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Quarterly Essay #31
Now or Never: A Sustainable Future for Australia?
Sometime this century, after 4 billion years, some of Earth's regulatory systems will pass from control through evolution by natural selection, to control by human intelligence. Will humanity rise to the challenge?
This landmark essay by Tim Flannery is about sustainability, our search for it in the twenty-first century, and the impact it might have on the environmental threats that confront us today. Flannery discusses in detail three potential solutions to the most pressing of the sustainability challenges: climate change. He argues that Australia has a special responsibility when it comes to climate change, and that our prime minister could be a critical player on the global stage in Copenhagen in December 2009 - but only if we take swift and effective action and make sharp cuts in emissions. Brilliant and terrifying, Now or Never is a call to arms by Australia's leading thinker and writer on the natural world.
"Throughout the latter part of 2007 and into 2008, I found it increasingly hard to read the scientific findings on climate change without despairing ... I think that there is now a better than even chance that, despite our best efforts, in the coming two or three decades Earth's climate system will pass the point of no return." —Tim Flannery, Now Or Never
This landmark essay by Tim Flannery is about sustainability, our search for it in the twenty-first century, and the impact it might have on the environmental threats that confront us today. Flannery discusses in detail three potential solutions to the most pressing of the sustainability challenges: climate change. He argues that Australia has a special responsibility when it comes to climate change, and that our prime minister could be a critical player on the global stage in Copenhagen in December 2009 - but only if we take swift and effective action and make sharp cuts in emissions. Brilliant and terrifying, Now or Never is a call to arms by Australia's leading thinker and writer on the natural world.
"Throughout the latter part of 2007 and into 2008, I found it increasingly hard to read the scientific findings on climate change without despairing ... I think that there is now a better than even chance that, despite our best efforts, in the coming two or three decades Earth's climate system will pass the point of no return." —Tim Flannery, Now Or Never
122 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 24, 2020
I picked this up from the little street library while I was walking the dog.
It was unsettling to read an essay about the need to act urgently on climate change - knowing that Flannery's recommendations have not been acted upon in the 12 years since the essay was published.
Overall, the essay gives a good overview of some the science of climate change and the key policy levers that could be pulled in Australia to avoid the worst of its effects.
It was unsettling to read an essay about the need to act urgently on climate change - knowing that Flannery's recommendations have not been acted upon in the 12 years since the essay was published.
Overall, the essay gives a good overview of some the science of climate change and the key policy levers that could be pulled in Australia to avoid the worst of its effects.
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January 10, 2026An interesting view of where we were and where we thought we were headed with the climate crisis in 2008/2009.
The first half is Flannery's talking through the climate and its solutions (in his view). It is then followed by 9 mini essay responses from people across various fields. The book finishes with Flannery responding to the responses.
It is now probably more interesting in a historical point of view than in a climatic point of view as we have since moved on in the almost 20yrs since it was published and our views on climate and climate solutions have changed through those decades.
The first half is Flannery's talking through the climate and its solutions (in his view). It is then followed by 9 mini essay responses from people across various fields. The book finishes with Flannery responding to the responses.
It is now probably more interesting in a historical point of view than in a climatic point of view as we have since moved on in the almost 20yrs since it was published and our views on climate and climate solutions have changed through those decades.
April 9, 2019
A concise review of the situation Australia (and everywhere else) is in regarding global warming. It is a little dated now (particularly politically), but the principles remain valid. Tim's more recent comments about the use of kelp forest for CO2 update are an example. Cultural conservatism will likely be civilizations downfall.
January 31, 2024
I dont know why looking at climate change from the view of the earth seems like such a novel idea, it really shouldnt be.
It seems other views in regards to global warming are 'how does it affect us?' 'How do we stop it?' 'Who is most affected?' etc. But the view taken in this book put a rather more disturbing spin on it which at the same time is sadly a more realistic spin
It seems other views in regards to global warming are 'how does it affect us?' 'How do we stop it?' 'Who is most affected?' etc. But the view taken in this book put a rather more disturbing spin on it which at the same time is sadly a more realistic spin
March 13, 2019
This was good. It raised some very important points, but I finished it just wanting more from it...
December 15, 2013
Tim Flannery is as good as he always is in this appeal for action on climate change.
It's a very pragmatic essay for someone with the "green" credentials of someone like Flannery. He doesn't rule anything out, even things like carbon capture a fair hearing.
He also readily broaches the possibility that we may already be too late to stop large climate changes and goes over how we might best approach a future which has this as a reality.
If you needed a proper overview of the climate debate from someone actually qualified to do so then look no further than this excellent essay.
It's a very pragmatic essay for someone with the "green" credentials of someone like Flannery. He doesn't rule anything out, even things like carbon capture a fair hearing.
He also readily broaches the possibility that we may already be too late to stop large climate changes and goes over how we might best approach a future which has this as a reality.
If you needed a proper overview of the climate debate from someone actually qualified to do so then look no further than this excellent essay.
March 6, 2009
Thought provoking to say the least!
July 31, 2011
Spot on (the money or perhaps the planet)!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews