Think, Plan and Go Commercial

If anyone wonders whether Australia makes a global impact on emissions then they should consider the following, which I obtained from the International Energy Agency’s web site . While these figures reflect the 2006 situation, it is sufficient to show that we as a nation are a major contributor to the emissions generated from coal.

Global Electricity Production from coal/peat (2006) in Twh
China ................. 2,301
United States ...... 2,128
India .................... 508
Germany .............. 302
Japan .................. 299
South Africa.......... 236
Australia ............ 199
Russia ................. 179
Korea .................. 153
United Kingdom ..... 152
Rest of the world. 1,298


We are definitely up there, at number 7 in terms of using coal, which is the oldest of the fossil fuels, and the one which is the most urgent to replace with low emission alternatives.

Last Saturday, I joined the "Walk Against Warming" in Sydney - but maybe we should have a "Think, Plan and Go Commercial against Warming". So I call upon our new energy entrepreneurs, to come up with your ideas to replace coal fired power generation at all levels, and hopefully more useful (if not more artistic!) than this effort which I found on my wanderings.

Inaction or Bravery in Action?

Australia is changing direction, and a leader in that change is Professor Garnaut who has outlined that direction, and he warned about "taking small actions that create an appearance of action, but which do not solve the problem." It reminded me of the second World War - if those who opposed Hitler had not painted the "worst case" scenario, of a future Europe being ruled by a cruel dictator, then who would have bothered to rise to the challenge.

We too, in Australia, and across the world, also need to rise to our challenge and we need to know that there are many possible futures ahead. Our actions today will create those futures. We need to move out of our comfort zones, care for those who will be the most affected, and move with defiant steps to create a future of much lower emissions - and if this means a whole new set of values and way of life, then so be it! The world of 1945 was not the same as that pre-war, and our world too will change. The pain of the challenge will be our badge of honour - let's rise and follow the lead of men like Garnaut.

Picture Garnaut at ANU-1 by davesag ex Flickr