43. Is Australia crucial to international climate policy and action?

I have been thinking quite a lot about the role Australia plays in global climate policy and action. I just read an article entitled "Does Australia hold the keys to solving climate change?" in Climate Spectator. Perhaps the title is a little bold, but the points raised are very valid. Opponents of climate change action often point out that Australia’s direct emissions are only 1.5 per cent of the global total, and claim that it does not matter what we do. But there are several key areas where Australia’s actions could affect global outcomes.

Australia’s action (or inaction) influences other countries, like China
While it’s true that Australia’s direct emissions are only 1.5 per cent of the global total, it’s worth bearing in mind that we are not only one of the highest per capital emitters in the world, but also the 15th largest emitter in total. This means that of the 196 odd nations of the world, barely a dozen are larger than Australia. Therefore, if Australia isn’t moving, most other nations in the world can feel justified in a similar degree of inactivity. In particular, as our most important trading partner, China watches about what Australia does. 

Australia can influence global renewable energy markets
As the 14th largest electricity consumer in the world, Australia has the potential to be a major player in developing renewable technologies. Renewables and fossil fuel technologies are now close enough in cost that investing heavily in renewables to bring them down the cost curve could have dramatic influence over the investment decisions of other nations. By bringing forward the point of cost competitiveness of renewable energy we could drive huge emissions reductions, particularly in developing economies that are likely to be reluctant to take on carbon pricing in the near term.

It remains Australia’s choice to expand fossil fuel exports (or not)
Of course, we also need to acknowledge that it remains our choice to expand our fossil fuel exports (or not), and with Australia on the path to becoming the largest fossil fuel exporter in the world, our potential influence in this space is immense. By supplying vast amounts of fossil fuels into international markets over the next two decades we have the potential to reduce global fossil fuel prices, increasing the likelihood that other nations (particularly developing nations) invest in coal and gas-fired generation. Alternatively, we could choose to slow or prevent expansion of fossil fuel mining through a range of possible mechanisms (such as meaningful mining taxes). 

Finally, Australia’s vast renewable resources give us a huge advantage in establishing ourselves as a home of energy intensive industries. In the past we have attracted them with the promise of low cost, low risk energy. By leading the global transformation we are excellently placed to continue in that tradition. As stated by David Cameron, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, “it is the countries that prioritise green energy that will secure the biggest share of jobs and growth in a global low-carbon sector set to be worth $4 trillion by 2015.”

42. Decarbonisation

I just read two pieces of news today. The first was from the International Energy Agency that warns that decarbonisation of the global economy is proceeding alarmingly slowly. Despite rapid growth in renewables in recent years, the carbon intensity of energy production worldwide has remained flat for more than two decades. In 1990, 57.1 tonnes of CO2 were released per terrajoule produced while in 2010 the figure stood at 56.7. Not much change there! This puts decarbonisation efforts far below what is necessary to keep within a rise of 2˚C by 2050. Coal power continues to dominate growth in electricity generation. And about half of new capacity, found chiefly in the developing world, uses obsolete and inefficient technology. But there is some good news. Sales of electric and hybrid vehicles are increasing and the advanced biofuels sector grew its capacity in 2012. More countries are also improving the energy efficiency of buildings and appliances. Photovoltaic capacity rose by 42% in 2012, with wind power growing by 19%. The second news item I read came from the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency where research shows that Sweden reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 5% between 2011 and 2012, and that since 1990 Sweden has reduced its emissions by 20%. Sweden is in the process decarbonisation!

41. The Ultimate Sustainable Community

Some friends and colleagues of mine recently launched greenApes with the tagline "You are not alone in the jungle". I am just learning how greenApes works but it aims to be the ultimate sustinable community where you can share green actions, learn from others, challenge your friends and be part of an online community making a difference in a fun way. On their facebook page it reads "Our mission is to help people become more sustainable. Enjoying it, every day. Our ambition is to challenge and inform, and to be able to offer access to accurate sustainability information to the greenApes community." Check out the film! And download greenApes today here.

40. Nearing the end?

It's been 9 months in Australia and just 3 months to go before I return "home" to Sweden. As a visiting researcher at Melbourne University I have been asked to give a talk, which I have entitled "Reflections on Sustainability: From Australia to Sweden and back again". My abstract for this talk reads "I grew up in Melbourne, Australia but have spent the last 10 years living in Sweden and working at Lund University (first as a doctoral candidate and today as an Assistant Professor). A fantastic opportunity came up for me to return to Melbourne University for 12 months (from July 2012 until June 2013). In this talk and discussion I will present my thoughts and activities on sustainability from my experiences in Australia and Sweden/Europe and back again. I have a background in political science and environmental science, and I engage in a combination of research, education, communication and innovation activities. Broadly speaking I work in the fields of sustainability and governance. Specifically, I concentrate on how to accelerate the implementation of renewable energy (focusing on bioenergy and biofuels) and energy efficiency, catalyze sustainable urban transformation, and promote education for sustainability." I plan to talk on 3 main points. First, there is much to learn from Sweden about sustainability transitions and climate action. Second, the world is watching Australia both in terms of climate policy (and the impending change of government) and climate impacts on weather patterns. Third, the role of the university in sustainability transitions is changing markedly as the science and understanding of global warming expands and spreads.