Sustainable future
Yesterday, one of Australia’s most respected environmental scientists, Ian Lowe, emeritus professor of science, technology and society at Griffith University, and President of the Australian Conservation Foundation came to Newcastle to talk about a sustainable future.
He spoke at a forum last night titled Energy for a Sustainable Future held at the University's Conservatorium in the City.
Ian has been a referee for the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change, attended the Geneva and Kyoto conferences of the parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change and was a member of the Australian delegation to the 1999 UNESCO World Conference on Science. Ian Lowe was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2001 for services to science and technology. His contributions have also been recognised by the Prime Minister’s Environment Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement. Ian Lowe gave the ABC’s Boyer Lectures in 1991.
Some key points from Ian's presentation are:
* we are in control of our future - if we want a sustainable future (one that doesn't leave a mess for our children and grandchildren) we need to set goals and work towards them (sounds simple hey?)No sign of the Sydney-appointed Labor candidate at the forum. Climate change - what climate change?
* Ian gave examples from around the world of countries setting targets - Iceland has decided to be fossil fuel free by 2020 and is well on the way of achieving it (now has three-quarters of energy produced from wind)
* Europe and Japan have targets for the number of houses fitted with solar panels - even the US under Bush has a target of 1,000,000 homes fitted with solar panels - does Australia or even NSW have a target? NO!
* Based on government reports and studies it is possible to reduce our greenhouse gas emission by a massive 90% with minimal impact on our economy
* nuclear is not the answer - its can't be brought on line for decades, is way too expensive and there is still no answer to the waste and weapons proliferation issues (two big ones hey?)
