The Clean Industrial Revolution: Growing Australian Prosperity in a Greenhouse Age | Sustainable Economic Development & Climate Change Solutions for Businesses

According to this book, the world is in the middle of a seismic shift in the way we generate energy and grow economic prosperity. Since the first industrial revolution, we have been burning carbon to run our lives but climate change and dwindling supplies of oil are now forging a new clean industrial revolution which will end our reliance on carbon for good.So where does Australia's economic future lie in this changing world?Mr McNeil argues that environment versus economy is a false dichotomy, and that the material benefits of decarbonising our economy will vastly outweigh the costs. Mr McNeil, a climate scientist and economist, details economic opportunities he sees as being available to Australia through leading a new, clean industrial revolution. The alternative? Well, if the rest of the world adopts a carbon price which properly accounts for climate impacts and Australia does not, then we will become increasingly uncompetitive in the global marketplace. Australia may currently have considerable stocks of cheap coal, but continued reliance on this for both domestic energy and as a source of export earnings has its pitfalls, both economic and environmental. Mr McNeil suggests that Australia could derive enormous economic benefits by directing efforts towards the development of renewable energy.While this book is written about Australia, much of its content would be of interest to those interested in the global debate over climate change and renewable energy generation. I found this an interesting, challenging and informative read. Alas, good ideas are not enough of themselves to change the world. This book paints a potentially optimistic view for the future which is not (yet, at least) fully supported by political reality.`We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.' (Albert Einstein)Jennifer Cameron-Smith