COALS FINAL VOID

This book explores the continuation of coal mining in Australia despite growing awareness of its contribution to the climate crisis Through an in depth ethnographic study Kari Dahlgren reveals the complex and often contradictory ways that miners lobbyists and communities navigate the uncertain future of coal By focusing on the human stories behind this industry the book sheds light on broader environmental political and social issues of global significance Dahlgren s research spans multiple Australian coal communities primarily in Moranbah Queensland and the Hunter Valley of New South Wales She offers insights into the daily decisions and ethical considerations of coal miners and lobbyists that sustain the industry in the face of climate change The book addresses diverse topics such as labour precarity gender roles populist politics and the moral accusations faced by pro coal advocates connecting these themes to the broader social and political challenges of Australia s energy transition Central to the book are the final voids left by mining both physical and metonymic holes left in the aftermath of mining These voids represent the emptied livelihoods of those entangled in the coal industry as they grapple with the uncertainty of what comes next