Day 51: Not for Australia
An introductory weekday newsletter from Schwartz Media. Counting the days since Australia had an energy policy.
Good morning and welcome to day 51.
Today in summary: politicians go to ground over the IPCC report, standing firm on existing policies in the face of the report’s call for coal power to be phased out by 2050; Prime Minister Scott Morrison put his hand on the closed and bolted reinforced concrete door of nuclear energy; and energy complaints on the rise in NSW, for the first time in five years.
— Charis
Today’s policy spin level: 💨💨💨💨💨
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“We asked the climate/energy/prime minister for an interview, but they were not available” was the statement of the day yesterday as politicians largely went to ground over the IPCC report. The report’s conclusions, from 91 authors, and based on an analysis of more than 6,000 climate separate studies, suggest keeping global warming to below dangerous levels will require a drastic transformation, including the phasing out of coal-fired power by mid-Century.
Federal Environment Minister Melissa Price said the report was “not prescriptive” and provided “possible pathways” to meet the Paris targets.“We’re very comfortable we’re going to meet the 2030 target, but that doesn’t mean you just close the book and say we won’t look at anything else.”
Energy Minister Angus Taylor told Sky News it was now up to developing countries to reduce their emissions.
“We have a much better track record than almost any other country in the world.
“There are very few that are comparable with us, and a number of countries are not going to meet their Kyoto commitments. Well we will, and that’s pretty good form. In this race, I go on form.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the government would look at the report, but that it “does not provide recommendations to Australia or Australia’s program, this is dealing with the global program”. Asked by 2GB presenter Alan Jones if he would consider overturning the illegality of building a nuclear reactor in Australia, Morrison appeared to offer some support:
PRIME MINISTER: Well, if I thought that this was going to have a big impact on Australia’s electricity prices -
JONES: It’s clean, it’s cheaper -
PRIME MINISTER: I’ll do what is necessary to bring electricity prices down. So I don’t have any issues -Complaints to the NSW Energy and Water Ombudsman rose by 12% in the last financial year, the first time they have risen in five years. The 12% spike in complaints was led by billing issues. There was also a 19% increase in complaints related to customer service, including poor service, failure to respond, incorrect advice or information, and failure to consult or inform customers. The report comes as the government considers the ACCC recommendation for new default offer pricing.
Geopolitics
A leaked European Union report suggests the bloc may pull back on its climate ambition. The EU was expected to aim for “net zero” emissions by 2050. However in the draft strategy, the net zero goal is presented as just one of three possible options for the EU’s long-term climate target. The other two options are an 80% emission reduction by 2050 or reaching net zero emissions by 2070.
Forbes
The Commentariat
The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change “inhabits a parallel universe” writes The Australian’s Graham Lloyd, while in reality it appears that governments are unable to deliver anything close to what is required to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Despite the US accusing the IPCC of overreach and Australia eager to avoid replenishment of the Global Climate Fund, there are “aspects of the IPCC report that would make the world a better place”.
“The private sector recognises the opportunities renewables present,” writes the Deloitte Australia’s Michael Rath and Kumar Padisetti.
“Rather than stand still and wait for appropriate energy policy signals, companies are firmly embracing the clean energy agenda, anticipating future carbon liabilities and potential new revenue streams. Two-thirds of Fortune 100 companies have explicit renewable energy targets, and 152 'RE100' companies have made a commitment to go “100 per cent renewable”. The facts are becoming irrefutable – the question is how does Australia embrace an orderly transition as we reshape our energy future.”
Three more things
A team of researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has “unveiled a battery technology that could potentially mop up carbon dioxide from thermal power plants”. The greatest obstacle facing carbon capture and recycle technology has been the enormous amounts of energy they require to function, but researchers hope the lithium-carbon battery technology may overcome this problem.
Ukraine’s former Chernobyl nuclear power plant has been relaunched as a solar power park, and connected to the country’s energy grid. The one-megawatt power park is expected to eventually produce 100 megawatts, “which due to contamination from radiation cannot be used for farming”.
Policymakers should require all autonomous vehicles to be electric, according to Trevor Houser, head of the energy and climate practice at US research firm Rhodium Group.
“If autonomous vehicles are gasoline-powered and individually owned, traffic congestion and carbon emissions will reach nightmarish levels as people send their personal cars out on every tedious errand.”
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