Obama sends a shock through Abbott’s energy ideals

It’s probably just as well that Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott is visiting Canada this week. Given Barack Obama’s long awaited delivery of meaningful climate policy, it’s an appropriate time for a meeting of the minds between Abbott and his Canadian counterpart and policy doppelganger, Steve Harper.

abbott harperAbbott has based nearly his entire anti-climate and anti-renewables strategy on what he and his conservative advisors have learned from Canada and Harper. Abbott borrowed the “axe the tax” slogan (used widely in the campaign against a carbon tax in British Colombia), the single-minded promotion of fossil fuels, the tearing down of renewable energy support, the sabotaging of international climate changes talks, the marginalisation of science as an input into government policy making, and the defunding of research.

For a few years – from within the narrow prism of neo-conservative/far right ideology – this seemed like a terrific idea, particularly if you convinced yourself that the climate science was an invention of the left, and that international efforts towards a global treaty could be easily derailed. Or that fossil fuels would remain supreme indefinitely.

This week, though, Abbott and Harper got another reality check in their single-minded goal of digging up all possible fossil fuel resources within their borders.

Obama is finally delivering on his long promised regulation of coal emissions, and is aiming for a 30 per cent cut in power emissions out to 2030 – through a combination of reduced coal output, more renewables and greater energy efficiency. That will not just help in delivering the US target of a 17 per cent cut in emissions by 2020, but also lay the groundwork for meaningful cuts post 2020. This is a crucial element of international negotiations.

Obama’s move comes hot on the heals of China’s move to curb coal consumption and impose regulations that may see it cease to become an importer of thermal coal within a few years. China has also signaled that it will parlay its state-based carbon trading pilot programs into a national scheme by 2018.

As China looks to double the amount of wind capacity, and treble the amount of solar over the next few years, even India’s new government has promised to deliver solar lighting to every house by 2020. They know that is not possible with coal-power, because of the costs and infrastructure involved.

This is the fundamental economic flaw in Abbott’s strategy. Last week he said there was nothing more damaging to Australia than leaving coal in the ground. Asked in parliament on Monday by the Green’s Adam Bandt about whether he was the “Chamberlain or the Churchill” of climate change, Abbott said:

“If we are going to have economic growth – not just in this country but right around the world – it will require energy. It will require energy, and by far the most efficient and effective source of base-load energy is coal.”

Apparently not. As much as moves towards international treaties are more readily derailed, action is more likely to happen on a national or regional basis, and the economics of coal is likely to be its death-knell, rather than its saviour.

Still, on the issue of international talks, this move is significant. As The Climate Institute’s John Connor says, we’re now seeing both the United States and China—the world’s largest economies and its biggest emitters of greenhouse gases – stepping up their efforts to cut carbon pollution.

Nick Mabey, from the TCI’s equivalent in the EU, E3G, agreed: With this announcement Obama has clearly attached his political legacy to delivering domestic action on climate change. These regulations are the environmental equivalent of Obamacare and will stir up similar levels of opposition.”

Indeed, the next stop on Abbott’s tour is to the US, where he will instantly recognise the politics. The centre and the left pointing out the economic and environmental benefits of the policy, and the cost savings to consumers, and the conservative right and incumbent industries wailing about the threats to business models, added costs, and the insidious nature of government interference.

The irony is that just six years ago, the Republicans went to the presidential poll with an even more ambitious plan than Obama’s. Republican candidate Senator John McCain proposed a cap-and-trade plan that sought to reduce emissions by 66 per cent by 2050. Even running mate Sarah Palin signed on to the idea.

The Union for Concerned Scientists said Obama could actually go much farther than he has. The nine north eastern states participating in the (much maligned by the right wing) Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative carbon trading scheme have already cut emissions by about 40 per cent since 2005. They are projected to reach a 50 percent cut by 2020, while benefiting from the investment of millions of dollars in carbon revenues, and hundreds of thousands of new jobs. In Massachusetts alone, the state has created over 80,000 new jobs in clean energy in part because of its investments in energy efficiency and renewables.

Abbott, of course, will remember that the Howard government sought re-election in 2007 with its own cap-and-trade plan. Abbott, himself, endorsed the idea of a price on carbon, although he favoured a tax, rather than a market price. That remained bipartisan policy until Abbott was delivered by the Liberal’s Far Right faction as leader in 2009.

Since then, the conservatives in the US and Australia have been in lockstep on fighting initiatives to address climate, encourage renewables or phase out coal. Abbott would have been impressed with the rhetoric expressed in response to Obama’s initiative.

Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell described the new rules as “a dagger in the heart of the American middle class;” something called the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity said it would spark the next energy crisis. Senator Jim Inhofe, the US equivalent of Australia’s Senator Cory Bernardi (and a frightening number of other Australian Senators) said it was just another green plot, while another right wing group labeled the EPA as a “terrorist” organisation, while others described it as a war against coal.

A war it may be, but probably one that the coal industry has brought upon itself. The best way to reduce coal pollution is to burn less coal. There was, once, an apparent alternative – to develop carbon capture and storage. But the coal industry clearly saw that as little more than a marketing term and now admit it would never work.

That calls for new strategies to defend their patch, to resist the growing “divestment” push, and to trivialise concepts such as the “carbon bubble” and its estimated $30 trillion of at-risk revenues. This story highlights the range of fossil fuel interests and front groups that have been marshalled just to fight renewable energy initiatives in the US. No doubt, then, Abbott will return from north America with fresh instructions and ideas from his conservative brethren of what to do next. They are not about to lie down.

Comments

15 responses to “Obama sends a shock through Abbott’s energy ideals”

  1. Peter D Avatar
    Peter D

    Don’t be silly Giles. The COALition claims it’s taking strong action on climate change and that direct action is following the approach of America, without a carbon price (…sarcasm…). You watch this line be repeated over and over again during political interviews. And they just keep getting away with it….

    1. Alen Avatar
      Alen

      They may be sticking with this illusion of climate action, but I do not believe they are getting away with it. No one with remotely any interest in this topic or knowledge believes this is anything but way-about approach of procrastinating and doing nothing. All he will be doing by emphasising his direct action is clearly stating to the world how run-down and pathetic the political system has gotten in Australia to elect and be led by someone that does not believe or support science, so openly lies to the population, and is more interested in protecting his few mining buddies then the wellbeing and future of the country, or the world for matter.
      All he’ll achieve is embarrassing himself (further) on the international stage and embarrass Australia in the process.

  2. Motorshack Avatar
    Motorshack

    I live in New Hampshire, which is part of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, and we have two good things happening here.

    A) Our electricity already has about half the average carbon intensity in the U.S., 600 pounds per MWH versus 1,200, and dramatically less than really backward coal states like Wyoming.

    B) We also have one of the lowest unemployment rates of any state in the country, and have had for quite some while now.

    So, our experience is the exact opposite of the crap being pushed by idiots like Abbott and Harper. Getting rid of coal is a huge improvement in both environmental and economic terms.

    We’re just wondering how long it will take for voters elsewhere to wise up and boot the stupid bastards out, once and for all.

    1. michael Avatar
      michael

      Are you linking low unemployment with lower intensity power? I’m wondering how that works.
      The implication being that per MWH it takes more man hours to produce, otherwise all things being equal, it would push unemployment up. So is New Hampshire manufacturing solar panels or wind turbines? Or perhaps renewables require more maintenance? (which of course they don’t)

      1. Motorshack Avatar
        Motorshack

        No, not at all. I have no idea of the exact connection, if any.

        My point is rather that Abbott and Harper keep insisting that getting rid of coal will NECESSARILY wreck the economy and the job market.

        New Hampshire (along with quite a few other places) is proof that such is not the case. We are rapidly getting rid of coal, yet our economy continues cranking along better than most.

        In other words, Abbott and Harper are the ones with the logical burden of proof.

        All their opponents have to do is to come up with a few good counter-examples, and their logic will be shown to be totally invalid.

        Again, New Hampshire is clearly one such counter-example.

      2. Pedro Avatar
        Pedro

        Could it be that states with progressive policies that encourage inovation and efficiency measures attract many more entrepreneurial and progressive businesses that leads to more employment.

        1. Miles Harding Avatar
          Miles Harding

          It must be national heresy day 🙂
          Are you suggesting that backwards looking policies that seek to recapture the prosperous 1960s will have the opposite effect?
          King Tony will not be amused!

          1. Pedro Avatar
            Pedro

            I would happily support a race to the moon or Mars crewed by Abbott and his cronies. Budget cuts might mean there is not enough fuel for the return trip.

          2. Alen Avatar
            Alen

            With them onboard, we can only hope there won’t be enough fuel for the return

      3. sean Avatar
        sean

        new development in the commissioning stages of renewable energy – much like the rest of the construction industry

  3. Farmer Dave Avatar
    Farmer Dave

    Jeremy Leggett is right: the incumbency (fossil fuel interests and their running mates) are not going to give up without a fight. I think we will all have to challenge as much of the “climate change is crap” nonsense as we can, as often as we can.
    Abbott and Hunt are still going to contend that Australia is taking “strong and effective” action, to which my favorite response is to ask them for the name of the climate scientist on whose advice they are relying for that description. My theory is that the number of Australians who would want to see policy based on expert advice is greater than the number of Australians with their own view as to what level of response is needed. If that is true, the Government’s greatest weakness is that it is ignoring expert advice.

  4. John J Sarter Avatar
    John J Sarter

    One has to wonder when the fossil fuel industry is going to wake up to all the damage that has and is still occurring. It is very similar to what happened with the Tobacco industry here in the US and globally years back, except in this case it is all life on Earth that is being adversely affected, not just those who are misled into using tobacco!

  5. Dicey DoLittle Avatar
    Dicey DoLittle

    You know, I’d really like to be a fly on the wall when Abbott goes to visit the US this week and meets up with Obama. I would like to be witness to Obama’s face when he realises how much of an idiot Abbott actually is…

  6. Chris Turnbull Avatar
    Chris Turnbull

    I saw his speech before hopping on the plane full of omens about his policies which will not fly. He seemed excited about going to Canada and to Texas. Champing at the bit to mention energy (i.e. carbon tax, coal, climate change crap,…), but holding back after his carbon tax comment during the WWII speech. Hopefully, Texans take him on tours of their big wind farms.

    1. Miles Harding Avatar
      Miles Harding

      Canada will be kind to him, so long as he doesn’t go to Ontario.

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