A Book Critique:

Australia’s Biodiversity and Climate Change

Will Steffen

CSIRO Publishing: Collingwood VIC Australia, 2009

History 162 │History of Australia, New Zealand and Oceania (A6)

The book I chose which entitled Australia’s Biodiversity and Climate Change
is written by Will Steffen an Emeritus Professor in College of Medicine, Biology and
Environment and the executive director of the Australian National University (ANU)
Climate Change Institute. He was also a member of the Australian Climate Commission
until its abolishment in September 2013. From 1998 to 2004, he was the executive
director of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme, a coordinating body of
national environmental change organizations based in Stockholm. Consequently, this
book presents the negative impacts of climate change and its factors and also the
environmental aspects on biodiversity in Australia. As a general overview, this book
provides a strategic assessment of the vulnerability of Australia's biodiversity to climate
change, and suggestions on the ways that policy and management can deal with these.
The book has an eye catching book cover, shows special features like acronyms,
abbreviations, colored pictures that can entertain the readers while reading, tables with
data, maps and notes that could guide readers throughout reading the book. It’s not
hard for the readers as the author uses not hard terms and the form of historical writing
used is a combination of narrative and descriptive with a thematic timeline. It comprises
225 pages with 8 topics discussed with subtopics that emphasis its key points in which
the author narrates by starting an event and further discussing it by different data
gathered in which forms an organized narration.

Australia has a rich natural biodiversity, with a high proportion of species found
nowhere else in the world. This biodiversity underpins much of their country’s economy,
as well as contributing to our special national identity. In most parts of Australia,
biodiversity is in decline from the pressure of threats such as habitat loss and invasive
species. In addition, the Australian Government recognizes climate change as a key
additional threat to the conservation of the country’s biodiversity and the assessment
presented in this book is part of a national response to this threat. The Australian
Government’s climate change policy is built on three pillars: reducing Australia’s
greenhouse gas emissions, helping to shape a global solution and adapting to
unavoidable climate change. Moreover, the Australian Government ratified the Kyoto
Protocol in December 2007 and is working towards a post-2012 multilateral agreement
for addressing climate change that is equitable and effective and includes agreement on
a long-term global goal for emissions reductions. This book assesses the vulnerability
and potential for adaptation of Australia’s biodiversity, as well as consideration of the
societal governmental, policy, institutional changes that might sustain Australia’s
biodiversity in a climate changing world. While focused on actions under the third pillar,
adaptation, it has relevance to all three pillars.

Altogether, the book says it all with concrete evidences that supported the points
that the author wanted to show. The Australia's unique biodiversity is under threat from
a rapidly changing climate. The effects of climate change are already discernible at all
levels of biodiversity in genes, species, communities and ecosystems. Many of
Australia's most valued and iconic natural areas like the Great Barrier Reef, south-
western Australia, the Kakadu wetlands and the Australian Alps are among the most
vulnerable. But much more is at stake than saving iconic species or ecosystems.
Australia's biodiversity is fundamental to the country's national identity, economy and
quality of life. In the face of uncertainty about specific climate scenarios, ecological and
management principles provide a sound basis for maximizing opportunities for species
to adapt, communities to reorganize and ecosystems to transform while maintaining
basic functions critical to human society. This innovative approach to biodiversity
conservation under a changing climate leads to new challenges for management, policy
development and institutional design. This book explores these challenges, building on
a detailed analysis of the interactions between a changing climate and Australia's rich
but threatened biodiversity. The author points were organized and explained in a
manner that every reader could understand easily because of its supporting evidences
that made clear and logical arguments.

Furthermore, after reading the book it actually helped me as a student that it

presents an idea that is new to me about Australian history. From giving historical
background beginning on the scope and approach in the climate change which was
followed by the comparison of Australia’s nature biodiversity from the past and what it is
today. This is a great book in which the author were able to presents facts details.
However, it is not a good starting point for all readers of Australian history, one must
also have a background especially to the terms uses. The author used of sources was
good and were evaluated through historical perspective of the different author of
primary sources. For me the author is not biased since the author presented it fairly and
accurately. To sum it up, the insights gained through the assessment will provide
additional guidance, information and ideas for biodiversity practitioners in developing
climate change adaptation strategies to protect Australia’s biodiversity. It’s an important
reference and can help for policymakers, researchers, educators, students, journalists,
environmental and conservation NGOs, NRM managers, and private landholders with
an interest in biodiversity conservation in a rapidly changing world.