Act Now and Spread the Word

This week, I attended some of the Sydney Writers festival events, including an evening session in Sydney Town Hall called "You've Been Warned" which was a joint presentation and Q&A by three Authors, Paul Gilding, Naomi Oreskes, and Curt Stager who discussed the issues around climate change and the current political climate where delay and denial are given place.

After the excellent discussions, one of the questions related to what the individual could do to play their part in the changes that are essential and urgent, to at least minimise the impact of a warming planet. The answer that came was good, and pointed to the role that we all have to play in our own communities, but there was no time to elaborate on how.

We all consider these issues when we vote, in choosing what to read, and we listen to others, but that's only part of what we can do. Action is important and that can start anywhere.

We each have a talent, and so that's the first place to start with change. Look at your work, and how that can change. Does you office recycle, or could you suggest lighting improvements? If you are in a trade, how could that change, eg use sustainable paints, or think of your next vehicle in terms of reducing fossil fuel use? Could your factory fit solar panels, or change the hot water system? If you work with others, such as a teacher, or health worker, set an example of how you travel and how you consume.

But most of all, tell others what you are doing and why! Act now, and spread the word. Actions can start small, like turning off devices at night, or taking the bus, or eating less meat. But actions only begin to impact when you tell others, and share what you are doing. A friend recently told me that she only buys wine from her local area, because she knows that it takes so much energy to transport heavy bottles. Each of us can find personal ways to change, and to make a point through individual actions. And speaking about our actions is empowering, and an important part of the process to change the perspective of others in the society.

Global Thinking, Global Citizens

Earlier this month, I presented a talk on Global Thinking, and why Unlearning is the starting point.

The talk referenced the book by Mark Gerzon, Global Citizens, who agues that "our vision of the world is outdated".

We all like to view ourselves as global thinkers, travelling around the planet Earth, aware of other cultures, keeping up to date on what happens in various regions across the world. But no-one has a passport saying “global citizen”. We are all nationals of defined countries, travelling with views of those nations, and thinking in ways that we have learned from our families, our education and faith systems and influenced by our particular domestic politics.

All of us have worldviews that we have created in our minds. These are “simplified narratives” that help us make sense of the world. Our circumstances and education systems teach us to live and think within various borders, such as those defined by Mark Gerzon as “Individual, Tribal, Religious, National, and Corporate”. Mark Gerzon argues that we all live within “a combination of these borders”, and that they prevent us from thinking globally.

Our economic wealth, minerals, food, and water derive from the environment. New economic models that understand that the economy depends on the environment must evolve globally. But first, we will need to pass through an uncomfortable time, an uncertain time, a time of unlearning.

Unlearning opens options. As Jedi Master, Yoda said to Luke Skywalker, who was faced with a task that seemed impossible, “only different in your mind! You must unlearn what you have learned”.

So are you really a global thinker, or are you one who wishes to share their comfortable and non sustainable reality and values, with others?

pic The World ex Flickr by Homies in Heaven

Coal Power revisited

It's easy to dismiss coal fired power production, and to wave a verbal wand to remove it entirely from the planet - but it's not going to happen soon. And "soon" is what we need, so all solutions, including interim and transitional ones, must be on the table.

While we are refining and exploring new ways to power the world, there also needs to be fast and effective solutions for the existing coal fired power industry. Australia has coal - we use it, export it, and profit from it. So it is heartening to see that we also are exploring ways to reduce emissions, and leading this field is the work done by the CO2CRC team in Melbourne who recently reported a breakthrough in CO2 capture.

In late November, I also attended a talk on Capturing Carbon Emissions by USYD Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Dr Deanna D'Alessandro, who is pioneering a method to "sponge" carbon emissions, and this, and other initiatives need to be fast tracked.

Another Australian company, MBD Energy are also working on Carbon Capture, using algae for production of algae oil and algae meal.

We may reach a point one day, when the techniques being developed by researchers in the non-trendy areas are essential to removing the excess greenhouse gases STILL being emitted. I am not a fan of putting all eggs in one basket, so we need to encourage our talented people into a variety of areas - wind, solar, geothermal, marine, cogeneration, energy storage, and also into bioengineering and solutions for managing what we continue to do, and have done with coal.

At the same time, I would advocate for a level playing field, where subsidies on sunset industries are replaced by research grants to help them transition, and provide the continuity of supply that is essential for our societies.

Peak What?

The concept of Peak Oil is now well into mainstream communities, or so I thought. Last night I found myself at a function seated next to a well educated, newly retired IT professional, who seemed to be totally unaware of Peak Oil and its implications.

We are in the era of information, and we debate about how much we are told. Certainly, everyone in the group knew about Wiki-Leaks! But not Peak Oil? The media loves sensation, what's happening day by day, and that fills the news.

So how do we focus the important stuff, like Peak Oil, and how can this topic attract attention and compete with the daily dramas?

The end of the era of low cost oil is changing our way of life. Individually and globally, we need to be aware of this massive social transformation and the impact on us all. Understanding Peak Oil is the first step in adapting, by developing new options for travel and transport, and by re -shaping our many other oil dependant areas such as food production. Important issues are on the horizon but they are not on the front page of most newspapers nor on the evening TV news.

It seems, that many of us are just like the eyes in the rock, locked into seeing only what is put in front of us - with no interest in what is the reality.

PIc by Mary /Sculptures by the Sea 2009 Sydney

Sustainably Mobile in Style

At the Clean Energy Expo Asia, a fair chunk of the exhibition floorspace was dedicated to a "Sustainable Mobility Showcase" - very understated name for some rather interesting vehicles including the Tesla Roadster, which would be a very cool way to be "sustainably mobile".

The Roadster body is a carbon fibre creation and the design sets the bar for other cars to achieve, strength and low weight at the same time. This is a premium fully electric sports vehicle which manages up to about 400km range, depending on how you like to drive - to conserve or impress! But I think it would impress at any speed, and if you need to make a statement, then the Tesla Roadster does that and adds the exclamation mark!

I was delighted to finally see a Roadster in the flesh - and I certainly would like to see more "Sustainably Mobile" Roadsters on our Aussie roads.

Pic by Mary at Clean Energy Expo Asia 2010

Small Door, Opening to Asia Pacific

At the same time as Australia and the US are both facing internal opposition to supporting legislation for more Clean Energy uptake, countries like Singapore have ambitious plans to take up the challenge.

At the recent Clean Energy Expo Asia conference and exhibition held in Singapore, I was impressed with the level of commitment for Singapore to become a hub city for showcasing and promoting renewable energy - and one that addresses the issues of energy security and dependance on oil. The conference was developed in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore (SEAS) and there was emphasis on collaboration with key groups in the Asia Pacific Region to achieve outcomes not just for Singapore but for the whole region.

Ministerial support was evident with Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for the Environment and Resouces at the opening ceremony. Dr Ibrahim spoke about the projected job creation of 7,000 jobs by 2015 for Singapore, and how Singapore is planning to attract companies to become a "living laboratory" for sustainable urban solutions.

Over past few decades, I have observed that Singapore undertakes projects with a high degree of focus and determination, so I for one will be watching with great interest to see how Singapore develops their Clean Energy hub. One Australian company that I spoke to at the exhibition saw Singapore as a stepping stone to the Asian markets, and for Aussie technology this may well be a very welcome door to the important Asian markets.

My pic at Clean Energy Expo Asia exhibition opening 2 Nov 2010

Building a low carbon Sydney

Next Monday evening (25 Oct), in Sydney, there will be special update at the Sydney Town Hall with interviewer Tim Flannery and speaker Allan Jones MBE who will report on the progress made in delivering sustainable systems for energy, water and waste for the city.

With a panel of knowledgable and dedicated specialists and business leaders, this is set to be an enlightening evening. To see booking details CLICK HERE.