The world is overheating, and despite good intentions and significant efforts, emissions increase nearly every year. The challenge is immense, but there are solutions.

In this lucid, inspiring essay, Alan Finkel maps Australia’s path forward. He explains the solar and wind revolution, and addresses the challenge of intermittent supply. He introduces hydrogen, the energy hope of the future. He traces the rise and rise of the electric car. He shows how we can build a zero-emissions world. 

Taking into account economics, science and emotions, Getting to Zero is an essential guide to how Australia can tackle the climate crisis with realism and ingenuity.

“Change is in the air. I sense we will be living through a technological revolution this decade as exciting as the conquest of space in the 1960s. If Australia handles the challenge well, we can build an economy that takes advantage of the transition. If we cling to the past, we will miss opportunities that the rest of the world will seize.”—Alan Finkel, Getting to Zero

Australia faces recession. In the wake of the pandemic, will we see a new politics of care and fear, of social security and concern for the future?

In this original essay, George Megalogenis explains what we know about recessions and unemployment and how governments should respond. He explores the gender and generational aspects of job losses, and the fate of higher education – what happened to the clever country? He considers the state of the federation and, as Australia is forced to make its own luck, asks what future for a divided nation?