Tell Ferguson to rethink the Energy White Paper

Martin Ferguson, Minister for Resources and Energy and our local member for Batman released the Draft Energy White Paper on Tuesday this week.

Unfortunately, but perhaps not surprisingly the draft White Paper is a blast from the past, outlining a 'business as usual' future for Australia of continued dependence on coal, gas and uranium, instead of the clean energy future most Australians want.

Mr Ferguson needs to get the message that his constituents are not happy with his unwavering support for the fossil fuel and nuclear industries and consistent bias against renewables.

He already received a clear message from the 'welcome party' put on for him on Tuesday by Darebin and Yarra Climate Action groups - now he needs to hear from us too.

Here's a suggested letter to send to him (Martin.Ferguson.MP@aph.gov.au) TODAY .......

 

Dear Mr Ferguson,

As one of your constituents, I am writing to express my deep disappointment with the Draft Energy White Paper you released this week.

In a year when the Gillard Government has delivered on its long-awaited promise to put a price on carbon and start Australia on the long road towards a cleaner economy, it is incredibly disappointing to see you taking energy policy in the opposite direction.

The White Paper demonstrates a ‘business as usual’ mindset that would see Australia continue its dependence on coal-fired electricity generation and export income from coal and gas, just at a time when the window for Australia to take advantage of expanding opportunities in renewable energy is rapidly closing.  The draft White Paper needs a total rewrite to be consistent with Australia's global pledge to constrain global warming to less than 2 degrees and to give Australia a chance to become internationally competitive in a low carbon economy.

I am also dismayed by the White Paper’s suggestion that its recommendations are consistent with the latest International Energy Agency report.  In fact the IEA report says that if the world continues with business as usual energy production from fossil fuels, by 2017 there will be so much fossil fuel infrastructure built that it will consume the entire carbon budget consistent with a 2 degree outcome right out to 2035 and that any new infrastructure built after 2017 will have to be ZERO emissions.

And yet in a move of breathtaking shortsightedness, the Australian government has announced its intention not to introduce new standards for coal fired power plants, and to remove any requirement for new plants to demonstrate carbon capture and storage readiness.

And finally, the White Paper displays significant bias against renewable energy in its use of inaccurate estimates for solar power generation while failing to address the billions of dollars spent each year on fossil fuel subsidies.  Instead of mapping out a clear path towards a low emissions economy, the draft White Paper makes clear your intention to keep Australia on its backward and risky ‘business as usual’ path of coal, gas and uranium.

We have an incredibly tight window of 5-10 years to turn things around if we are to avoid the catastrophic impacts of runaway climate change and our children are to avoid a future of global food and water shortages, massive sea level rises and international conflict over dwindling resources.

We do not have time for the draft White Paper’s short-sighted response to the complex challenges we face.  This report must be rewritten in the nation's best interest or it will jeopardise the clean energy future that the overwhelming majority of Australians want.

Yours sincerely,