If you haven’t caught up with it, you should
see the leadership in Europe outlined in the “Clean Energy for All Europeans
Package”. It's inspiring to see the European Commission undertake this
challenging but essential task.
What does amuse me sometimes is the American
President being referred to as “the leader of the free world”. This European
action represents leadership. Not failing to act in the face of one of the
world’s most pressing problems. See:
Clearly putting energy efficiency first,
leading the charge in renewable energy is a massive ask to the European member
states. One that my country Australia, and the US (perhaps I should exclude the
Obama administration) have side stepped for too long, way too long.
My compliments to all those citizens in Europe
that have enabled their leaders to embark on such a bold move. It reenergizes
me to continue to lobby our government and work to help modernise generation
and distribution companies in our Energy & Utilities sector.
In Australia we need stronger approaches to
deal with climate change. A prime example of what’s wrong in our country is the
announcement of the Queensland and Federal Governments’ support the Adani’s
$21Billion Carmichael Coal Mine project. It had to go through an environmental
approval process; but in Australia the environmental approval process excludes
climate change impacts. So our leadership fails to count fossil fuel as an
environmental impact.
Popular opinion at the end of the 1990’s committed
the country to reduce carbon intensity (via the signing of the Kyoto protocol
in 2005). However, from 1990 to 2012 Australia emissions from all sources (except
land use and forestry) grew by 28%. Our government representatives were “cute”
at the 1997 Climate Conference in Kyoto, getting concessions that the nations
emissions could rise by 25-30% whilst we could “account this” as an 8% increase
(increase over 1990 levels). The Australian delegation at the 1997 threatened
to derail the conference unless we received special concessions. The “Australian
Clause” as it came to be known allowed Australia to increase carbon emissions
by 8% (but that accounts also for a 25-30% increase in fossil fuel emissions). So
much for executing the will of the public.
So congratulations to the European Union. In
the face of our performance in Australia – shame on our government – those people
entrusted to look after our future, aren’t. They are making decisions like the
Adani mine approval, and supporting the wrong targets.
Leadership “not” in Australia.
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