Developments Government missing opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

The announcement that the Government has dropped the Sustainable Biofuels Obligation Bill is not surprising as the Government has consistently looked at the opportunities for greenhouse gas emissions reduction with the wrong lens.

This from the Bio Energy Association. New Zealand is rich in sources of biomass which can produce greater economic and wellbeing opportunities for NZ Inc, including reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

The biomass can be from forestry, wood processing or organic waste.

Brian Cox, Executive Officer of the Bioenergy Association said that “Government looks to what emissions reduction solutions we already have, rather than asking the question - what reduction solutions could we have?

“Our land is our biggest under utilised resource. We should be looking at the opportunities for creating opportunities from wise land use by asking – what greenhouse gas emission reductions could we do? Land owners are looking for improved land use, plus additional income from new products. We can also grow more trees if the demand for bio-based products is there.“

“We also have areas like the East Cape where improved utilisation of what we already grow can provide environmental and economic benefits to local communities, while avoiding the current problems from slash.

“Using the wood to produce transport biofuels or producing new types of wood fuel to replace coal used by large energy users such as Huntley power station, Fonterra or steel and concrete manufacturing. We could could do this if we were serious about assisting the East Cape.”

“Similarly we should be looking at our organic wastes going to landfill and investigating how they can be recycled into renewable gaseous biofuel to replace natural gas.”

Mr Cox said “Wood processing is an example of extracting value from the trees which we grow so well, and fast. Yet traditionally we have failed to look at how we can extract even greater value from those trees, particularly from the forest residues which we leave to rot on the ground, and from the low grade logs we export.”

“We have large areas of land which are not highly productively used, and often erode when storms arrive. Much of this steep or low productive land would be better managed, and produce increased value.”

A new report has, for the first time in Australia, outlined decarbonisation pathways that show it is possible for five of Australia’s most significant heavy industry supply chains to transition to net zero, consistent with global efforts to limit warming to 1.5ºC.

Done in collaboration with companies representing around a fifth of Australia’s industrial emissions and a third of the ASX100 market value, the report finds strong, effective and coordinated action from government, industry and finance is crucial for the net zero transition.

It identifies five objectives to enable heavy industry to transition to net zero emissions consistent with global efforts to limit warming to 1.5ºC. They are for Australia to:

Set a strong, clear, enduring framework with a net zero emissions goal to align industry, finance and government

Transition to the large-scale, cost-competitive, renewable energy system of the future

Accelerate development and demonstration of the emerging technologies needed

Drive deployment of low-carbon solutions, reduce barriers and support investment towards the transition

Develop integrated net zero emissions industrial regions, supply chains and energy network solutions.

The report outlines how over 1.3 million jobs could be created between 2025 and 2050 in the ambitious 1.5°C scenario. Investment by government, industry and investors could support up to 64,000 construction jobs per year from 2025 to 2050, plus an additional 129,000 roles in operations and maintenance between 2025 and 2050.

The ‘Pathways to industrial decarbonisation’ report is the result of a three-year collaboration between some of Australia’s largest companies, as part of the Australian Industry ETI convened by not-for-profits Climateworks Centre and Climate-KIC.

The report was prepared for the Australian Industry ETI by Climateworks and CSIRO, in consultation with industry and research partners.

‘This three-year program has shown that transitioning heavy industries in a carbon intensive economy, like Australia’s, is a challenge that will require a transformational shift in the energy system,’ said Anna Skarbek, CEO, Climateworks Centre, which is based at Monash University.

‘This includes accelerated action on technology and investment, especially in targeted place-based approaches focused on common net zero goals.’ ‘The transition is an investment in modernising Australia’s industrial regions and energy system that, over a 30-year period, equates to roughly A$20.8 billion per year if Australia is to remain on track to limit warming to 1.5ºC.

Around two thirds of this investment is in the energy system and one third in industry technologies, electrification and energy efficiency.

‘To put this into context, it represents a tenth of the export value of the five supply chains in focus for the Australian Industry ETI – approximately A$236 billion each year – and is comparable to investments made through other major efforts,’ said Anna Skarbek.