A Greek Tragedy? Economy Cools, Temperature Heats Up

People in cities around the Mediterranean including Athens, Rome and Marseilles are likely to suffer most in Europe from ever more scorching heatwaves this century caused by climate change, scientists said at the beginning of the when Greece hosts the third annual Mediterranean Sustainable Energy Summit organised by Financial Times, under the auspices of the President of the Hellenic Republic.

Climate change threatens health by Mediterranean

Alister Doyle, Reuters Environment Correspondent (16 May 2010):

People in cities around the Mediterranean including Athens, Rome and Marseilles are likely to suffer most in Europe from ever more scorching heatwaves this century caused by climate change, scientists said on Sunday.

The number of heatwaves was likely to surge to almost 3 each summer from 2071-2100 in the Mediterranean region from just one every third year from 1961-1990, it said. Most other parts of Europe would suffer far less.

The number of Mediterranean summer days with temperatures above 105 Fahrenheit (40.6C), a threshold in the United States for public health warnings, would rise to about 16 a year from 1.6 in the same period.

Heat-related health problems would be felt most by people living near the coast or in low-lying river valleys, according to scientists in Switzerland and the United States writing in the journal Nature Geoscience about health and heat projections.

“Some of the most densely populated European regions, such as the urban areas of Athens, Bucharest, Marseilles, Milan, Rome and Naples, would experience the severest changes in health indicators,” they wrote.

About 40,000 people died in an extreme heatwave in Europe in 2003. But Erich Fischer, lead author of the study at the Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science at ETH Zurich, said it was uncertain how deadly future heatwaves would be.

Air pollution might aggravate health risks for people with respiratory or heart problems in hotter temperatures, he said. And he said the study did not consider that cities can act as “heat islands” — often warmer than surrounding countryside.

On the other hand, improved weather forecasts can help ensure that people at risk — especially the elderly and the very young — stay in the shade and drink more on hot days. And air conditioning might become more efficient and widely used.

“People living in Arizona show that you can adapt to heat,” Fischer told Reuters. In such hot climates, people avoid straining themselves outdoors at the hottest part of the day.

He said the study was the first to pinpoint areas of Europe where rising temperatures would coincide with rising humidity, high night-time temperatures and long-lasting heatwaves — all factors that can aggravate health problems.

Global warming will mean more moisture in the air from the Mediterranean, for instance, making it harder for people to sweat away excess heat. High night-time temperatures can make sleep harder.

“We see the strongest increases in the number of these days with dangerous health conditions … all along the coast of the Mediterranean and in low-altitude river basins, such as the Po or the Danube,” he said.

The study defines a heatwave as at least 6 days in a row with temperatures among the hottest 10 percent of those recorded in the region for those dates. That means that a heatwave in Greece is hotter than one in Scandinavia.

Source: www.uk.reuters.com

In association with the Institute for Climate and Energy Security and C&C International, Financial Times is presenting the third annual Mediterranean Sustainable Energy Summit organised Under the Auspices of H.E. the President of the Hellenic Republic, Dr. Karolos Papoulias in Athens this week. 

This summit is defined by the region in which it is located, a potential hub for East-West sustainable energy developments and it is amongst the regions which will be hit hardest by climate change.

Taking place over two days, the comprehensive agenda will interpret the outcomes of the UN’s Copenhagen conference and the implications for future energy and environment policy development in the Mediterranean region.

Bringing together senior government officials, corporate leaders, financiers, academics and global experts, the forum will stimulate debate and dialogue on how to tackle the challenges that climate change presents in the Mediterranean and will discuss how we can grasp the opening to establish this region as the sustainable energy hub for Europe. Both are goals which can be achieved through the development of forward thinking climate and energy strategies and a partnership approach between the public and private sectors.

The agenda for the 2010 summit will include a blend of keynote addresses, expert panel discussions and in-depth case studies, designed to inform and update attendees on the policies, practices and business opportunities which will define the future climate and sustainable energy developments of the region.

Source: www.ftbusiness.com

UK Government Takes Up on 10:10 Climate Change Challenge

The new British Prime Minister David Cameron says he wants his to be the greenest government ever, committed to a 10% reduction in carbon emissions across central Government in the next twelve months. This cut amounts to 600,000 tonnes of CO2 – equivalent to taking more than 200,000 cars off the road – and about 1% of total UK emissions, as much as the city of Liverpool. Reports from The Guardian and Edie: The new Conservative-Lib Dem coalition has pledged to cut central government emissions by 10% in the next 12 months – equivalent to taking more than 200,000 cars off the road. The commitment is the most high-profile success to date for the 10:10 climate change campaign, which launched in September last year. Emissions from central government are about 1% of total UK emissions – as much as the city of Liverpool. A 10% cut is amounts to 600,000 tonnes of CO2. “This is the first announcement the coalition has made, and the inclusion of their 10:10 commitment bodes well for the importance they’ll place on carbon reduction this term,” said Eugenie Harvey, campaign director of 10:10. “We’re glad to see they’re walking the walk.” The campaign, which is supported by the Guardian, calls on individuals, businesses and other organisations to make similar 10% cuts and has signed up over 65,000 people, 2,610 businesses and 3,100 organisations and educational institutions. The movement includes Royal Mail, Lovebox music festival, Tottenham Hotspur football club and the Tate Modern as well as celebrities such as Delia Smith, Colin Firth and Radio 1 DJ Sara Cox. Within days of the launch of the campaign, the members of all three front bench teams signed up on an individual basis. So far 158 local authorities have signed up. When they made the commitment, 50 councils were Conservative held, 32 Labour, 40 Lib Dem and 36 with no overall control (the balance of some of these councils will have changed in last week’s elections). In October, the Liberal Democrats brought legislation before parliament to sign up government and public sector bodies to 10:10. The Conservatives supported the measure but it was defeated by the Labour government. The 10:10 movement has also spawned sister groups in France, Ghana, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal and Germany. Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government departments to cut emissions by 10% in 12 months New energy and climate change secretary, Chris Huhne, has announced plans to cut government emissions by 10%. Speaking to staff at the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) this morning, with prime minister David Cameron, he announced plans for department headquarters to publish online in real time their energy use. A government steering group chaired by Mr Huhne will also be set up, with representatives from key departments and the private sector. Mr Cameron said: “I don’t want to hear warm words about the environment, I want to see real action. “I want this to be the greenest government ever, taking our lead from 10:10, I commit us to a 10% reduction in carbon emissions across central Government in the next twelve months. “But I have also made sure all Cabinet ministers are involved, developing plans to show how they will meet their share. “And the public will be involved too – because we’re going to publish the energy use of government headquarters in real-time, so people can hold us to account for our performance. If we do this, we’ll cut the Government’s energy bills by hundreds of millions of pounds.” Mr Huhne added: “A lot of progress has been made, but we must now go further, faster and turn targets into real change. “This is a coalition to provide strong and stable government for this country, the benefits of the low carbon economy are agreed between both parties, this is a priority agenda common to both manifestos.” Source: www.edie.net

An Untapped Opportunity – Energy Efficiency to Cut Emissions

Energy efficiency is finally coming into its own in Australia. Mark Lister tells us what other countries are up to and what we should be doing about it. The Government appointed advisory group has a job to do, with 187 submissions to consider, while Climate Change Minister Penny Wong will pour an extra $100 million into the government’s troubled $175m green loans program over the next year.

By Mark Lister in EcoGeneration May/June issue 2010:

What Australia can learn from the rest of the world. Energy efficiency has enormous potential to cut damaging greenhouse gas emissions and save billions of dollars for all sectors of the economy, yet this potential remains largely untapped in Australia, writes Mark Lister.

As our politicians continue to treat energy efficiency as an afterthought rather than a central priority, developing and industrialised countries around the world are seizing energy efficiency opportunities and reaping the rewards.

While some of these nations have implemented energy efficiency strategies to address fuel shortages, energy security or lack of network capacity, many now see that energy efficiency is a cost-effective way to address climate change. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that energy efficiency will account for around 54 per cent of global emission abatement to 2030, in a scenario where global carbon dioxide levels stabilise at 450 parts per million.

California

California’s citizens use about 40 per cent less electricity than other Americans. This success comes from stringent energy codes and standards for buildings and appliances, and ratepayer-funded energy efficiency programs administered by California’s electric and gas utilities. According to the 2009 California Green Innovation Index, California has prospered since energy efficiency regulations were introduced in the 1970s.

Chile

In recent times, Chile’s economy and energy consumption has grown in parallel by 5 per cent annually. Faced with limited fossil fuel resources and a high dependence on imports to meet its energy needs, the Chilean government prioritised energy efficiency in 2005 and developed a nation-wide program. Sustained energy efficiency action is forecast to reduce business as usual energy demands by 20 per cent by 2020.

Ghana

With blackouts and ongoing power interruptions, Ghana in West Africa distributed six million Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL) to help cut peak demand by 5 per cent while also reducing electricity bills for its citizens. Ghana’s government also implemented an extensive public education campaign and an energy efficiency standard and labelling program for appliances.

California, Chile and Ghana all have one thing in common: governments that created ambitious policies and environments to support major energy efficiency programs. Aside from addressing energy supply issues, their citizens have benefited from reduced energy bills and their economies have prospered. Australia would do well to learn from other countries and access the growing body of knowledge that demonstrates the benefits of large-scale energy efficiency.

Australia’s untapped energy efficiency opportunity

In Australia, energy consumption continues to increase. Rather than focusing on ways to reconfigure industry to reduce consumption, billions of dollars are spent to prop up old networks and coal-fired power stations. The cost of this is ultimately passed onto consumers through increased electricity bills.

While policies to encourage energy efficiency have been widespread, they regularly rely on markets and incentives to drive investment in this area. Price alone is not a significant driver of energy efficiency take-up.

To increase Australia’s energy efficiency to a level that will result in meaningful emission reductions, state and federal governments can intervene directly through strong policies and regulations to net economic benefit. We can do better with more stringent building codes, targeted information, electricity network regulation, and creating frameworks for parties that currently have no incentive to reduce consumption.

Our governments should consider these options, alongside incentives and other programs, to encourage the large-scale uptake of energy efficiency. The work of the Prime Minister’s Energy Efficiency Task Group offers a promising acknowledgement of this potential. The Group’s brief is to create a step-change improvement in Australia’s energy efficiency by 2020, and place Australia at the forefront of OECD energy efficiency improvement. Based on the achievements of other OECD countries, we have some catching up to do.

Energy efficiency is a proven, simple and cost-effective way to reduce carbon emissions and can be implemented now using existing technologies. It cuts electricity bills, decreases demand on networks during peak periods, and reduces the need for costly network infrastructure. Importantly, energy efficiency buys time for other solutions to be developed and is a fundamental part of any response strategy. Other countries have seen the light – let’s hope Australia doesn’t get left in the dark for much longer.

Mark Lister is the Interim CEO of the Australian Alliance to Save Energy.

Source: www.ecogeneration.com.au and www.a2se.org.au

The members of the Government’s Energy Efficiency Advisory Group are:

John Connor The Climate Institute
Greg Bourne WWF
Sharan Burrow Australian Council of Trade Unions
Neil Marshman Rio Tinto
Clare Martin Australian Council of Social Service
Karen Moses Origin Energy
Rob Murray-Leach Energy Efficiency Council
Cameron O’Reilly Energy Retailers Association of Australia
Brian Spalding Australian Energy Market Commission

When the deadline for submissions on energy efficiency closed on 2 May, a total of 187 had been received. Government, with the help of its advisory, will now consider submissions received from the public and interested organisations.

Source: www.climatechange.gov.au

Nicola Berkovic in the The Australian (12 May 2010):

CLIMATE Change Minister Penny Wong will pour an extra $100 million into the government’s troubled $175m green loans program over the next year.

The money will be used to fund an extra 600,000 environmental audits for householders, announced by the government earlier this year.

The audits provide advice to home owners about ways to improve energy and water efficiency.

Initially, the program provided for low-interest loans of up to $10,000 to help householders pay for environmental products recommended by the audit, such as roof-top solar panels and water tanks.

However, the government axed the loans component of the program in March, without warning to the banks and credit unions that had designed loan products to fit within the scheme’s guidelines.

Yesterday, the government revealed in the budget it would discontinue a $50 rewards card promised to all householders that booked an environmental audit.

The government has yet to send a rewards card to any of the hundreds of thousands of householders that have already received their audit.

The budget revealed the government still intends to send a card to those households, but anyone who receives an audit from today will miss out on the $50 reward.

The green loans program has been plagued by administrative bottlenecks, including major problems with the government’s call centre that made it difficult for assessors to book appointments and long delays in the government sending out environmental audit reports to householders.

Allegations have also been made of favourable treatment for certain businesses and sub-standard training for assessors. A number of external inquiries into the scheme’s mishandling are under way, including a $4m independent probe of alleged rorting of the scheme.

Concerns have been raised that some environmental assessors charged for audit reports without visiting the home.

Senator Wong announced the government would try to better manage demand for program by cutting the number of environmental assessors to 5000.

However, she has not yet made clear how the government will decide which assessors will miss out on work under the program.

The government angered environmental assessors when it slashed the number of audits that environmental assessors could perform each week so that the program no longer provided them with full-time work.

Source: www.theaustralian.com.au

Renewed Focus on Electric Vehicles & Smart Grids

Brisbane will once again host a national electric vehicle conference. Organiser Philippe Reboul says the 21 October event will not only explore the short and long term consequences for electric vehicles but also consider the role of Smart Grids. There’s a review event on this Saturday 22 May & next Wednesday 26 May. Meanwhile, Better Place and China automaker Chery have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on technology for switchable-battery electric cars. A report from Auto China 2010.

Electric Vehicle and Smart Grid Conference 2010

2^nd Australian Annual Conference on Electric Vehicles

“EV short and long term impact”: Market, Infrastructure, Utilities, Fleet Owners, Policies, Renewables

“Smart Grid: making it relevant to you”: Governments, Developers, Distributors, Suppliers, Customers

21 October 2010, Brisbane, Australia

EV Conference organiser Philippe Reboul says:

“After the tremendous success of EV Conference 2009 thanks to all our fantastic speakers and participants, this year’s conference is happening on Thursday 21 October 2010 and will be even more exciting!

“Not only we will explore the short and long term consequences for all stakeholders of EVs arriving on the Australian market but we will also have a parallel conference on Smart Grid, another of the hottest subjects at the moment in the Energy world.

“And the two are closely linked! EVs are certainly part of the overall Smart Grid puzzle that must be progressively solved by Utilities, all levels of government, developers, suppliers and eventually customers!

“Improving our society energy efficiency and reducing its energy dependency are essential toward achieving a cleaner and more sustainable future but come with both strategic and practical challenges on which our speakers will focus.

“This conference will bring together experts from overseas and Australia’s electric vehicle and Smart Grid community representing an exceptional opportunity to network and learn about this emerging industry.”

Source: www.evconference.com.au

As a short preview to the October event, this Saturday 22 May there will be an Electric Vehicles Forum at the Mt Ommaney Library, Dandenong Road (Brisbane) from 1pm.

The organisers Sustainable Jamboree say this is a fact finding, futurist fun-filled forum – this will change your ideas about your transport options…

Can just about any vehicle become electric? Will petrol stations disappear? Do you know the difference between hybrid and electric? Electric vehicles in Australia are already on the road. Find out how soon you might be able to get one too.

Speakers include:

Dr Andrew Simpson, senior research fellow, Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute. He has over 10 years experience in the hybrid/electric vehicle, electric power and renewable energy industries in Australia and North America, including two years most-recently at Tesla Motors in California.

Russell Austerberry, Australian Electric Vehicles Association, Brisbane.

Paul Martin, electric bicycles enthusiast

Allan Dow, www.elationebikes.com.au

The programme is being repeated on Wednesday 26 May.

Hosted by Sustainable Jamboree – think global and act local in the Jamboree Ward and beyond.

Source:  www.sustainablejamboree.org

Behind the scenes at Auto China 2010

From Dan Cohen, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives for Better Place

With 990 vehicles on display and 780,000 visitors passing through, it is impossible to escape the conclusion that something big happened at Auto China 2010. But despite the glamorous displays, the media frenzy, the pomp and circumstance, for me the most interesting event took place in the after hours.

After all the visitors had gone home one day, the venue closed its doors, lights went down, and the 2 million square foot venue was full of display cars blanketed with their protective covers. Amid this serene backdrop, Chery’s booth including the Better Place corner was in full swing for a special event.

As we recently announced, Better Place and Chery signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on technology for switchable-battery electric cars. Chery’s Vice President for New Energy Vehicles, Dr. Yuan, has been following Better Place for the past couple of years, and concluded that developing electric cars to operate on a battery switch platform would ultimately deliver the greatest value to consumers.

Chery is a fascinating company – aside from being one of the fastest growing automakers in the world, it is China’s largest independent automaker. Chery is proudly indigenous, relying on its continuously developing in-house engineering expertise to build the next generation of automobiles that are both world-class and environmentally sustainable.

Chery is based in Anhui Province, home to 61 million people. Hefei, its capital, has approximately 5 million people and is one of China’s 13 pilot cities subject to a mandate for integration of alternative fuel vehicles into their fleets. Attached to the mandate is a USD $8,800 rebate for fully electric cars used as taxis or other commercial fleets. And this is just a precursor of a much broader suite of pro-EV policies in the pipeline.

Better Place is now working with Chery to meet the emerging demand for affordable electric cars in the world’s largest auto market. The model for switchable-battery electric cars was displayed in China for the first time at the Chery booth, and it was received favorably by the private and public sectors alike.

The handful of VIPs visiting the booth for the after hours showing included China’s Vice Premier, Zhang Deijang, and the Mayor of Beijing, Guo Jinlong. The Mayor, who had previously served three major posts in Chery’s home province of Anhui, was delighted to see the company introduce Better Place to China at the auto show in Beijing. He said to us, “I think this is the most sensible model for an EV. I highly appreciate you guys bringing it here.”

With the rapid emergence of China’s automotive market – and the expectation that it will grow exponentially in the next few years – we predict that many standards for the automotive industry will be set in China. For Better Place, China is not only a strategic market vis-à-vis its size, but it is both a leading indicator and a trendsetter in the global race to sustainable transportation, and will have significant impact around the world. For all of these reasons, we’re happy to be here, and we see plenty more big developments on the horizon.

Source: www.betterplace.com

Get WED – Think Global, Act Local on 5 June

Join thousands of people from countries all over the world in celebrating World Environment Day this year. There are literally thousands of ways to do something positive for the environment. Thinking Global and Acting Local is on the mind of two Brisbane organisations – there’s the FWR Group’s Climate Active Charity Golf Day Thursday 3 June and  Local Eco Action Festival – LEAF -  Saturday 5 June.

World Environment Day – WED – is 5 June.

Join thousands of people from countries all over the world in celebrating WED this year. There are literally thousands of ways to do something positive for the environment. Again, whatever you decide to do, tell us about it so we can post your activities on this website and make it part of the ‘Wide World of WED’ map.

Get involved online through some of the activities and competitions we will launch in the coming weeks – there will be interesting prizes. Check out the Around the World Archive which lists the activities organized in the past years in more than 80 countries.

The theme of WED 2010 is “Many Species. One Planet. One Future.” It echoes the urgent call to conserve the diversity of life on our planet.  A world without biodiversity is a very bleak prospect. Millions of people and millions of species all share the same planet, and only together can we enjoy a safer and more prosperous future. 

As we celebrate WED, let us consider carefully the actions each of us must take, and then address ourselves to our common task of preserving all life on Earth.

Through WED, we can employ our individual and collective power to stem the tide of extinction. Our conservation action has brought some species back from the brink, and has restored some vital natural habitats around the world. On WED, let us resolve to do much more, and much faster, to win the race against extinction!

Source: www.unep.org/wed/2010/english/celebratewed.asp

Climate Active Charity Golf Day. FWR Group, in association with a number of other organisations, is hosting a charity golf day in about two weeks.  On Thursday 3 June from 11am at Redland Golf Club.

With the importance of climate change and sustainable business, Mike Duggan of FWR Group says this event coincides with the Queensland Premier’s Climate Smart sustainability Awards and the World Environment Day.

Support for the event is coming from James Brockhurst, The Good  Capalaba, the Capalaba Business Improvement District and the Redland Bay Golf Course, an eco Biz partner.

The Climate Active Golf Challenge has the following goals:

• To raise awareness of climate and sustainability issues amongst business;
• To raise awareness and educate golfers in green and sustainable initiatives and practices;
• To encourage active lifestyles;
• To provide funding for climate active projects and initiatives.

For bookings contact Aaron at Redland Bay Golf Club 07 3206 7011 or email aaron@redlandbaygolf.com.au

Logan Eco Action Festival – LEAF – Learn how to change the world! Come to Logan’s first eco festival to find out more about your local environment, what we should do to protect it and best of all see how you can save money.

With an array of exhibitors, live music, wildlife shows, demonstrations and hands-on workshops, organic food markets, children’s activities, giveaways and much more, this free community festival welcomes everyone of all ages to attend and most importantly, participate!

When: Saturday 5 June 2010 – World Environment Day Time: 10 am to 5 pm Where: Griffith University Logan Campus, University Dr, Meadowbrook

 Source: www.logan.qld.gov.au/leaf/

Lucky Last – it’s time to nominate for the ABC CARBON 50

It’s that time of the year again. We haven’t forgotten to tell you all and invite nominations for the ABC CARBON 50. Maybe not quite as well established at the Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential in the world, but we made our mark last year with 50 very special people. To nominate just reply to this abc carbon express email with the name or names of who you would like to put forward.   Just give us a very short description of who they are and why you think they deserve to be on the ABC CARBON 50 list. Helping us with the final 50 selection this year will be Connection Research and an independent well-qualified judge.

Remember last year? Cate Blanchett topped the list of the 50 most influential people in Australia who are committed to the environment, the planet and for the future of life on earth. They are advocates for climate change awareness and action at home and abroad, as well as campaigners for clean energy and energy efficiency. Some are very well known. Some are new discoveries.

The list was compiled by ABC CARBON from nominations received: 

1. Cate Blanchett – international actress and Oscar winner, climate change campaigner, face/voice of ACF’s campaign, Who on Earth Cares?, supporter of Earth Hour, featured speaker at the World Business Summit on Climate Change, Copenhagen last month (the full text of her brilliant speech follows this list); co-artistic director (with husband Andrew) of the Sydney Theatre Company which is embarking on a plan to produce all its own energy (through solar panels on the roof); personally committed to manage her own carbon footprint through her travels and in her home.

When asked why she cared about climate change, here’s her answer (on the Who on earth cares? website):

“I care about climate change because of our children. I want to safeguard their future. It is a situation that affects each and every one of us, in this country and around the world. It is an inescapable problem. A common link we share. It is a crisis that provides us with an opportunity to change for the better. To change the way we consume, the way we think and the way we behave. By assuming responsibility, we protect, and respect, the generations behind us”.

1. Tim Flannery – palaeontologist, Chairman of the Copenhagen Council, author of The Weather Makers, and 2007 Australian of the Year.
2. Ian Lowe – Emeritus Professor of Science, Technology and Society at Griffith University, President of the Australian Conservation Foundation, author Living in the Greenhouse 1989 and Living in the Hothouse 2005.
3. Nick Rowley – Director of Kinesis and Strategic Director of the Copenhagen Climate Council and former advisor to Tony Blair (UK Government) and Bob Carr (NSW Government).
4. David Mills – chief scientific officer and founder of Ausra, the Australian solar thermal producer.
5. Ann Henderson-Sellers -  ARC Professorial Research Fellow, Climate Change Risk Research, Macquarie University, Sydney and former Director of the World Climate Programme.
6. Jean Palutikof – Director of Australia’s National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility at Griffith University. Prior to joining the UK Met Office, she was Professor in the School of Environmental Sciences and Director of the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia, UK.
7. Peter Doherty – author of A Light History of Hot Air, Nobel Prize winner for Physiology and Medicine in 1996 and Australian of the Year in 1997.
8. Penny Sackett – Australia’s Chief Scientist.
9. Mara Bun – CEO of Green Cross Australia.
10. Greg Bourne – CEO of WWF Australia, former executive with BP and former advisor to Tony Blair.
11. Ove Hoegh Guldberg – Marine Science Professor at University of Queensland and lead author of Science Journal research article on climate change impacts on the Great Barrier Reef.
12. Don Henry – CEO of the Australian Conservation Foundation.
13. Ross Garnaut – economist, author of the Garnaut Review and diplomat.
14. David Karoly – climatologist, climate change researcher, Federation Fellow at University of Melbourne.
15. Matthew Warren – CEO of the Clean Energy Council, formerly Environment Writer with The Australian.
16. Rupert Posner – Director of The Climate Group.
17. Hugh Possingham – WWF Governor and ARC Federation Fellow, University of Queensland.
18. Colman Ridge – founder and organiser of Greenfest.
19. Anne Maree Huxley – CEO & Founder of Models of Success and Sustainability (MOSS).
20. Dave Sag – Founder & Executive Director of Carbon Planet.
21. Rob Cawthorne – Managing Director of the Carbon Reduction Institute.
22. Peter Cosier – Director of the Wentworth Group.
23. Michael Ottaviano – CEO of Carnegie Corporation, wave energy pioneers.
24. Jeff Harding – Chairman of Ceramic Fuels, former CEO of Pacific Hydro.
25. Robert Quirk – advocate and lecturer in sustainable agriculture, foundation chair of the Better Sugar Cane Initiative (BSI), the global round table for sugar  formed by WWF and IFC to develop practices to reduce the impacts of sugar cane growing.
26. John Connor – CEO of The Climate Institute.
27. Pep Canadell – Executive Director of the Global Carbon Project (GCP), and scientist with CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research.
28. Freddy Sharpe – CEO of Climate Friendly.
29. Sara Gipton – CEO of Greenfleet.
30. Janis Birkeland – Professor of Architecture, Queensland University of Technology, urban designer, and author of Design for Sustainability.
31. Graeme Pearman – consultant, former chief of CSIRO Atmospheric Research &  Research Fellow in Sustainability Science at Monash University.
32. Larissa Brown – Founder and Executive Director of the Centre for Sustainability Leadership and Young environmentalist of the year 2008 in the Banksia Awards.
33. Megan Wheatley – Business Development Manager, Suzlon Energy, formerly Head of Policy for the UK Business Council for Sustainable Energy.
34. Richard Cassels – Director Climate Leadership, archaeologist & former GM of Queensland Museum.
35. Michael Raupach – co-Chair of the Global Carbon Project, and CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research scientist.
36. Sidonie Carpenter – President of Green Roofs.
37. Fiona Wain – CEO of Environment Business Australia.
38. Imogen Zethoven – with the Pew Environment Group & Wilderness Society, campaigner for the Great Barrier Reef and formerly undertook great work with WWF Australia.
39. Martin Loosemore – is Principal Consultant Risk Management for Synergy Management Consulting Group, who consulted on  construction of the Beijing 2008 Olympic facilities, the Three Gorges Dam in China and now for the London 2012 Olympics; co-author (with Bede Boyle) of Climate Change and Corporate Social Responsibility.
40. David Baggs – founder, EcoSpecifier, Technical Director & Principal Consultant Chartered Architect, and UNAA Environment Day Award Finalist.
41. Paul Gilding – writer, advisor & advocate with 35 years engagement in sustainability, formerly with Greenpeace, he set up Ecos Corporation and Easy Being Green.
42. Jon Dee – founder of Planet Ark and founder of Ban the Bag campaign, to rid Australia of plastic shopping bags.
43. Craig Lovett – Founder of CleanEvent, the Melbourne based international event and venue cleaning management company with sustainable practices.
44. Samantha Graham – National Education Manager of Carbon Systems & Mum!
45. Tom Vassallo – who holds the Delta Chair of Sustainable Energy Development at University of Sydney, consultant to industry and formerly with CSIRO.
46. Romilly Madew, – CEO of Green Building Council.
47. Richard Boele – founder and Managing Director on Banarra, President of Australian Institute of Social & Ethical Accountability , and anti-mining campaigner.
48. Guy Lane – founder of My Clean Sky, carbon offset provider and enthusiast for aviation and the environment.
49. Dee Tipping – environmentalist, campaigner for plastic bag free Byron Shire and fundraising co-ordinator for community and the arts.

Ken Hickson, Director, ABC Carbon; Editor, abc carbon express and Author, “The ABC of Carbon”                           www.abccarbon.com

Coalition for a Change?

A new Coalition Government in London with a smorgasbord of challenges, including climate, energy and the economy; the US grapples with the latest climate change bill which the President supports, and Australians are delivered a budget which shows the Government has drastically watered down its commitment to climate change action and a clean energy future. We have some angry reaction from green and clean groups, as well as Tim Flannery. Renewable energy gets a boost, but it is nowhere near enough. We profile a clean energy leader who is still waiting for Government recognition of what we can get from the waves around our shores. Looking longer term, scientists are seeing an even hotter future for life on earth in 300 years and the International Energy Agency says globally we could produce 25% of our electricity by solar in 2050.  There’s research into powering sailing ships when the wind stops and how to make better use of algae for jet bio fuel. Strategic Direction gets recognition for its energy efficient Data Centres; ecospecifier gets into South East Asia, and Singapore funds recycling of demolished buildings. The Government clarifies its voluntary carbon offset standards and carbon neutral programs, while Greenpeace gets into the picture with coal ships and protests. From the Los Angeles Times, we get a Lucky Last insightful piece on a clean energy future in light of fossil fuel disasters. Could you ask for more? – Ken Hickson

Profile: Michael Ottaviano

Here’s the man who believes Australia’s southern oceans are the best on the planet to drive a renewable energy revolution that could cut the nation’s greenhouse emissions and provide a reliable source of base-load electricity. But Carnegie CEO Michael Ottaviano says so far this innovative wave energy project has been denied Federal Government grants and there’s a danger that the Australian-owned and -developed technology will move overseas where more generous regimes encourage wave power development.

This article appeared in the middle of the 2010 Budget coverage in The Australian on 12 May 2010, which clearly shows that in spite of commitments to renewable energy and emissions reductions, the Australian Government is once again ignoring ideal opportunities for investment and endorsement. Will this go the way of other home-grown clean energy initiatives, like solar businesses Ausra and Suntech?  

By Sid Maher in The Australian:

MIKE Ottaviano believes Australia’s southern oceans are the best on the planet to drive a renewable energy revolution that could cut the nation’s greenhouse emissions and provide a reliable source of base- load electricity.

At Garden Island, off the West Australian coast, Mr Ottaviano’s Carnegie Wave Energy is developing a power plant that harnesses the eternal movement of the ocean to provide emissions-free electricity.

But Carnegie has so far been denied grants as part of the federal government’s renewable energy programs and the Australian-owned and -developed technology is in danger of being deployed overseas where European nations have more generous regimes to encourage wave power development.

Last November, Carnegie was beaten by Ocean Power Technologies to build a flagship wave energy plant. The market was surprised when the US company was preferred for a $66.5 million grant, over Carnegie Wave Energy, BioPower and Oceanlinx.

But Mr Ottaviano has been pressing ahead with a pilot plant for Carnegie’s technology at Garden Island, though he is now eyeing overseas opportunities.

He says the Carnegie technology is “radically different” to other wave-power technologies.

The wave plant is submerged and avoids the inevitable destructive effects of wave surges.

The underwater plant pumps water to an onshore facility that uses standard hydro-electric equipment to generate electricity.

The Garden Island plant will produce enough power for 3500 homes. But beyond the first plant, where the technology is ultimately proven will depend on government policy.

“We may be forced to deploy offshore,” Mr Ottaviano said.

He said the $652million renewable energy fund was a positive for the renewables industry and developing technologies such as wind and geothermal.

The beauty of wave power is the ocean’s constant motion means it is always able to generate electricity. This means it is able to be used for base load power generation. Other renewables, such as solar energy and wind power, are mostly unsuitable for base load generation. The Clean Energy Council has also called for tax concessions for renewable energy companies. Chief executive Matthew Warren said it wanted the commonwealth to create a geothermal, wave and tidal equivalent of the solar flagships program.

Under the $1.5 billion solar flagships program, the government has provided one-third of the capital cost of two large solar plants.

“If it works for large-scale solar, it’s logical you would experience the same in ocean wave and geothermal,” Mr Warren said.

Dr Michael Ottaviano is Carnegie’s Managing Director and joined the board of Carnegie Corporation Ltd on 1 September 2006. He has been employed by Carnegie Corporation Ltd since 9 January 2006 initially as the General Manager of Technology and Innovation.

He has previously worked in research and development and was a divisional manager for a private Australian engineering company. Prior to joining Carnegie, he was a Senior Manager specialising in Technology and Innovation consulting at a global accounting and advisory firm.

He has advised companies on new product development, intellectual property, innovation portfolio management and technology commercialisation across various industries and ranging from start-ups to ASX-listed companies with market capitalisations in excess of $1billion.

He completed his Doctorate in Business Administration in the field of Corporate Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Dr Ottaviano is also Managing Director of Seapower Pacific Pty Ltd.

Source: www.theaustralian.com.au and www.carnegiecorp.com.au

Budget Steals from CPRS to Pay for REFF

The government will invest more than $652 million over four years in a Renewable Energy Future Fund to drive the development and deployment of clean energy technologies. Households will also be encouraged to become more energy efficient. It will be paid for, according to media reports, from the almost $3 billion worth of savings gained by the deferral of legislation for the emissions trading scheme, the CPRS.  

Christian Kerr in The Australian 12 May 2010:

THE government will invest more than $652 million over four years in a Renewable Energy Future Fund to drive the development and deployment of clean energy technologies.

The renewables industry has warned that with no carbon price to drive investment, hopes for new, commercially viable sources of clean energy will wither on the vine if the government does not provide additional financial support for the sector.

The government hopes to assuage their concerns with the new fund, designed to support the nation’s transition to a low-pollution economy ahead of the start of an emissions trading scheme. It will be paid for from the almost $3 billion worth of savings gained by the deferral of legislation for the ETS until at least the end of 2012.

“Climate change remains a core challenge for the future – for this nation and for all nations,” Wayne Swan said in his budget speech last night.

The Treasurer said the government accepted the science of climate change and the need for combined global and domestic action.

That is why we have accepted a target range of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by between 5 and 25 per cent by 2020.”

He told parliament the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme remained “the cheapest and most effective way” of tackling climate change.

“As we continue to work to build the necessary domestic and international consensus for carbon markets, we will roll out the most substantial renewable energy plan this country has seen – consistent with our decision to increase the renewable energy target to 20 per cent by 2020,” the Treasurer said.

The Renewable Energy Future Fund will form part of the government’s Clean Energy Initiative.

It will be used to provide additional support for renewable energy projects of all sizes.

“This fund will leverage private sector investment to support renewable energy projects and the development of low-emissions technologies,” Mr Swan said.

“It will also be used to enhance Australia’s take-up of energy efficiency, including helping households and businesses reduce their energy consumption.”

The budget provides a total of $652.5m from next financial year for the fund.

The fund will provide support through partnerships between the government and the private sector to make critical, early-stage investments to help gain extra private funds to support the commercialisation of renewable technologies. Details of the specific commitments for the fund will be announced in the future.

However, the government flagged in the budget overview that wind, solar and biomass projects would be likely to receive support.

Money for the fund will be delivered through a range of government departments and agencies, with the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency co-ordinating its progress and priorities.

Source: www.theaustralian.com.au

Katie Bice in Herald Sun 12 May 2010:

HOUSEHOLDS will be encouraged to become more energy efficient under the largest renewable energy program ever seen.

The $652 million Renewable Energy Future Fund will support research and development into new low-emission technologies.

But the program only came about through funding freed up by the shelving of the Emissions Trading Scheme – and specific details of the commitments are yet to be announced.

The Government says climate change remains a major challenge and the new program will help with the transition to a ETS.

The recycled money is part of an expanded $5 billion Clean Energy Initiative.

With the ETS on the backburner, the Government has turned its attention to educating the public.

About $30 million will be spent over the next two years in a series of print, television and radio announcements to educate Australians about the science of climate change.

The Government did not announce any plan to replace the ETS with a new scheme.

Funding intended for the defunct home insulation program and the solar hot water rebate will be redirected to renewable energy.

But the cash was not enough to save a number of other environment projects.

There will be a $200 million cut over three years to the Green Car Innovation Fund, which was aimed at encouraging Australian companies to produce technology to lessen greenhouse gas emissions and fuel consumption.

Funding was also shaved from a scheme to promote rebates for rainwater tanks and grey water systems.

The Government said the cuts were due to “lower than expected demand”.

Source: www.heraldsun.com.au

No-one’s Smiling Now: Breach of Faith on Climate Action

Green groups are not happy with the latest budget. Government has taken the axe to environmental programs that save water and help farmers go green. WWF says people should be bitterly disappointed that this government has abandoned its national and international leadership on climate change, while Tim Flannery says this Government has failed to deliver effectively on any environmental issue.

Cathy Alexander for AAP in Sydney Morning Herald (11 May 2010):

The federal government has changed tack on climate change, replacing the emissions trading scheme with more money for wind farms and solar panels. But green groups say it’s just not enough to take on global warming.

That money has been recycled into a new green fund. The budget has also taken the axe to environmental programs that save water and help farmers go green.

Water-savvy programs that offered a $500 rebate for water tanks and paid cities to recycle water were stripped of $249 million.

Bush preservation programs like Caring for Country and Landcare have lost a combined $161 million in funding.

Don Henry from the Australian Conservation Foundation said the budget in no way made up for the government’s disappointing decision to can the ETS. “It’s not a pass for climate action and the environment.” The new money for renewable energy was welcome but “only a drop in the bucket compared to the action that a price on pollution would achieve”.

John Connor, chief executive at the Climate Institute, said the “disappointing budget” plus the ETS delay meant Australia’s greenhouse pollution would continue to rise. “We’ve seen some deep disappointments in this budget, and in the last couple of weeks, about this government’s promises to the Australian people,” Mr Connor said.

Another hot topic is how much aid Australia will give poorer countries to tackle global warming. Rich countries have pledged to find $US30 billion ($A33.22 billion), and Australia promised to pay its fair share.

The budget shows hundreds of millions will be spent on climate aid, with a focus on the Pacific and Indonesia. But the money will come out of the existing aid budget, and some leaders from the developing world say the climate dollars should be new money.

Source: www.news.smh.com.au

By David Coady on ABC (12 May 2010):

Former Australian of the Year Professor Tim Flannery has criticised the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, for breaching the trust of the electorate on climate change.

Professor Flannery says Australia needs to move towards renewable energy.

He says the environment is headed towards the equivalent of a heart attack and he does not have any faith that Mr Rudd is going to take action.

“I could go to the Prime Minister now and say, ‘Look, why don’t we put some policies together to address climate change effectively,’” Professor Flannery said.

“And even if he accepted them, I wouldn’t have any faith that he would actually deliver on them because we’ve already seen this breach of faith.

“That’s the fundamental problem: it’s not the delay of the climate thing, as bad as that is, it’s the breach of faith with the electorate that’s the problem.”

Professor Flannery says the effects of climate change are already apparent around Australia but the Government has not done enough to deal with it.

“They need to deliver on their policies, they really do,” he said.

“And we have seen nothing from this Government to deliver as far as I can see effectively on any environmental issue.

“So it’s been very deeply disappointing, I think, for me to see all of this happen and it does have moral implications.

“I mean trust is the basis of all of our transactions and in politics it’s particularly important.”

Source: www.abc.net.au

WWF announcement (12 May 2010):

Failure to commit to an emissions trading scheme by 2011 and cuts to the flagship environmental program Caring for Country indicate the Government is abandoning its commitment to tackle climate change mitigation and letting the environment slide off its agenda.

“The Australian people should be bitterly disappointed that this government has abandoned its national and international leadership on climate change,” said WWF Conservation Manager Gilly Llewellyn.

“According to the budget papers the government may never legislate an emissions trading scheme, yet there is no contingency plan to meet the Government’s commitment to reduce emissions between five to twenty five per cent by 2020.

“The $652 million renewable energy future fund is a drop in the ocean compared to the amount required to create a clean economy in Australia and a fraction of the amount that would have been raised by an effective emissions trading scheme.”

The federal budget also includes cuts of over $300 million for environment programs, one fifth of which comes from the flagship environmental Caring For Our Country program.

“While WWF welcomes the $18 million for a National Plan for Environmental Information, without increased investments in environmental protection and management, this risks being an exercise in writing the requiem for species going extinct on the watch of this government,” said Ms Llewellyn.

At least 1575 species of Australian animals and plants were listed as being at risk of extinction under national law in 2007. Rapid, effective steps are needed to secure their critical habitats, but ironically in the International Year of Biodiversity, this budget takes us backwards.

WWF welcomes:

• $335.4 million in international climate change financing commitment under the Copenhagen Accord
• $102.7 million in additional funding to Green Loans program
• $12 million over two years to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
• $8.1 million to complete the now overdue marine bioregional planning process
• $2.4 million for negotiating and implementing arrangements for securing the Pacific regions valuable fish stocks.

Source: www.wwf.org.au