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NewsletterApril/May 2009EBA NewsContentsPerspectiveEBA news EBA member news Australia news International news Welcome to new EBA members Diary of events Career opportunities and search PerspectiveVision and strategy still needed President Obama said recently "The nation that leads the world in creating new energy sources will be the nation that leads the 21st century global economy. America can be that nation." Australia could maybe have a crack at it too. But we need a bit more strategy and a few less politically expedient tactics.
EBA newsGreen drive must step up a gear
EBA member newsAECOM integrates brands in Australia, New Zealand
Energetics An independent study by Energetics of Australia's largest energy users has shown that current identified energy savings opportunities within the Federal Government's Energy Efficiency Opportunities (EEO) Program are substantial. The savings opportunities are equivalent to: 4.7 Mt CO2-e per year; or annual emissions produced by nearly 700,000 average residential homes; or annual emissions produced by just over 1 million passenger vehicles. The findings come as COAG meets and commits to strengthened energy efficiency standards for commercial buildings as part of a National Energy Efficiency Strategy. From approximately 215 corporations liable to report under the EEO legislation, Energetics has analysed the first 165 Energy Efficiency Opportunities (EEO) program public reports submitted. Energetics' report found that energy efficiency opportunities are encouraging, but that savings identified fall short of suggested energy efficiency opportunities that have been reported in other Australian and international studies. Contact Meg Wrixon, Public Relations Manager, Energetics Pty Ltd. P: 02 9492 9510 E: meg.wrixon@energetics.com.au Global awards for Queensland water projects Two projects involving leading engineering, sciences and project delivery firm, Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) have been acknowledged at the recent Global Water Awards announced in Zurich. At the Awards, the Gold Coast Desalination Plant, on which SKM was principal designer (as part of the GCD Alliance), was named the Membrane Desalination Plant of the Year, the most impressive technical achievement in the industry. SKM was also involved in obtaining all the environmental approvals and the communications for the project. The GCD Alliance project team included John Holland (construction), Veolia Water (process and operations), Sinclair Knight Merz (principal designer), and Cardno (pipelines). It is the first large-scale desalination plant to be built on Australia's eastern seaboard, and the first facility in the world of this type and scale to treat the backwater flows, bringing clear environmental benefits. Located on a six hectare former landfill site, the facility is supplying 125 megalitres a day of pure drinking water to South East Queensland, one of Australia's worst drought affected regions. The Global Water Awards event, hosted by the International Desalination Association and Global Water Intelligence magazine, recognises outstanding achievements within the international water industry. For further information, contact: Alex Paton, apaton@skm.com.au Ph: +61 2 9928 2476 Australia NewsNew measures for the Carbon Pollution Reduction SchemeThe CPRS will be phased in from 1 July 2011 and a 25 per cent by 2020 emissions reduction target has been put on the table, as part of a package of new measures announced by the Rudd Government. The package includes:
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd formally launched the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute at the inaugural meeting of Institute foundation members in Canberra. The Institute is being established by the Government to accelerate the deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology globally and the sharing of information. It has already received strong and widespread international support with 85 bodies, including 16 national Governments and more than 40 major companies, signing on as foundation members and collaborating participants. The Government has appointed Mr James D. Wolfensohn, Chairman of Wolfensohn & Company, LLC, and Chairman of Citi International Advisory Board, to the position of Chair of the Institute's International Advisory Panel. Mr Wolfensohn is the former President of the World Bank and a highly respected member of the international financial community who will bring vast experience, international influence and strategic vision to this role. Read more... Australia's largest solar power system installation to be built in Adelaide Australia's largest solar photovoltaic power system will be designed and installed by an alliance partnership between national building and engineering company, Built Environs and Solar Shop Australia, a national provider of grid connect solar systems. The 1MegaWatt (MW) rooftop solar system will be installed over six separate buildings at the Adelaide Showgrounds and is approximately two and a half times the size of the Singleton Solar Power Station in NSW, which surprisingly has remained Australia's largest solar system for the last 11 years." www.solarshop.com.au 27,000 jobs in 'regreening' offices Thomson Reuters. 4.5.09. Thousands of construction jobs could be created by "regreening" old office blocks across Australia, a consultant has told the Green Building Council of Aust (GBCA). Refurbishing office stock could create10,000 jobs in the construction sector alone, consultant Davis Langdon estimated in a report for the council. That would translate to around 27,000 new jobs across the broader economy, he said. Australia's construction industry, could also be saved from an "ominous future", Langton said. The industry was facing a -37% contraction this year with a loss of 75,000 jobs, "and as much as -48% in 2010, with a worsening outlook looking ahead" regardless of the Fed Govt's spending efforts, Langton's report said. GBCA chief exec Romilly Madew said the industry employed around 9% of the national labour force so "any fluctuation in the construction sector has a significant impact across the broader Australian economy". Peter Cullen Water and Environment Trust Minister for Climate Change, Senator Penny Wong announced on 13 March Australian Government funding of 1 million dollars for the Peter Cullen Water and Environment Trust "in memory of a great Australian who made an enormous contribution to water policy in this country". The Trust has been established to create an enduring legacy commensurate with Peter Cullen's contribution to freshwater ecology, to science communication and to water research, policy and management in Australia. Peter Cullen was also a prominent member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists. DESERTEC-Australia: solar and geothermal cheaper than coal and nuclear The average Australian household could pay up to 30% more per year by 2025 for electricity generated from coal and nuclear power than from concentrating solar and hot dry rock geothermal power, according to DESERTEC-Australia. "Concentrating solar power costs are falling rapidly. Geothermal costs are already low," says Roger Taylor, a researcher for DESERTEC-Australia. "Together or alone, solar and geothermal are better, more proven long-term deals for Australian consumers than 'clean' coal or 'next-generation' nuclear." The reason is differing 'rates of change' in prices. The price of hot dry rock and concentrating solar energy is falling rapidly due to innovation. The price of carbon capture and nuclear is not falling as rapidly -- and is not expected to in the future. Over time, the impact of these compounded differentials in rates of change will be dramatic. "Solar thermal technology will be on the ground and operating, certainly in the United States and many other countries, long before so-called clean coal and nuclear power." Mark Diesendorf, University of New South Wales. For more information contact Roger Taylor rtaylor@desertec-australia.org Power-up for clean technology 1 April 2009. Australia is switched on but no longer leading the way, argues John Dyson, investment principal at Starfish Ventures, in an Opinion piece in The Age Amid the gathering clouds of the global economic storm, clean technology innovation can offer Australia a ray of hope. Clean technology is more than energy solutions for a polluted planet. It is promoting innovation in all industry sectors, from water preservation and quality to housing, food supply and security. Australia was behind the first wave of clean energy innovations now powering the world. Twenty years ago, solar photovoltaic cell technology left for Spain. Shortly after, evacuated tube technology went to China. Then evacuated glazing technology went to Japan. In 2001, Dr Shi and his solar cells developed at the University of NSW went to China — and his company Suntech is now the world's biggest producer of solar panels. In 2002, crystalline glass technology went to Germany. In 2007, the solar thermal compact linear Fresnel reflector from the University of NSW went to the US. If we can develop the next wave of clean technology industries, we will be rewarded with hundreds of thousands of green infrastructure and manufacturing jobs, export industries, and investment and re-investment in Australian science and entrepreneurs... Read Article Smart electricity meter roll-out set to start for one million electricity customers The program to roll-out new smart electricity meters for 2.5 million Victorian households and small businesses was launched by Energy and Resources Minister Peter Batchelor. "Electricity distributors Jemena and United Energy Distribution (UED) are among the first to start the roll-out of the new smart meter infrastructure to their more than one million customers. The new meters provide several key features including the ability to: read meters remotely; automatically notify distributors if loss of supply is detected, helping to speed up supply restoration; remotely connect and disconnect electricity supply; and customers to receive accurate readings on their electricity use at 30 minute intervals, making it easier for customers to monitor energy consumption and cost. Biochar a reality for Australia's home gardeners Scientists all over the world are talking about the amazing potential of Biochar to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions while increasing crop productivity. Australian of the Year for 2007, Professor Tim Flannery, has said, "Biochar may represent the single most important initiative for humanity's environmental future. The biochar approach provides a uniquely powerful solution, for it allows us to address food security, the fuel crisis, and the climate problem, and all in an immensely practical manner. ..." Soon, for the first time, the average Australian home gardener will be able to try biochar at home thanks to Dirk Hill of Gansel Australia Pty Ltd and the company's new Outback Biochar soil conditioner. visit www.outbackbiochar.com Creating a safe deposit box for carbon Redd Forests Pty Ltd, the Australian based forestry carbon developer has submitted its first project to the Climate Community and Biodiversity Standards for approval. The Project Design Document is available on the CCBS website for public review and comment. The project, called Creating a Safe Deposit Box for Carbon, is a world's first in that it seeks to prove the commercial viability , in the developed world, of utilising the carbon market to generate a viable alternative income for landowners who have traditionally been remunerated for logging their land. This first project is in Tasmania and generates 179,000 credits plus an annual accretion from sequestration using a project-based Improved Forestry Management methodology on 860 hectares of old growth and native forest that has been selectively logged for the past 100+ years. Redd Forests will sell the credits in the international marketplace having acquired the logging rights to the land for a 25 year period. Redd Forests will use the success of this pilot project to replicate it across much larger tracts of land in Tasmania, other parts of Australia and then abroad. www.reddforests.com International NewsUS environment agency deems CO2 a health risk Welcome to new EBA membersDeutsche Bank AGDeutsche Bank is a leading global investment bank with a strong and profitable private clients franchise. Its businesses are mutually reinforcing. 80,456 employees in 72 countries. Unparalleled financial services throughout the world. A leader in Germany and Europe, the bank is powerful and growing in North America, Asia and key emerging markets. www.db.com Carbon Training International Carbon Training International is a professional carbon management training organisation led by some of the best climate change and carbon risk management specialists and instructors in Australia. Through facilitated workshops, accredited courses and coaching programs, CTI enables organisations to mitigate the risks and seize the opportunities of a low carbon economy. CTI - building carbon responsive workforces. www.carbontraininginternational.com Green Collar Consulting Solutions GreenCollar Group brings together a global network of entrepreneurial spirit and environmental consciousness. GreenCollar operates in two key areas within the Asia Pacific market: as a leading executive search and recruitment firm in the emerging "green collar" sector (GreenCollar Talent) and as an advisory consulting firm focused on climate change and carbon management strategy (GreenCollar Climate Solutions). Our team members have expertise in sourcing and securing permanent, temporary and contract staff in the following sectors: Carbon trading, project development, CDM/JI projects; Executive management and senior finance; Policy development, advisory and communications; Renewable energy, technical and functional engineering and design; Environmental, EIA and sustainability; Technology (trading platforms, analytical services, software design and deployment, etc); Risk management, audit and compliance; Scientific research and development; Business development, marketing and sales. www.greencollargroup.com.au Korea Business Centre (KOTRA) Korea Business Centre Sydney, an overseas branch of Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), has been committed to promoting mutual prosperity between Korea and Australia by facilitating international commerce and investment since its foundation in 1968. The Internet has redefined the concept of national borders, accelerating the integration of the global market. The free flow of goods, capital and labor among countries is driving the fierce global competition that presents enormous opportunities as well as great threats. Today, it is such intangible values as human knowledge and creativity that count most, and it is in these areas that Koreans have immense potential. In meeting these changes in the global economic environment, KBC Sydney stands ready to help our Korean and Australian customers overcome the challenges. Our worldwide network combined with our Internet homepage enables current and prospective business partners to be in close contact with us 24 hours a day, seven days a week. www.kotrasydney.org.au Intelligent Pathways Intelligent Pathways is an Australian owned IT company specialising in internet-based software and support services. Intelligent Pathways uses its extensive project experience to design and deliver enterprise solutions with immediate, measurable and tangible results. Included in Intelligent Pathways extensive portfolio of off the shelf software solutions is 'Carbon Insight', an emissions and energy management tool which guides users through the complex process of emissions monitoring and reporting. Carbon Insight is a simplified data management solution for both consultants and managers responsible for business and environmental reporting. www.intelligentpathways.com.au MBD Energy limited MBD Biodiesel Limited ("MBD") was established in 2006 with private funds. MBD was created to develop sustainable green alternatives to fossil fuels by producing biodiesel for transport and industry use as a partial or full replacement of fossil diesel. MBD is in the process of building a vertically integrated biodiesel company based on algal oil as feedstock. The by-product algal cake will provide a protein rich meal similar to soy meal to livestock and aquaculture. MBD is developing an algae feedstock based on the key ingredients of waste CO2, derived from gas or coal fired power stations and, where available, nutrient enriched surplus waste water. As a consequence MBD would not be reliant on traditional feedstocks derived from vegetable oils and grains that require large areas of farmland and significant volumes of water in order to sustain them. This approach has the potential to provide a viable approach to coal flue gas sequestration (the removal of carbon from the energy system) by actively providing a cycle for carbon to be reintroduced or re-absorbed) into the energy cycle. The project has the potential to significantly mitigate the climate change potential presented today by Australia's power stations. In addition the biodiesel produced will substantially augment Australia's current diesel consumption of circa 15 billion litres per annum. www.mbdenergy.com Soil Carbon (Australia) Pty Ltd THE PROBLEM: An increase in carbon dioxide levels in the air, contributing to global warming. THE SIMPLE SOLUTION: Put the carbon back in the earth where it belongs. Degraded soils can store up to 5 times more organic carbon in their surface layers than they currently hold if the soil management approach changes. Through the application of these types of management methods, Soil Carbon Australia can make an impact on global warming. THE NATURAL SOLUTION: Carbon is naturally sequestered in topsoil via biological processes surrounding actively growing roots of pasture grasses and cereals. Encouraging these processes is cheap, efficient, and ecologically beneficial. THE ACHIEVABLE SOLUTION: Soil carbon levels can be increased by adopting forms of carbon farming, including time-controlled grazing management, pasture cropping and biologically beneficial farming practices. www.soilcarbon.com.au Diary of EventsChina Green Business Summit 2009, Beijing 13-15 May. A focus on CDM and Water. See www.cfeci.com/cgbs2009Sustainability and Business Growth Summit, Darling Harbour, Sydney, 22-23 May. See www.chillimarketing.com.au World Business Summit on Climate Change - 24-26 May 2009. Copenhagen. www.copenhagenclimatecouncil.com/world-business-summit.html Queensland Environmental Law Association Conference, 27-29 May 2009, Gold Coast. email info@qela.com.au 2009 Country Energy Primex, 11-13 June, Casino, NSW www.primex.net.au Climate and Clean Energy Week, Manila, 15-19 June 2009. Including 4th Asia Clean Energy Forum 2009, Asian Development Bank, preceded by a High-Level Dialogue on Climate Change in Asia Pacific. register online - http://mms.adb.org:8000/form/event.php?id=22 Green Building/Green Cities Expo, in conjunction with the China Ministry of Construction's 14th Annual Trade Show and Conference - 18-20 June 2009, Beijing International Exhibition Center. Email info@ecoexpo.com or see www.ecoexpo.com Carbon Markets Asia. Kuala Lumpur 23-24 June 2009. The 5th annual Carbon Markets Asia. www.greenpowerconferences.com/carbonmarkets/carbonmarkets_asia09.html Wind Power Asia - 8-10 July 2009. Beijing, China www.windpowerasia.com Clean Energy Expo China - 8-10 July 2009. Beijing, China www.cleanenergyexpochina.com The Financial Review Cutting Carbon Conference 2009: Managing business into a cleaner economy. 23 July 2009, Hilton on the Park Hotel, Melbourne. www.afr.com EBA Forum - Wednesday 29 July, Sydney or Brisbane EBA Forum - Wednesday 19 August, Sydney Clean Energy Expo Asia, 16-18 September 2009, SUNTEC Singapore - www.cleanenergyexpoasia.com - in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore (SEAS). 12th International Riversymposium, 21-24 September 2009. www.riversymposium.com Climate Change Adaptation Information Sharing Forum, 22 September 2009, Canberra. Call for presentations open until 30 June 2009. Email admin@securityresearch.org.au, www.homelandsecurity.org.au/files/Events/Climate_change_adaptation_forum.pdf EBA Forum. Wednesday 23 September, Melbourne. EBA Forum. Wednesday 21 October, Sydney. CARBON MARKET EXPO AUSTRALASIA 2009, 26-28 October (TBC), Gold Coast, Queensland co-sponsored by EBA. CSR Asia Summit 2009. Kuala Lumpur 27-28 October 2009. www.csr-asia.com EBA Annual General Meeting, Wednesday 4 November, Sydney. Global Eco Asia Pacific Tourism Conference, 9-11 November 2009. Alice Springs. UNFCCC, Conference of the Parties COP 15, Copenhagen. 7-18 December 2009. PerspectiveVision and strategy still neededBy Fiona Wain, CEO, Environment Business Australia President Obama said recently "The nation that leads the world in creating new energy sources will be the nation that leads the 21st century global economy. America can be that nation." Australia could maybe have a crack at it too. But we need a bit more strategy and a few less politically expedient tactics. The revised CPRS announced by Prime Minister Rudd goes some way towards this. High on the positive side, emissions cuts of 25% by 2020 (seen as the barest minimum necessary by climate scientists, environmentalists and green industry) are finally back on the table, a move that is strongly supported by Environment Business Australia. But this 25% is conditional on the world moving to a trajectory that will reduce atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations to below 450 parts per million (ppm) CO2-e by 2050. Concentrations are already above 455 ppm CO2-e. Australia may have regained some credibility going into international negotiations by setting an aspirational 25% target that will support the Obama administration's new approach. But our 'conditionality' does not match the UK's goal of 34% cuts by 2020. This is not quite the level of vision and leadership that will help make the transition to a low carbon economy and in the process build new markets, new industries and new jobs. Critically, the developing world, led by China and India, may not see it as sufficiently bold or committed to bring them closer to the negotiating table. Of immediate concern is that the CPRS package seriously underplays the fundamental issue of flows and stocks of greenhouse gases - the next two years are pivotal to reducing both speed of emissions and atmospheric concentrations. Trying to play catch-up by doing more later will be like trying to tell a drowning man with lungs full of water to put his snorkel mask back on. Realistically, there is now a three year delay before Australia's unconditional target of 5% cuts in greenhouse gas emissions kick in. This is because of the fixed price of $10 from 2011 to 2012 (carbon is trading international above that rate in spite of the global financial crisis). While some short-term comfort may be given to energy intensive and trade exposed businesses, the major problem with the original and the revised CPRS is the lack of connection between the target and the commercial mechanisms to deliver the outcomes needed. Banks and major fund managers who may be considering investment in major carbon reduction infrastructure projects are just not excited. It is not so much 'certainty' that they are looking for as confidence that their risk exposure will be matched with real commercial upside. There are huge opportunities in transition. An analysis commissioned by the British Government says that the global low carbon and environmental goods and services sector is a $Aus 6 trillion industry (2007-2008 figures) with the Australian market worth approximately $60 billion. Imagine - by 2030, as well as having baseload electricity provided by renewable energy, Australia could be a regional hub for minerals processing and manufacturing with 'mega clean energy plants' fuelled by geothermal, solar thermal, marine and wind energy. It's happening elsewhere - for example geothermal energy in Iceland is attracting major investment for aluminium smelting. The Renewable Energy Target of 20% by 2020, highlighted by the Prime Minister, is important but will need to be extended if we are to make full use of Australian ingenuity to bring our immense sources of renewable energy to commercial scale infrastructure. Another area where Australia could contribute significantly to a low carbon future is by drawing down and sequestering 'legacy' atmospheric carbon via crops, grasses, forestry and native vegetation as well as improved rangeland management. This would help replenish our degraded soils - improving food production at the same time as giving farming communities a positive stake in carbon trading. Still largely untapped is Australia's ability to recycle materials, embodied energy, food waste and carbon emissions. Projects to capture greenhouse gases at source (from coal fired power stations for example) could, via algae synthesis, produce clean energy, fuel, animal feed and soil fertiliser. Unfortunately the CPRS is still prescriptive about carbon capture and geological storage (CCS) which has been given the research funding 'tick of approval' while biological sequestration is deemed non-compliant. This may turn out to be a 'picking losers' approach as we do not yet know whether CCS can be brought to sufficient scale in time, at comparative cost and safely. This is not to suggest that CCS shouldn't be trialled, of course it should, but it should not be given priority over other scalable approaches. The new energy efficiency initiatives take us in the right direction but they are not adequate to fill the gap created by the 12 month delay and price cap. The Carbon Trust is an excellent program for households but a vehicle is needed to harness the efficiency and productivity gains available from industry, transportation and the built environment. There are immense GHG and cost savings that could be made with an energy efficiency catalyst investment of $1 billion for the top 2,500 companies and making free permits conditional on a company implementing all their potential energy savings projects that have a 4 years or less payback period. Structural adjustment rather than 'compensation' should be the policy objective. These commercially viable abatement and mitigation solutions can be fast-tracked alongside the CPRS - we do not have to lock in an 'either/or' approach. What is vital is that we use the next 3 years to drive innovation deployment and business transformation. Rather than taking sides 'for or against' the CPRS, a better approach would be to develop a complementary transition strategy with a broad portfolio of policy levers. So, Prime Minister, let's be brave and tackle together the two major problems we face. After all, climate change and the global financial crisis have similar root causes. Globally we have ignored 'value' and embraced perverse subsidies, short-term interests and greed which have inflicted massive collateral damage on our 'commons'. Artificially deflated prices for fundamentals like energy and water need to be corrected and tomorrow's solutions must not be constrained by yesterday's imperatives. In the words of Andrew Simms, author of Ecological Debt, "Economics becomes redundant if it can rationalise an exchange that sells the future of mankind." We can do better. Yes we can. Disclaimer: This newsletter is only for general information and is not to be taken as a substitute for specific advice. We accept no responsibility for any person who acts on the contents of this newsletter. |
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