Articles
The Return of Dr Strangelove
by Clive Hamilton , June 2010In Stanley Kubrick’s 1964 film, Dr Strangelove was the unhinged US general who risked nuclear apocalypse by ordering a first strike against the Soviet Union. The character was modelled on Dr Edward Teller, “the father of the hydrogen bomb”. In the 1990s, Teller and his colleague at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Lowell Wood (a weapons researcher nicknamed “Dr Evil”), were among the first to advocate responding to global warming by transforming the chemical composition of the Earth’s atmosphere. Taking control of the climate by injecting sulphur particles into the upper atmosphere sounds like science fiction, but there is now a powerful alliance of scientists and venture capitalists backing the idea. It’s endorsed by climate deniers in conservative think tanks, but the public remains mostly in the dark. This paper explores the strange politics of geoengineering.
Cyber-bullying, Lies and the Rise of Right-Wing Climate Denial
by Clive Hamilton , February 2010Two years ago the Australian Labor Party won a decisive election victory in part by riding a public mood demanding action on climate change after years of stonewalling. The new Government promised to spearhead world efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Today it’s on the run, retreating from a surge of militant anti-climate activism that believes climate science is a left-wing plot aimed at promoting elites, wrecking the economy and screwing the little man. What happened? This series of five articles appeared on the ABC The Drum website on 22-26 February 2010.
Is It Too Late to Prevent Catastrophic Climate Change?
by Clive Hamilton , October 2009Recent analysis of carbon budgets shows that the timing and scale of emission reductions needed to avert dangerous climate change are well beyond any national policy proposals or anticipated international agreement.There have been two alarming developments in recent years. First, climate scientists are reporting that the scale of damages associated with warming of 2°C is much worse than previously believed, suggesting that more stringent emission cuts are essential. Secondly, global growth in greenhouse gas emissions is much higher than anticipated a few years ago and the world is now on a warming path that is worse than the worst-case scenario. Rather than decarbonising, the world is carbonising at an unprecedented rate.Analysis reviewed in this paper shows that, under the most optimistic assumptions about the timing and extent of global greenhouse gas emission reductions, cumulative emissions over the next few decades will result in atmospheric concentrations reaching 650 ppm of CO2-e, associated with warming of 4°C or more before the end of the century, a temperature not seen on Earth for 15 million years. It now seems almost certain that, if it has not occurred already, within the next several years enough warming will be locked into the system to set in train positive feedback processes that will overwhelm any attempts to cut back on carbon emissions. Humans will be powerless to stop the shift to a new climate on Earth, one much less sympathetic to life.
Psychological Adaptation to the Threats and Stresses of a Warming World
by Clive Hamilton & Tim Kasser , October 2009Humanity’s ability to adapt physically to a warming globe will depend in part on how well people adapt psychologically. So how will humans adjust to or cope with the threat associated with a world under a radically transformed climate? While varying among individuals and societies, many people will experience threats related to: the well-being and survival of descendants; the state of the planet, including its natural wonders and biological diversity; and the stability and progress of the societies in which they live. Extensive social scientific research into human reactions to threats provides some insights into the psychological strategies humans are likely to adopt to defend against or manage the unpleasant emotions associated with “waking up” to the dangers of a warming globe. The emotions include fear, anxiety, guilt, anger, anguish, sadness, depression and helplessness. Likely coping strategies include denial strategies, maladaptive coping strategies and adaptive coping strategies.
Nordhaus' Carbon Tax: An Excuse to Do Nothing?
by Clive Hamilton , May 2009William Nordhaus is perhaps the most influential US economist in the global warming debate. While climate scientists are calling for urgent and strong action, he has been urging a cautious response, stressing the high costs of cutting emissions and the uncertainties associated with climate change. This paper argues that his latest proposal for a carbon tax, based squarely on neoclassical economic assumptions, contravenes agreed international principles, exposes the environment to risk, accords unwarranted privilege to private over public decisions and would result in more years of delay before the world responds.
Rethinking Sexual Freedom
by Clive Hamilton , March 2009The removal of most taboos and social prohibitions on sexual activity has led to a highly sexualised society in which erotic imagery and sex talk are to be found everywhere in private and public life. Uninhibited sexual expression has become bound up with notions of freedom to the point where, for many people, it provides the path they follow in order to express or validate themselves. In such a society, could it be that the incipient 'return to chastity' is an expression of more freedom rather than less?
Free Speech and Net Porn
by Clive Hamilton , November 2008What's so special about the internet? All but the most unthinking libertarians accept censorship laws that limit sexual content in film, television, books, radio and magazines. Crikey 20 November 2008
Recovering from Affluenza
by Clive Hamilton , October 2008The era of affluenza is over, and now we must pay the price for our excesses. Sydney Morning Herald, 30 October 2008.
What is the future worth?
by Clive Hamilton , September 2008Would you be willing to wait an extra six months for your income to double in order to sharply reduce the odds of catastrophic change to the global climate?In his report last week Ross Garnaut told the Government that you would not be willing to make such a sacrifice.
The Sad Demise of On Line Opinion
by Clive Hamilton , July 2008On Line Opinion has been captured by climate sceptics.
Henson fracas: Art the victim of child sexualisation
by Clive Hamilton , May 2008"The fact that Bill Henson's photographs of a naked 13-year-old girl are not pornographic is not the end of the ethical story." (published in Crikey, 23 May 2008)
Death rattles of climate change skeptics
by Clive Hamilton , May 2008With the sharp turn in public opinion and the election of the Rudd Government, it was fair to expect the climate skeptics would become quiescent. But, no, new amateur climate scientists think they know better than the experts. The latest to regurgutate the same old lines is Don Aitkin. (published in New Matilda 19 May 2008)
Climate change should inform every budget decision
by Clive Hamilton , May 2008A comment, published in Crikey, on the 2008 budget of the new Labor Government.
Will the budget remake Howard's Australia
by Clive Hamilton , May 2008What does the budget, and the reaction to it, tell us about the long-term effects of 11 years of Howard's cultural revolution? (Published in Crikey.)
No free permits for coal-fired power plants
by Clive Hamilton , March 2008"Exempting the coal-fired electricity generators from the emissions trading system would be like imposing a tax on cigarettes then exempting smokers from paying it. ..." (Published in Crikey.)
Redefining Success
by Clive Hamilton , January 2008"The pressures on teenagers today are immense. Many are convinced that their entire lives will be determined by one number – their ENTER score. A life of success or failure seems to hinge on it. What a cruel message to send to young people; cruel because it is wrong. ..." (An opinion piece in The Age.)
Howard Verbals Jesus in Bid for Christian Vote
by Clive Hamilton , August 2007John Howard misuses the biblical Parable of the Talents in a bid to impress a group of Christian voters. (Crikey, 10 August 2007)
A Rejoinder to Monbiot
by Clive Hamilton , July 2007This paper is a response to George Monbiot's reply to a critique of his book Heat. Both the critique and Monbiot's reply appeared in New Left Review 45 May/June 2007.
Happiness and the Inner Self
by Clive Hamilton , June 2007A talk prepared for the Happiness and its Causes Conference in Sydney 2007.
Observations on Late Consumer Capitalism
by Clive Hamilton , June 2007"Today, most people in rich countries seek proxy identities in the form of commodity consumption, consumer capitalism’s answer to the search for meaning. The hope for a meaningful life has been diverted into the desire for higher incomes and more consumption. Why do we succumb? ... " (Published in Australian Quarterly.)
Mr Turnbull's Lie
by Clive Hamilton , May 2007"Propaganda often works through fabrications so audacious that it is hard to know how to respond. This technique has been adopted by environment minister Malcolm Turnbull in his frequent claim that Australia is ‘leading the world’ in the response to the climate crisis. ... " (Sydney Morning Herald)
Review of George Monbiot's 'Heat'
by Clive Hamilton , May 2007This review essay of George Monbiot's Heat appeared in the May-June 2007 issue of New Left Review.
Will the Curches Save the Left?
by Clive Hamilton , October 2006After three decades that have seen neo-liberalism and social conservatism become dominant, where can we expect a new progressive politics to come from? What social movement or popular yearning could generate such a politics in an affluent society characterised by profound loss of meaning? (Published in Eureka Street)
Who Listens to Alan Jones?
by Clive Hamilton , June 2006In this report, Hamilton presents data on the demographics and political views of Alan Jones' listeners, and argues that Jones is much less influential than most people believe.
Why Consumer Capitalism Loves Waste
by Clive Hamilton , October 2005Hamilton outlines the problems associated with living in an economy built on the continuous production of ever-growing piles of waste, generated by unnecessary consumption. Alarming figures about how much we actually waste strengthen the argument.
Review of Jeffrey Sachs' "The End of Poverty"
by Clive Hamilton , July 2005This book could be subtitled, My Amazing Adventures as an International Economic Guru. Having saved Bolivia from the perils of hyperinflation (when he was just 30) and rescued Poland and Russia from the deadweight of communism, our superhero has now set himself the biggest challenge of all − delivering the world from the curse of poverty. ... (The Age)
The Social Psychology of Climate Change
by Clive Hamilton , September 2002This paper to the national Academies Forum on ‘Climate and Culture in Australia’ addresses the social and psychological reponse to the threat of climate change and environmental damage. Given that we have some cognitive understanding of the situation, it is a wonder that we are not moved to action to try to combat it, but unstead stick our heads in the sand. We are in a state of denial which must be overcome.
Applying the IPAT Formula
by Clive Hamilton , July 2000This paper, prepared with Hal Turton and presented to the conference of the International Society for Ecological Economics, uses a decomposition technique to examine the sources of growth of greenhouse gas emissions in OECD countries.
Economic Growth: The Dark Side of the Australian Dream
by Clive Hamilton , February 1999Reviews studies that demonstrate what many people know intuitively - that the goals of wealth, fame and attractiveness are hollow. They show that when those pursuing them achieve their goals they do not feel any better off as a result. What are the political implications of this new research? (A paper to the Horizons of Science Forum, University of Technology, Sydney.)