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Joerg Friedrichs' Book Wins Honourable Mention in Rachel Carson Environment Book Award

Congratulations to ODID Associate Professor Joerg Friedrichs whose book, The Future Is Not What It Used to Be: Climate Change and Energy Scarcity has won Honourable Mention in the Rachel Carson Environment Book Award.

The book was published in August 2013 by MIT Press.

The judges stated that "This is a rare find among the many books written about climate change over the years, one that explores how humans are not only depleting natural resources but also — because of how the world has changed — are naive to assume the kind of transitions that have occurred between climatic eras can ever happen again.

Through an astute and well-reasoned argument, Friedrichs — citing past cases in which climate stress was exacerbated by energy scarcity — takes a systematic look at how infinite growth is not possible and how — rather than just shifting from one energy market to another — the support structure for the industrialized world itself could be in danger of collapse.

Whether or not you want to believe civilization itself is on a collision course with a destiny it cannot yet see or predict, this Oxford University scholar's work is chilling, mind-bending and creatively forward-thinking, without being sentimental. It offers a perspective that goes well beyond floods, hurricanes, and a warmer planet."

The book prize is awarded by the Society of Environmental Journalists as part of its Awards for Reporting on the Environment.

Find out more about the book here.

Find out more about the awards here.