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US and Australian climate bills: necessary evils

Green Left 9 August 2009
“…………..Renewables are not advantaged by the US bill. Instead, nuclear power generation is expected to grow 150% by 2050 to make up 40% of total US electricity.

While there is a nominal 20% renewable electricity requirement by 2020, the bill reduces the requirement for efficiency gains, new nuclear and carbon capture and storage generation and existing hydropower. This means forecast renewable electricity would amount to 12% of the total in 2020 and reach 20% only by 2030………………………

Very generous concessions are provided to trade-exposed, emission-intensive industries. These are only phased out between 2025 and 2035 or earlier if other countries “take comparable action on climate change”. Local electricity distributors are given a declining volume of free allowances until 2030.

It is striking how little pain the bill inflicts. Household consumption is still expected to have increased by 80% by 2050. Without the bill, household consumption would be only 1% higher……………..

To sum up: the two bills as currently framed propose minimalist short-term actions to meet current political expectations. There is no hint of a change to the “material growth is good” mindset.

Although grand designs are presented for the longer term, the reality is that it is left for future generations to sort things out. Concerned environmentalists should do anything and everything to draw attention to this.

Green Left – US and Australian climate bills: necessary evils

August 10, 2009 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | 1