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Quarterly Essay 94: Highway to Hell: Climate Change and Australia's Future

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Quarterly Essay 94: Highway to Hell: Climate Change and Australia's Future

By: Joëlle Gergis
Narrated by: Joëlle Gergis
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About this listen

Australia is in peril. Do we truly grasp the impact of a warming planet – in particular, what it will mean for our sunburnt country? As temperatures rise, the climates of our capital cities will change. The sea will rise, and we will see increased fire and drought.

In this powerful essay, Joëlle Gergis, a leading climate scientist, depicts the likely future in vivid and credible detail. Working from the science, she discusses the world’s and Australia’s efforts to combat climate change. She outlines how far Australia is from keeping its promises to cut emissions. She takes aim at false solutions and the folly of “adaptation” rather than curbing fossil fuel use. This is an essay about government paralysis and what is at stake for all of us. It’s about getting real, in the face of an unprecedented threat.

©2024 Joëlle Gergis (P)2024 Audible Australia Pty Ltd. Ecosystems & Habitats Environment Nature & Ecology Outdoors & Nature Politics & Government Science
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An accessible status report on where we are, what needs to be done, and why not enough is being done. Lobbyists are clearly the tool of vested interests and the bane of democracy. Another great quarterly essay.

On the Highway to Hell with no brakes

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After the mobs tear down whatever statues to the oil moguls and Murdochs remains and the Ivy Leagues remove with gloves hands the name plates of billionaires adorning their hallowed halls, the people will see tragedy and heroism in the final desperation by our generation’s bravest of the brave, now imprisoned for years as if blocking traffic and throwing paint was the real crime, and the all but certain climate disaster this essay thunders with the hot angry tears of someone who has given all to help save us from ourselves, is not.

Do not turn away. We at least can share her burden of bearing witness.

Future historians will cite this essay

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I stopped in my tracks listening to the author describing her decision to leave her career and forge a new path. Everything here is rationally presented and terrifying. But after showing the abyss that stands before us we are shown solutions that are available to us today. I would give this 10 stars if I could.

Raw and rational

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A chilling story but one that’s necessary for everyone to hear. Such a betrayal of future generations and our environment. Told in a way that is understandable and moving.

Everyone should listen to this book.

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Joelle, has authority and a completely compelling message, our leaders should listen and follow the plea!!

The plain message that is absolutely compelling

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I am pleased I listened to this essay. Such a shame this scientist had to leave her well paid ,prestigious job as a scientist to communicate to others about the state of our planet. I thought an important and amazing fact was that we subsidise our fossil fuel industry millions and yet we expect our university students to pay high prices for their education. In Norway it’s the reverse.

Important and sad indictment on tour politicians failure to act in our interests!

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.