Sunburnt Country

AUTHOR: Joëlle Gergis PUBLISHER: Melbourne University Press

RRP: $34.99 REVIEWER: Mary Ann Elliott

IN June 1836, the first report of snow falling in Sydney was recorded.

It’s hard to imagine today; in 2016 Sydney recorded its hottest year since 1859.

As the planet warms to dangerous levels, local communities in Australia are experiencing extreme conditions.

Researcher Dr Joëlle Gergis says our future climate is being played out right now, not decades away.

She has compiled an intriguing history of our unpredictable weather, beginning with diary entries by the first settlers, early newspaper reports long before official weather measurements began, and indigenous seasonal calendars.

When the First Fleet sailed into Sydney Cove, they unknowingly sailed into an ancient landscape with one of the most volatile climates on earth.

Dr Gergis’s project was awarded the Eureka Prize for excellence in scientific research in 2014; in her book she adds further insights on droughts, floods, bushfires and how they affect people.

She argues there is now little doubt that climate change is caused by human activity, especially since the industrial and technological age.

Rainforests have been logged out, animals have or will become extinct, and waste products have invaded the oceans.

These challenges in facing the future are a “political hot potato”, with successive governments waxing and waning on the topic.

From 1778, journeying through extreme weather that shaped the nation, to 21st century accurate meteorological records and forecasts, Joëlle Gergis charts a fascinating story of our country and its inhabitants, complemented by many delightful colour pictures and informative charts.