Welcome from the new editor
It is with some degree of trepidation and humility that I take on the job of Climate Spectator editor. The readers and contributors to this website read like a who’s who of the greenhouse abatement and energy sectors in Australia… I have a lot to live up to.
My aim is to ensure that you can rely on Climate Spectator for the most insightful analysis and information on carbon markets, technology and government policy developments: This will naturally have a slant towards what’s happening in Australia, but the carbon market and clean energy technology sectors are shaped by global events. Consequently, we will constantly monitor and interpret developments from overseas which have implications for domestic businesses and policymakers.
Areas of coverage
Climate Spectator will continue to cover the crucial news and themes that interest you in the year ahead such as:
1) Putting a price on carbon pollution
Climate Spectator will closely follow market and policy developments relevant to the Australian carbon pricing scheme and those happening overseas (European ETS, the Clean Development Mechanism, the North-Eastern United States, California and other schemes in development). We’ll also attempt to better nail-down exactly what the Coalition intends to do with its Direct Action alternative to putting a price on carbon.
2) Acceleration of technological innovation
The website will continue to provide news and analysis on the supply, demand and price for renewable energy technologies, carbon capture and storage (CCS) and also nuclear. In addition, we’ll keep a watch on some of the advances occurring with electrification of motor vehicles and overall fuel efficiency.
Some areas we’ll keep a close watch on in the Australian context are the market for renewable energy under the Renewable Energy Target scheme, feed-in tariffs, the various assorted grant funding schemes – such as CCS Flagships and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) – and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.
3) Addressing behavioural barriers to efficient energy use
We’ll follow policy and market developments relevant to energy efficient buildings, equipment and practices. Key areas of interest will be the markets for energy efficiency credits/certificates and developments around a potential national energy efficiency target scheme, energy performance labels/disclosure for homes and commercial buildings, minimum regulated efficiency standards, the assorted grant schemes supporting energy efficiency, and the mandatory energy efficiency assessment schemes for large businesses (e.g. EEO).
4) Reform regulation of energy systems and associated infrastructure
Australia’s electricity system has been largely designed around an expectation of growing and unalterable demand, met through large power plants located in major coal fields. This model is increasingly under stress as we deploy greater amounts of renewables and place greater value on improved energy efficiency. While sometimes it can appear to be rather arcane, the way we manage, regulate and price our electricity system has major implications for energy efficiency and renewable energy. We’ll aim to identify and explain the key issues and developments occurring in this space.
Advances in information technology hold the potential to alter the way we manage and operate transportation systems. But exploiting them will require government to change their approach to planning, building and charging for use of transport infrastructure.
If there’s an area you’d like Climate Spectator to cover that you feel is important to business and policymakers engaged in the area of climate then please get in touch with myself or Daniel Palmer.
About me
I’ve been closely involved in business and policy issues related to reducing carbon emissions since 2002 when I joined the Australian Government’s Greenhouse Office (now the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency). Since then I’ve had some degree of involvement (often minor I must concede) in the debate around most major energy-related climate policy initiatives in this country. During my time at the Greenhouse Office I was involved in motor vehicle fuel efficiency and alternative fuels, as well as the energy efficiency programs for electrical equipment. I then became heavily involved in issues related to renewable energy and carbon pricing when I joined the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (which subsequently became the Clean Energy Council) in 2005. I then advised businesses and government on these areas at Ernst & Young between 2008 and 2009 before joining the Grattan Institute in 2009. My work at the Grattan Institute is freely available on their website (www.grattan.edu.au). Much of this was co-authored. While I would stand by just about all that these reports contain, it is not mine alone. For that reason please do not be surprised if things that I write sometimes conflict with what is written by others from the Grattan Institute.
On that point, I should note that Grattan Institute is now hiring to replace me. Visit their website for more information.
Comments on this article
Good luck Tristan
Big shoes to fill, I would say.
Out of curiosity, will we be seeing any coverage of the fossil fuel industry in the future? There have been some corkers.
This one was a personal favourite at the time, and remarkably relevant at present, given Alcoa is thinking of shutting the smelter which relies on the power plant which relies on the coal mine.
http://www.climatespectator.com.au/commentary/alcoa-renewal-baillieus-worst-call-yet
Reflect the mainstream science
Congratualtions on the new job. Nice that seeming sceptics are congratulating you too.
The burden of disproving mainstream science ought lie with the sceptics. There is no major national or international scientific organisation that disputes the conclusion of the science as put forward by the IPCC.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_opinion_on_climate_change
Also a sensible risk management approach ought overlay the approach to evaluation of the opinion of the sceptics.
If we act and they are right, the coal will still be in the ground to provide cheap energy in the future and our kids and grandkids will have higher economic growth while we will have lower economic growth. If we don't act and the sceptics are wrong the mainstream science says the damage is highly likely to be disastrous for todays young adults and all their progeny and other species.
To protect our industry from the effects of our price on carbon we ought implement a carbon tariff. And rather than subsidising fossil fuel usage we ought find a different metric if we want to subsidise our highly profitable and low employing mining industry.
I look forward to reading your (and your selected) articles.
Congratulations again.
facts are facts
Keith,
That cuts both ways e.g. 4-7 degree temperature rise with the death of billions of humans !
facts are facts
Hi Philip,
I hope that your label of "hysterical, wild predictions" if it pertains to facts is not censored. We are in trouble because the facts of the climate debate are unpalatable to those who wish not to address them.
The thing is that many many data sets all point to the same conclusion. Only through airing the facts, and digesting what they mean, will there be a chance of the consequences being faced.
Currently there is an attempt to act as if we are not faced with a serious situation.... we are.
Congratulations. You could
Congratulations. You could start by de-lineating between plant food [CO2] and heavy soot type pollution we all abhor. Most sensible debate is walking away from the "CO2 is all bad" and "green at all costs" is good. Australia is going to find itself out on a limb with its current stance on pricing so I like to see both sides of the debate. For myself, I don't believe CO2 has anything to do with climate change, but with my 6kw solar system, believe we should take "direct action " where we can. [and no, I don't get a feed in tariff rebate gratis of other users as in Qld, over 5kw is frowned upon.]
Anyway, good luck with the new job.
Congratulations on the new role
Congratulations on the new role Tristan. I think you are being modest when you say you have only had minor involvement around energy-climate change related policy work!
I trust that under your
I trust that under your editorship, CS will be dispassionate about the issued involved in energy efficiency and "climate change".
There are many of us in business who embrace the idea of sustainability and "clean" energy and have been doing so for decades. I myself, as a building and urban design professional have been employing energy efficient, passive design solutions into my designs since my university days under the tutilage of the distinguished (then) Professor Steven Szololay.
However, what many of we tertiary educated professionals object to is the energy efficiency debate being hi-jacked by political- fringe groups who have what appear to be ulterior motives and who use "green" issues to further ther own political agendas.There are still (and the number is growing daily) many questions to be answered about the science of "climate change" and all viewpoints need to be rigourously considered- its the nature of true scientific enquiry. Please don't let this journal be the mouthpiece for hysterical, wild predictions, the likes of which have appeared in the MSM.