Adani and the War Over Coal

Australian politicians have had a love affair with coal, which has helped lock its politics into the fossil fuel age. This book exlores the role of the Adani Carmichael mine in the conflict over coal. We see the rise of a fossil fuel network linking mining companies, oligarchs, big banks, think tanks, the media and all sides of Australian politics.

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Coal is the political, economic and cultural totem for debates about climate change. Yet Australian politicians have had a love affair with coal, which has helped lock our politics – and our country – into the fossil fuel age. This searing book takes apart the pivotal role of the Adani Carmichael mine in the conflict over coal. We see the rise of a fossil fuel power network linking mining companies, mining oligarchs, the big four banks, right-wing think tanks, lobby groups, the conservative media and all sides of Australian politics. On the other side, we have one of the biggest social movements ever seen in Australia in the form of #StopAdani uniting to try to save the Great Barrier Reef, native title rights and to fight the corrupt politics of coal. Looking into the social, environmental and economic elements of this big fight, as well as the background of Gautam Adani himself, this book tells the full story of one of the lightning rod issues of our time.

Sales Points:

The inside story of Australia’s largest and the world’s second largest proposed coal mine
Reveals the insidious power and influence of the fossil fuel lobby at all levels of government. The loser is democracy.
Comprehensive – covers all aspects of the political, economic and social sides of Adani
Shows impact of the proposed mine and resistance to it on corporations - the big 4 banks for example
The Adani campaign has had an impact on voting patterns – the recent Batman by-election in Melbourne is a good example
The proposed mine is in Queensland but the story is truly national
Author has interviewed key players including Bob Brown, Geoff Cousins, Adrian Burragubba to write an often gripping narrative
Includes background on Gautam Adani himself, and the sorry environmental record of his company in India
Combines analysis and research within a compelling – and shocking – story
Up to date – author can’t see a path by which the mine could proceed, but warns we should not be complacent
To be endorsed by legendary environmental campaigners Bob Brown and Bill McKibben
Quentin Beresford’s previous book The Rise and Fall of Gunns Ltd won the Tasmanian Premier’s 2015 Literary Prize and was longlisted for the Walkley Book Award. He proved himself as a superb media performer and will do the same here.