Time and the spatial post-politics of climate change: Insights from Australia

Abstract In this paper we examine the post-politics of climate change in Australia and discuss an important but otherwise little remarked temporality. First, we note the spatial structuring of Rancièreʹs post-political theorization as it informs geographical research on the governance of social and environmental issues. Second, we identify a post-politics in climate change policy developed by the Australian federal government (under Rudd then Gillard) which culminated in 2011 with its carbon pricing proposals and subsequent clean energy plan. Third, referring to the discursive material associated with these developments, we discuss the critical importance of time in the climate change debate, returning us to comment on the problematic temporality of post-politics with a word of caution about any re-emergence here of the political.