The last third of the book is devoted to modern-day societies, and how they're being affected by environmental problems. One of the most interesting stories is about Australia, which is apparently the part of the planet least meant for human habitation. Weak soils, uneven rain, and the introduction of foreign species (famously rabbits) have all contributed to Australia's problems. As Diamond notes, Australia isn't suffering any problems that the rest of the world isn't - it's just suffering more of them at the same time, and in a place that can't handle them as well.
By the way - the rabbits? Dig this:
"European rabbits and foxes were introduced to Australia almost simultaneously. It is unclear whether foxes were introduced first to permit traditional British fox hunting, then rabbits introduced later to provide additional food for the foxes, or whether rabbits were introduced first for hunting or to make the countryside look more like Britain and then foxes introduced later to control the rabbits. In any case, both have been such expensive disasters that it now seems incredible that they were introduced for such trivial reasons." -Collapse, p. 392 [emphasis added]One of the bigger questions Diamond addresses is how complex, intelligent societies could essentially destroy themselves. Even if they perceive and understand the problems they face, and have the means to solve the problems, societies have still failed to survive. Diamond's answer: (obscenely shortened for now) Politics. Basically, it may be to painful (economically, culturally, religiously, etc.) to make the changes, fostering a "the living would envy the dead" mentality. Of course, the changes required may be painful. But this is life support stuff we're talking about. The alternative to change isn't the status quo, it's death. Ask the Greenland Norse if you doubt it. Oops. They're dead.
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