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More Fossil Fuels and Less Carbon Emissions: Australia’s Policy Paradox

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Energy Security in the Era of Climate Change

Part of the book series: Energy, Climate and the Environment Series ((ECE))

Abstract

Energy is critical to contemporary Australian life as the country’s wealth and prosperity is built on fossil fuel use. Securing energy supply has been largely a routine technical and engineering challenge to date and, through extensive mineral extraction, oil production and importation, and investment in energy supply infrastructure, Australia has enjoyed high levels of energy security through the modern era. Responding to the advent of climate change and peak oil will see this era of carbon-based economic prosperity draw to a close. Australia’s future understanding of energy security and what this means will be necessarily changed from the prevailing position. This has broad implications for Australian society, economic production and environmental protection, as well as for governance and political life.

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© 2012 Leigh Glover

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Glover, L. (2012). More Fossil Fuels and Less Carbon Emissions: Australia’s Policy Paradox. In: Anceschi, L., Symons, J. (eds) Energy Security in the Era of Climate Change. Energy, Climate and the Environment Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230355361_12

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