Peter provides us with a view unsullied by parochial politics

B

elow is a letter to member of the Victorian Climate Action Network (VCAN) from a Peter Reefman, formerly of Portland in Victoria, but who has been working China.

It makes interesting reading as Peter provides a view rarely seen and unpolluted by domestic politics.

Hi all

I've been out of the loop for a while, living and working in the Chinese clean-tech industry here (LED lights focus) for the last 12 months.

China is a pretty good place to look at Australia from. Not just the Abbott climate train-wreck, but also where we place in terms of opportunities, problems, markets, etc - and to compare how Australia is seen compared to say... South Africa, Holland, Mexico, Philippines, USA, Estonia, etc, and of course China.

There's no doubt that Australia is an international village-idiot now on climate and renewables. There's also no doubt that from here at least, there's just so much confusion about Australia. The biggest question from a country like China that really doesn't understand democratic politics is... WHY?! Why would such a beautiful, clean country with so many natural assets, and such a small population - be so determined not to advance pro-actively for even just its own benefit?

I get that from international clients as well.

So before this ramble of mine goes any further, I'll throw some numbers up. Just for Australia compared to China. These are very much ballpark approximations so don't quote me. They are just to get the big picture...

Australian total generating capacity - about 40GW

Chinese total generating capacity - about 1,000GW

Australian target by 2030 - between 20% and 50%, or 8GW to 20GW

Chinese target by 2030 - an extra 1,000GW of renewables, minimum (and maybe double this) - mainly to cope with a HUGE need for a massive fleet of desal plants and pumping infrastructure to provide long term fresh water once the fossil fuel aquifers here are gone - and the rivers shift to seasonal, dry up and/or totally choke. (water security is absolutely the biggest danger facing the next Chinese generation/s).

Of course the rest of the World is progressing at many varying rates too, but I don't have figures off the top of my head. Let's just say that for renewables capacity increase, they are somewhere between the bottom (Australia and a few others), and China.

So - How is Australia able to reduce our own impacts best, while being as productive as possible in a GLOBAL sense? (yes I know, think global, act local... but it seems like we've been missing the first part of that a little too much).

We know we need to stop digging up coal, especially for export. The delusional, frenzied coal export increase aspirations to China (and India), to markets we KNOW will be increasingly shrinking - is clearly It's the craziest thing Australia is doing right now.

And we know we have MASSIVE renewables potential. FAR more than we need internally. So we need to think globally and pragmatically export that energy (instead of coal).

I'm reminded of a conversation I had with a Chinese solar company rep in 2012, who said then "I know your country has a renewable energy target of 20% by 2020, which, given your sun and wind resources - together with your tiny population - is really pretty pathetic. And I know there are environmental groups wanting this to be 100%, which is better. But I want to know - given your situation, why isn't 100% the minimum, and why aren't groups calling this to be something like 300% of what you have now, so that Australia can become a carbon-zero manufacturing hub, similar to what Iceland and Greenland are doing with their hydro and geothermal aluminium production?"

That inspired me then and it still does today, and while I think it's VERY unlikely given Australia's politics, from a "think global" point of view - I really think something like this is how the sunny land downunder can best contribute to global AGW mitigation efforts.

And frankly, Abbott has managed to pull things SO FAR to the anti-action side that opposition policies are also weak (as we know). So just like BZE pretty successfully and credibly raised the bar with their ZCA2020 plan, a response for a pragmatic STRONG policy alternative (that is also an alternative to an ETS) might be something like:

Everything about China
exceeds our imagination

•         Stop Coal. Full stop.

•         Transition coal jobs (and create new ones) to new renewably-powered industries that are focussed on export of high-energy products and materials (Aluminium, cement, etc)

•         Build the renewable energy capacity to go WELL OVER our 40GW to also power these new industries, jobs, etc. Which in turn will also carry Australia to be domestically zero-carbon for energy production.

We still need to look after our own backyard too of course, but by acting global like this, I do think Australia can do globally significant AGW action while also directly benefitting Australian jobs, economy, etc.

Cheers,

Peter Reefman

Shenzhen, Guangdong, China (Formally Portland, Vic, Australia)