Book review

Climate Politics And The Climate Movement In Australia

Verity Burgmann and Hans Baer

Melbourne University Press

ISBN: (Paperback)9780522861334

ISBN: (E-Book)9780522861341

15/Jun/2012

399 pages

Paperback $59.99

E-Book $49.99

This is a book about activists by activists and for activists. The authors are both significant scholars with impressive records of research and publication in the social sciences but they have somehow found time to combine their academic careers with the pursuit of social and political causes well beyond the narrow confines of university life. In a sense this book is an example of action anthropology at its best in that it combines well-documented participatory research with a resounding call to action and a clearly formulated concluding section on what they see as the best approach to the politics of combatting dangerous climate change. The book was launched by Adam Bandt, still the solitary Green in the House of Representatives, and he praised the book for its comprehensive analysis of climate politics in Australia and especially for its ambition to go beyond analysis and suggest a program of effective action. The authors are upfront in their political stance and in their enthusiasm to promote the cause of climate action and contribute to the building of a powerful climate movement in this country.

I should make a full disclosure and declare my own interest in the book. One of the authors is a close friend and I am slightly acquainted with the other. I have great admiration for both of them and for the energy, intelligence and courage that they bring to their work. They are people who walk the walk and, by contrast with some of the high priests of the climate movement, they do their very best to ensure that their lifestyles reflect their concerns about the climate. However, my friend describes me as a 'climate agnostic' and has spent many long hours trying to convert me to what he calls climate realism. I think that he was hoping that after reading this book I might shift from my agnosticism. In fact, I have shifted but probably not in the direction that he hoped. It has always been clear to me that the climate is changing and has doubtless been doing so since the planet was formed. It also seems clear that it is not changing now in the way that was predicted by some of the models of change that were developed in the first decade of this century. I can accept that humans contribute in some way to climate change inasmuch as we are part of the biosphere but I don't see compelling evidence that human activity is a major driver of global warming. I am certainly doubtful that we can halt the warming (or cooling) of the planet by limiting the amount of carbon dioxide that we produce. That seems way too mechanistic an approach to an incredibly fluid and complex phenomenon like the climate. A better approach might be to think of adapting to probable changes and getting prepared to maximise the benefits of possible changes in the climate. I just don't believe we have the capacity to halt climate change and to act as a sort of planetary thermostat even if that were desirable.

The book begins by asserting that climate change is the hottest topic of the twenty-first century. This is a nice play on words but others might argue that there are many hot topics and that, for instance, the issue of refugees and asylum seekers is a more pressing concern. I guess the authors could suggest that climate change exacerbates many other social problems and is likely to generate a tidal wave of refugees fleeing from rising sea levels, fires, drought and flooding. I am not convinced that addressing climate change is the best way of dealing with other issues like poverty, migration and indigenous health. If, on the other hand, you believe that climate change is a priority then this is the book for you. It lays out the options clearly and is not just a call to action but also provides a persuasive strategy. I'm sorry to confess that I remain agnostic about anthropogenic global warming but I do believe that this a book worth buying, reading and keeping on your shelf. Actually, as it is available as an ebook I'm sure the authors would rather you purchased the electronic version for its smaller carbon footprint.