economy and the "resource curse" that has shaped our politics. She shows how the mining industry learnt to run fear campaigns, and how the Coalition became dominated by fossil-fuel interests to the exclusion of other voices.In this insightful essay about leadership, vision and history, she looks at the costs of Australia's coal addiction and asks, where will we be if the world stops buying it?
"Faced with the crisis of a global pandemic, for the first time in more than a decade Australia has had evidence-based, bipartisan policy-making. Politicians have listened to the scientists and ... put ideology and the protection of vested interests aside and behaved like adults. Can they do the same to commit to fast and effective action to try to save our children's and grandchildren's future, to prevent the catastrophic fires and heatwaves the scientists predict, the species extinction and the famines?"
Judith Brett, The Coal Curse

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