9 May 2007 
 
According to Mark Diesendorf PhD, Senior Lecturer, University of NSW, the Australian Government is not doing enough to combat the issue of climate change.  
 
At a presentation at the Institute of Chartered Accountants Business Forum in Perth, Diesendorf identified that burning of coal is the single largest contributor to global warming. 
 
“Australia, as the world’s biggest per capita emitter of greenhouse gasses has particular responsibilities for reducing emissions,” Diesendorf says.  
 
The Federal Government’s chosen technological ‘solution’ is coal power with capture and burial of carbon dioxide and nuclear power, are not ready to make significant contributions to emissions reductions before 2025.  
 
“The Government would have us believe that this technology is just around the corner, in reality it may not be commercially available for 18-20 years. It is not by any means the magic solution that the government is painting it to be,” Diesendorf says.  
 
The choice between nuclear power and capture and burial of carbon dioxide is a phony choice. The real choice is between dirty technologies which are slow to implement and clean energy systems comprising both fast and slow technologies.” 
 
Diesendorf presents clean energy scenarios based on sustainable energy (a mix of efficient energy use, renewable energy supply and, as a transitional fuel, natural gas).  
 
“In these scenarios, the cheapest technologies – efficient energy use, solar hot water, gas for heat and electricity, wind power and bio energy from the residues of existing crops – can be implemented rapidly before 2020 and can together achieve large early reductions in emissions,” Diesendorf says.  
 
The sustainable energy mix is just as reliable as conventional sources, creates more jobs in Australia and is less expensive than nuclear power and the projected costs of coal with carbon dioxide burial.” 
 
From a societal viewpoint, the economic savings from efficient energy use and demand reduction can pay for most of the additional cost of renewable energy.” 
 
“In order to implement these technologies, new policies must be developed and implemented by all three levels of government,” Diesendorf said.  
 
According to Diesendorf the main barriers are neither technical nor economics, but rather our social institutions and the political power of the big greenhouse gas emitting industries; coal, oil, aluminium, cement and motor vehicles and half the oil industry. 
 
“So far governments have allowed the interests of these industries, which contribute only a small fraction of Australia’s GDP, to dominate those of the major part of the economy. To overcome these barriers, a social movement is needed, involving the majority of businesses, non government organisations, trade unions, public servants, churches, academics and professionals.”