DEAR News Of The Area,
WHILE I strongly believe that Australia and the world need to act sensibly on climate change, the disappointing reality is that most of the big polluters don’t appear serious about it.
India has given 2070 as its target for reaching net zero.
China has said 2060, while President Trump has recently signed an executive order withdrawing America from the Paris Agreement.
Together these three countries are responsible for 50 percent of the world’s greenhouse gases.
So while the Greens and most of the independent candidates are promising stronger action to reduce the one percent of greenhouse gases that Australia is currently responsible for, we should be aware that this will not solve the world’s climate change threat.
Please also consider a few facts about electricity generation
Currently there are 30 countries in the world using a total of over 400 nuclear reactors to generate electricity. Some politicians say that nuclear power is impractical and too expensive for Australia to consider.
Are we really that backward?
Currently there are probably four countries (Australia, Norway, Uruguay and Portugal) trying to build an electricity grid depending very largely on solar and wind power.
Most countries with high levels of reusables have plenty of hydro generation.
We don’t have much.
By 2034 , nine years from now, Labor plans to close down 90 percent of coal fired power stations (good idea).
We are told that storage batteries will back up the renewables.
Unfortunately the largest battery installations available today, couldn’t keep Newcastle operating for more than an hour.
This energy debate would be laughable, if it wasn’t so serious for Australia’s future.
Regards,
Patrick WALTERS,
Coffs Harbour.
