Salvation seems to be in our cities

The words of Brendan Gleeson and the content of a report on the ABC appear to have an oblique connection.

Brendan Gleeson's
 "Lifeboat Cities".

Gleeson, the director of the Urban Research Program at Griffith University and also a Professor of Urban Policy Studies at the University of Melbourne, wrote “Lifeboat Cities” in which he discussed the idea that out cities could be a bulwark against the rigours of climate change.

The new report on the ABC argues that those who live in cities fare better than their rural counterparts in terms of health, education, employment and wealth.

The story headed: “City dwellers fare better than country cousins” discussed the reality that rural people were more inclined to be conservative than those who lived in our cities.

Prof Brendan Gleeson.

Having read Gleeson’s book, the likelihood that city people are less conservative than their country counterparts suggests that those of our intensive urban areas are psychologically better equipped to respond to the rigours of climate change.

Interestingly, Brendan Gleeson has changed my vocabulary – listening to him soon after “Lifeboat Cities” was published in 2010 he talked a lot about  “resource depletion” and “oil scarcity” and indicating his tiredness with the term “peak oil” he said: “I’ll reach for my gun each time I hear someone say ‘peak oil’”.

Understanding the reasons for his objection, I now avoid the term whenever I can.

-       Robert McLean.