UK’s bipartisan climate policies

record 200GW of additional renewable capacity in 2019, the majority solar (115GW) and wind; and more than fossil fuel and nuclear combined. However G20 countries are committing US$151 billion to fossil fuels against US$89 billion to renewables after the pandemic, according to energy policy tracker.org, with China, India, the US, Indonesia, Russia, Mexico and Australia among the culprits.

The Summit also heard from Stefan Schurig, Secretary General, Foundations Platform F20 which comprises 60 philanthropic organisations across globe. “A great challenge lies ahead with the COVID crisis; as a human species we are undergoing a new binary experience that connects us and climate change threatens us with extinction of biodiversity. Our goal is to make us less vulnerable and more resilient. “You need clear trajectories, roadmaps and targets to show leadership and allow investment,” he said, referring Summit listeners to

www.oneearth.uts.edu.au

Sam Kimmins Global Head, RE100 lauded the growth in RE100 membership from the APAC region and the role of Australia’s banks in leading the charge. “People are buying renewables at scale, corporate PPA activity has risen strongly – it makes business sense,” he said.

“In a fair market Australia should be out-competing Europe in renewable electricity, and this presents a huge investment opportunity.”

Kwasi Kwarteng UK Minister for Business, Energy & Clean

Growth stated there was never a more important time to direct investments into clean sectors to accelerate climate adaptation mitigating finance.

In the UK much of the drive comes from the electorate, and coal which today generates just two per cent of the kingdom’s electricity will be phased out by 2024. Offshore wind in UK which was greeted with scepticism 10 years ago is “remarkable and a good case study of what we’ve got right”. Next the rollout of EVs and $3 billion in green homes grants, and from 2030 the brakes are on the sales of petrol-driven cars in the UK.

An ebullient British PM was seen on TV hailing UK’s success in wind power. He was one of the early sceptics (“did not believe wind could blow the skin off rice pudding”) now turned fan.

Reaching across the political divide

If only Australia could duplicate the UK’s spirit of bipartisanship over climate change. It was the UK’s Labour Party that originally proposed the Climate Change Act that later gained the support of the Conservative party, Lord Deben told the Global Smart Energy Summit.

“It became a cross party agreement, and the first thing was to decarbonise electricity supply at a time the UK had almost no renewables, just a small amount of nuclear power but mainly coal and gas. Now renewable Britain’s Lord Deben says we energy is dominant, and the UK must control climate change has pioneered offshore wind,” said the Chairman, UK Committee on Climate Change.

On a more profound note Lord Deben who is variously described as ‘renaissance man, Thatcherite turned green’ added “Climate change is a

Offshore wind energy in the UK and Europe has been widely accepted after initial scepticism

In a fair market Australia should be out-competing Europe in renewable electricity, and this presents a huge investment opportunity.

IMAGE BY ENRIQUELOPEZGARRE FROM PIXABAY