Category Archives: Climate, Environment, Water

“Environmental Outlook to 2050: The Consequences of Inaction.” That doesn’t sound much like a cry from the heart, especially considering that it’s published by the OECD, but that’s what it is. It’s the title of a recent report that looks at the world of 2050 if current trends in population and economic growth continue and the world does not adopt more ambitious green policies.

The True Green Energy

The report looks at four major concerns: climate change, biodiversity, water and the health impacts of environmental pollution. Taken together, they mean shortages of water, land, food, and a decent life.  You can find summaries of the findings on Climate Spectator and in this article by Fairfax journalist Ross Gittins. In Gittins’ words:

With no policy change, continued degradation and erosion of natural environmental capital could be expected, ‘with the risk of irreversible changes that could endanger two centuries of rising living standards’.

The problems are enormous and complicated, but in an odd way that’s good news: complicated problems have many solutions. Business as usual in 2050 could be very different from business as usual in 2012. We can still avoid the grim future that the OECD foresees.

“As countries struggle with the immediate challenges of stretched public finances and high unemployment, they must not neglect the longer term. Action needs to be taken now to prevent irreversible damage to the environment.

“Greener sources of growth can help governments today as they tackle these pressing challenges. Greening agriculture, water and energy supply and manufacturing will be critical by 2050 to meet the needs of over 9 billion people.” said OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría.

We know that one solution in Australia is clean energy generation on large and small scales. That means large scale generators like a 20MW solar thermal power plant and small generators like the PV solar panels on many Highlands roofs. It also includes regional generators, owned by their communities and generating income as well as power, like the Hepburn Wind co-op in Victoria.

You can be part of the solution. Contact CANWin to join one of the working groups from CANWin’s Clean Energy Future for Wingecarribee workshop in 2011.