Futures Thinking and Sustainable Development

Africa has shown that it can leapfrog the technology lifecycle in areas such as phone networks and mobile payment systems. I think it can be done with energy as well. Africa has very good potential for decarbonised energy and proven success in areas like geothermal, wind energy, bioenergy, solar and carbon capture. With solar, for example, the technical potential for solar PV could be as high as 6,567 TWh and that of concentrated solar power 4,719 TWh. As you’ll see in the following pages progress is already being made and these projects aren’t just impacting countries in Africa – they are providing lessons that can be shared around the world.

36% renewable energy in the global energy mix is possible, affordable and helps mitigate climate change

The world faces an important energy choice, according to a new reportlaunched by the International Renewable Energy Agency in New York today. “REmap 2030” says that scaling-up renewable energy to 36% of the world’s total final energy consumption by 2030 is possible, affordable and will keep the world on a trajectory consistent with a CO2 level of 450 ppm, the widely accepted threshold to limit global temperature increase to two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by 2100.

The report demonstrates that the investment cost for this global expansion of renewable energy is offset by savings of up to $740 billion per year on costs associated with pollution from fossil fuels.

Media release

The majority of Australians are clearly committed to the retention of the current Renewable Energy Target (RET), according to the federal leader of the Palmer United Party and Member for Fairfax, Clive Palmer.

Mr Palmer said polling conducted by the Solar Citizens Organisation in the southern areas of the Sunshine Coast found 96 per cent of the population questioned were either in support of increasing the RET or keeping it as it is.

He said there is an ever increasing need to see all Australians move towards more cleaner renewable energy sources, while PricewaterhouseCoopers has revealed Australia as the world’s “unexpected champion” in its reduction of emissions for a second year running.

“This is a clear indication that the Abbott government needs to place greater emphasis on the RET and what benefits it will deliver to the Australian people, increased job security, and continued growth with year on year investment from external investors,” Mr Palmer said.

“Senior government figures, including Prime Minister Tony Abbott, reportedly want the target scrapped, saying it has forced up power prices (Sydney Morning Herald 8.8.14). This clear need for change will cause increased levels of uncertainty and will draw investors to retract funding, costing the Australian economy up to $28 billion and 5000 jobs.

“Solar alone is now being used by almost 17 per cent of the total Australian population. This along with set future incentives to establish new solar and wind farms, hydroelectric powers stations will identify Australia as the global leader in renewable energy.”