Extracts from the Nov-Dec 2002 edition of Renew
These extracts only represent about 25% of it

12. Action & reaction on Climate Change

Patchy EU progress

The EU ratified the Kyoto accord in May. The Accord calls for the EU to cut emissions by 8% from 1990 level by 2008-2012, but there is clearly some way to go. According to the European Environment Agency the EU’s emissions of greenhouse gases was 3.5% lower than in 1990, but slightly higher than in 1999.

The UK’s CO2 output rose 1.2 % in 2000, chiefly due to a switch back to coal fired plants, although it was still 7.0 % down on 1990 levels. The aim is to get them down by 20% by 2010. Spain was the worst performer. Its emissions in 2000 were up 33.7 % on 1990 levels. Germany was the best performer, with emissions reduced by 19.1%, near to the 21% reduction it agreed as part of the "burden sharing" by which more developed EU countries accepted a larger cut than poorer ones. More info at: http://www.eea.eu.int/

New EU energy policy

The European Commission has unveiled its new energy policy, following 15 months of extensive consultations on the EU Green Paper regarding the future of security of energy supply. The new policy emphasizes reduced consumption and more support for renewables but suggests that since this will not fill the energy gap increased nuclear capacity will be necessary. But this view may still not prevail, not least since the parallel policy of market liberalisation, which, in its NETA form in the UK, is making it hard for renewables to prosper, may also make it hard for nuclear to prosper.

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USA Cools it

The Bush administration has admitted that global warming and climate change are real, but seems to be saying that the main response will have to be to adapt to it. The US Climate Action report, released in June, via the EPA’s website (www.epa.gov), argues that no matter what is done to cut emissions in the future, nothing can be done about the environmental consequences of gases already emitted and that ‘adapting to changing climate is inevitable. The question is whether we adapt poorly or well’.

Perhaps that explains the US governments recent decision to change the requirement proposed under the Clinton administration that air conditioners and heat pumps should use 30% less energy. The Bush administration has reduced the target to 20%, on the argument that overly tough requirements would impose too much of a burden on low-income families. Maybe that will help them cope with climate change, but it will hardly help to reduce climate change, and in the end, that may hurt them more. It’s really a matter of time scales. If climate patterns change as rapidly as some think they will, then the costs of trying to adapt will hit home quite quickly - leaving less time to prepare or react.

New Zealand Carbon Tax

New Zealand ratified the Kyoto accord in August, and plans to use a carbon tax, as part of its efforts to meet its greenhouse gas reduction targets under the treaty.

The tax, which will be capped at around $11/tonne, with some sectors being exempt, is to go into effect in 2007, but has attracted criticism form the business sector, who have pointed out that the United States and Australia, key trading partners, have not ratified the Kyoto Protocol. But then Japan has...

China cuts VAT on Wind

At WSSD, China indicated that they would be ratifying the Kyoto accord. Meanwhile it is cutting the value-added tax levied on wind generated electricity by half to encourage the development of the industry. According to the State Economic and Trade Commission China has the worlds largest wind energy resource, but its exploitation had been hindered by the cost.

Australia-green jobs spurned

Australia has not ratified the Kyoto Accord, with Australian Prime Minister John Howard commenting "For us to ratify the Protocol would cost us jobs and damage our industry". But this is increasingly been seen as foolhardy by those involved with green energy technologies. Australia could reap significant job and investment opportunities by increasing the uptake of clean renewable energy, according to a new report launched last March at EcoGeneration 2002, the Australian EcoGeneration Association’s (AEA) national conference. The report examines six case studies of renewable and traditional power stations and compares the estimated local jobs and investments they deliver. "This report is consistent with overseas experience that renewable energy provides significantly more local employment and investment benefits than traditional greenhouse intensive power stations", said AEA President Andrew Stock.

The report is the first stage of a more comprehensive analysis of job creation and investment potential of various renewable energy sectors. The case studies examined show that some types of renewable energy projects delivered as much as five times as many jobs per unit of power and twice as much local investment as conventional large-scale generation projects.

Stock added "The Federal Government needs to raise the level of renewable energy electricity retailers must purchase. The current target of 0.5 % by 2010 is too small. By comparison, the UK and EU have set targets to increase renewable energy's market share by 7 and 5% respectively by 2010. Even President Bush’s plan has major incentives for renewables which surpass Australia’s".

The AEA represents Australia’s sustainable power producers including those using renewable and cogeneration. ‘Jobs and investment potential of renewable energy: Australian case studies’ is available at www.ecogeneration.com.au

A 10% by 2010 target?

In May the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Roundtable told the Council of Australian Governments (CoAG) Energy Market Review that the Australian renewable energy target of a 2% contribution to power needs by 2010 should be increased to 10% by 2010 and 20% by 2020. It pointed out that Federal Government initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions had been overwhelmed by the unpredicted growth in Australian electricity use. "Australia is being left behind compared to renewable energy and greenhouse gas reducing initiatives being undertaken in Europe", Roundtable chairman Peter Rae said.

The Roundtable, is a federation of major renewable and sustainable industry organisations in Australia. It also called for the New South Wales government’s mandatory greenhouse benchmarks for electricity retailers to be adopted nationwide.

Wind power is set to become a significant feature of the Australian electricity market with more than 1,600 megawatts to be introduced by 2005, and Energetech, the Australian wave energy developer, has been given major funding for the commercialization of its novel funneling device by three European investment groups, who have committed to invest US$3.75 million.

Victoria’s state government is spending A$100 m to cut greenhouse emissions by 7% by 2010, including A$30m for the Sustainable Energy Authority.