Dear readers, I was delighted to be given the opportunity of writing a regular article for this magazine (and website) that does such a fine job promoting our vibrant real estate sector and Canberra in general. I hope you will enjoy – even if some of you won’t agree with – the viewpoints I express and my take on local and national issues.
I thought for my first piece I would touch on an issue of concern to us all: climate change. I believe there is extensive misinformation being peddled in academia, our schools and most sections of the media about climate change and Australia’s role.
Firstly, did you know that whilst the ACT does produce more than 100 per cent of its total energy needs from solar and wind farms we own, largely outside the ACT, we are not carbon neutral as we get our power off the national grid? Only nine per cent of that power comes from solar panels in the ACT. The remaining 91 per cent comes from interstate, and 70 per cent of that 91 per cent comes from fossil fuels.
Secondly, a quick Google check will show that Australia is actually doing very well in reducing our emissions. We actually walk the walk, not talk the talk like NZ and Canada who have hardly reduced their emissions since 2005 (less than five per cent). We, on the other hand, have reduced ours by 18 per cent between 2005 to 2018. The big emitter, China, increased their emissions by 71 per cent during that same time period.
China operates 50 per cent of the world’s coal fired power stations and is building another 127 coal fired power stations between 2020 and 2025. China just recently told the US where to go when the US politely asked them if they would mind trying to drop their emissions and use less coal.
Our share of the world’s emissions in 2016 was 1.16 per cent. In 2018 that had dropped to 1.08 per cent; China’s in 2018 was 29.34 per cent. China emits more carbon dioxide in 16 days than Australia does in a year. China emits more carbon emissions than the OECD combined – that’s 38 countries including the US, most of Europe, the UK, Canada, Australia and NZ.
The only country who can make a difference and save the world is China and unless China cuts back on its coal fired power stations, which appears unlikely, and assuming the IPCC report is correct, even if Australia ceased to exist and emitted zero per cent, come 2030 it will be all too late. All the world can then do is adjust and live with climate change.
Funnily enough, although Indonesia and Russia produce more coal than us, our coal is the cleanest in the world and only emits 50 per cent of the emissions other countries’ coal does. If the world bought more Australian coal, emissions would come down big time as a result.
Next week, I will suggest what we as a nation need to do.
With Bill Stefaniak AM, former MLA (1995-2008)
Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Canberra Daily.
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