'Stuck In The Dark Ages': Pacific Island Leader Vents After Australia's Emissions Hit Record High

Fairfax - Nicole Hasham

Desperate Pacific islands at risk of sinking beneath the sea say Australia is "stuck in the Dark Ages" by relying on fossil fuels, in response to alarming data showing this nation's energy emissions have hit record highs.
The outcry from Australia's smallest neighbours comes just weeks after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull visited Samoa and reportedly promised Pacific leaders that he understood "very clearly" the threat of sea level rise to low-lying islands.

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As Fairfax Media reported on Friday, a national audit prepared for The Australia Institute by energy analyst Hugh Saddler shows Australia's emissions from energy combustion reached a record high in the year to June, driven largely by petroleum, and specifically diesel, consumption.
The audit showed the increase in Australia's annual retail diesel emissions in the year to June on its own exceeded the total annual emissions of any Pacific nation.
Tuvalu Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga, whose tiny nine-island nation has become the poster child for the threat of sea-level rise, on Friday vented his frustration at the audit findings.
"While the rest of the world is moving ahead to renewable energy, Australia is stuck in the Dark Ages with its reliance on dirty fossil fuels. This is bad news for the Pacific", he said, adding that Australia's continued mining of coal was "extremely disappointing".
Genevieve Jiva, spokeswoman for the Pacific Islands Climate Action Network, said the findings would prompt Pacific leaders to exert further pressure on Australia at international climate talks in Bonn, Germany, in November. Fiji will chair the talks.
"It isn't the Pacific way to be confrontational, but Australia needs to be told that climate change is destroying our islands and way of life," Ms Jiva said.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Environment and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg.  Photo: Andrew Meares

"This is happening right now and needs action right now. Not in 20 years' time, not after the next Australian election, but right now."
Britain and France will ban the sale of new petrol and diesel-powered cars from 2040, to curb air pollution and emissions and encourage the uptake of electric cars.

A scene in Tuvalu after Cyclone Pam hit in 2015. Photo: Powersmart Solar/Facebook

Strategy.Policy.Research principal Philip Harrington, an expert consultant to federal, state and local governments, said his recent research showed electric fleet cars could be very cost effective but there were few models available for sale in Australia.
"Among the industry stakeholders that we spoke to, it's widely acknowledged that ... there are no incentives for electric vehicles in Australia, whereas almost every other country in the world does [offer incentives]. Therefore electric vehicle manufacturers don't bother to bring them here," he said.

Tuvalu Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga, whose tiny nine-island nation has become the poster child for the threat of sea-level rise, vented his frustration at the audit findings. Pictured: Fualopa motu in Funafuti Conservation Area, Tuvalu.  Photo: Louise Southerden

Mr Harrington, said "bulk purchase initiatives" from fleet car buyers, such as governments and private companies, would create a guaranteed market and "provide enough confidence about sales for the global vehicle industry to be bothered bringing electric cars here".
The audit findings on road transport emissions suggest the electricity sector, where emissions cuts can most easily be made, must shoulder an even greater share of the emissions reduction burden if Australia is to meet its international obligations under the Paris climate deal.

Tuvaluan girls outside church.  Photo: Louise Southerden

Environment and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg said on Friday the government established a ministerial forum on vehicle emissions to consider possible reforms to Australia's fuel efficiency, fuel quality and noxious emissions standards, and "has a strong record of meeting its international emissions reduction commitments".

Links

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