Greenhouse Shows Woodford is More than a Folk Festival

The extremely efficient and insightful GREENhouse program at Woodford Folk Festival from 27 December to 1 January involved 43 sessions and more than 50 speakers, including scientists, authors, intellectuals, environmentalists, inventors and politicians. Ken Hickson joined Dr Mike Smith and Ulrike Schuermann to discuss Business’s Role in the Future on 31 December. 

Here’s the essence of Ken Hickson’s paper. A pdf of the Powerpoint is available on www.abccarbon.com and most of the presentations at Greenhouse can be found on www.greenhouse.org.au

Where’s the climate change strategy? Ken Hickson asked in his presentation in the Greenhouse session on Business’s Role in the Future.

1. Carbon and climate are on a collision course and there’s been a serious communication breakdown in developing and presenting climate change awareness and action. Therefore it cannot be left to the scientific community or Governments. In his book The ABC of Carbon as well as through abc carbon express he regularly draws attention to climate change impacts on countries and companies. What is essential is corporate sustainability and greening of the workplace. All this must be directed towards creating a low carbon economy.
2. Cartoon showing a Noah’s Ark positioned on the top of Mount Everest, surrounded by rising seas! The sign board says: Climate Change Summit 2040 Mount Everest. The keynote speaker announces: “We finally have a binding international agreement to control greenhouse gases!”
3. Dr David Susuki, Canadian environmentalist, geneticist , broadcaster and author says:

“We are upsetting the atmosphere upon which all life depends… the signs of change have accelerated alarmingly.

“The vast majority of the world’s scientists will only admit to being 90% certain that our carbon emissions are causing global warming on such a scale that we face global catastrophe if we fail to change our ways.

“If nine out of 10 doctors said your child needed an immediate operation, would you wait until all 10 agreed?”

1. Case studies – best practices by business globally and in Australia
2. I is for Interface, the largest carpet manufacture in the world, with Seven Steps to Mission Zero:   Zero Waste , Benign Emissions , Renewable Energy , Close The Loop, Resource Efficient Transportation, Sensitivity Hookup  & Redesign Commerce.

Run by Ray Anderson, Time Magazine Environmental Hero, interviewed on ABC and Sky News and occasional visitor to Australia.

InterfaceFLOR’s Mission Zero™ is simple – it is our pledge to leave zero footprint by the year 2020.

1. N is for News and News Corp – the world’s largest media organisation – Fox, News Limited and many more.

Rupert Murdoch announced March 2007 that News Corp would be carbon neutral by 2010.

News Limited to save around 30,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases across Australia.

In its first year, One Degree campaign had exceeded targets – reducing own carbon footprint, inspiring staff and community to take action.

News Limited has so far identified around 125 new initiatives to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20%, to be carbon neutral by 2010.

1. V is for Virgin – Sir Richard Branson and his Virgin empire.

The profits from his five airlines and train company – US$3 billion through the next 10 years -  be invested in developing energy sources that do not contribute to global warming.

Virgin Group of 200 companies are seeking ways to save energy or produce fuels, including aviation fuel, not derived from coal and oil.

“It is in our hands whether our children and their children inherit the same world. We must not be the generation responsible for irreversibly damaging the environment.”   Branson

1. W is for Wind and Wave Energy

More people employed in wind energy business than in coal industry in the US.

In Western Australia, Carnegie Corporation is developing the most innovative wave energy project, combined with a desalination plant.

Wave energy can generate at least 35% of Australia’s power needs.

The southern coasts have a potential wave energy resource of up to 171,000 MW, four times the total capacity of power generators currently installed nationwide.

1. Climate Change/Carbon New Business Categories:

Ken Has identified 18 new categories of business which have developed on the past 2 years:

1.  
   1. Investment advisors & brokers – Carbon Value, Macquarie
   2. Carbon offset providers/facilitators – Carbon Planet, Climate Friendly
   3. Educators/trainers– Sustainability Challenge, Change2
   4. Carbon trading for voluntary & mandatory markets – GCX, FEX, ACX
   5. Providers/organisers of carbon credits – Prime Carbon, Carbon Conscious
   6. Renewable energy initiators – Carnegie, Ceramic Fuel Cells, Ausra
   7. Commercialisation & financial investors – Austrade, Banks
   8. Building & property advisory services– Ecospecifier, FWR Group
   9. Adaptation advisors and engineers – Climate Risk, Arup, Hatch
   10. Management consultants (adaptation & mitigation) – KPMG, PWC, EY
   11. Energy efficiency advice & audit services – Fieldforce, Govt agencies/assessors
   12. Measurement & reporting software providers – EnviroChart, CarbonView
   13. Communication advice & services – ThomsonReuters, Carbon Market
   14. Clean energy providers – Origin, AGL, Energex, Ergon
   15. Clean transport & infrastructure providers/advisors – Better Place, EcoMotion
   16. Green products & services – ecoKinetics, Envirofriendly, eNerwise
   17. Specialist media – Green Pages, Eco Voice, abc carbon express, ecogeneration
   18. Carbon farming/biosequestration – BDM, Soil Carbon, VRM
2. Is it pie in the sky for Australia to achieve a 25% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020? or do we have to settle for a pathetic 5%?

What can business do to prevent disastrous warming, extreme weather & greater climate risk?

1. Ken sets out his proposal for a 5 x 5 = 25 strategy (also illustrated in pie graph form):

CPRS as simple as ABC. As each of the five sectors is responsible for approximately 20% of the nation’s emissions, each sector is required to produce emissions reductions of 25% in each sector which amounts to 5% of the total emissions reductions, making a national 25% reduction is emissions quite feasible.

a.    Industry emissions reductions

1. Buildings & energy efficiency
2. Switching to renewable energy
3. Land use, farming & forestry
4. Transportation comes clean
5. a.     Communication/education is the key
6. b.    Opportunities to work with business
7. c.      Develop good green best practices
8. d.     Partnerships will prosper
9. e.      Business must provide leadership
10. f.       Positively promote sustainability

1. Ken also proposes setting up a one stop shop for climate change consumer education & energy efficiency, modelled on Choice, the national consumer organisation. He has also been instrumental in setting up a new global NGO for communicators – GECO – Green Earth Communicators Organisation.
2. Ken has suggested to Queensland’s Minister of Climate Change and Sustainability Kate Jones that he bring together all the enterprising innovators in the State to showcase its green capability. This will happen in February. The enterprises will include: the FWR Group, eNerwise, Q solar, Little Green Genie, Climate First, Wind Power Queensland, eco-Kinetics, My Clean Sky, Envirofriendly, Greenfest, Prime Carbon, Ecospecifier, Super Green Me, and Sustainable Insight. (More will be invited and others are welcome to propose participation.)
3. Ken sums up his presentation thus:

Source:   www.abccarbon.com