| August 12, 2010 |
| 6:00 pm | to | 8:00 pm |
In the midst of a Federal Election and with the major party leaders equivocating on climate, the Zero Carbon Australia Stationary Energy Plan will be launched at the Sydney Town Hall on Thursday August 12.
Hosted by ABC Stateline NSW presenter, Quentin Dempster, speakers will include:
· Malcolm Turnbull, MP for Wentworth
· Bob Carr, former NSW State Premier
· Scott Ludlam, Greens Senator for WA
· Matthew Wright, Executive Director, Beyond Zero Emissions
· Allan Jones MBE, Chief Development Officer, Energy & Climate Change, City of Sydney
· A technical panel including Keith Lovegrove (Solar Thermal Group Leader, ANU), Lane Crockett (General Manager, Pacific Hydro), and Roger Dargaville (Energy Systems Analyst, Melbourne Energy Institute)
The Zero Carbon Australia Stationary Energy Plan shows that political and social will are the only obstacles standing in the way of a 100 per cent renewable, zero emissions electricity supply system being implemented in Australia and that this can be achieved in a decade.
The Zero Carbon Australia Stationary Energy Plan – a research collaboration between Beyond Zero Emissions and the University of Melbourne Energy Institute – outlines in great detail that cost and variability are not obstacles to achieving zero emissions within ten years; and that the technology required to achieve this goal is already commercially available.
Melbourne Energy Institute Director Professor Mike Sandiford says the plan highlights that political will is the resource most lacking in the energy debate.
“The technology required is already available, and cost is not prohibitive. What is lacking is the political will and social drive to make it happen,” he says.
Beyond Zero Emissions Executive Director and lead author Matthew Wright says the new PM must consider the Zero Carbon Australia report’s findings when developing its climate policy.
“The Gillard government must incorporate findings from the Zero Carbon Australia plan into its climate policy. Our research shows that baseload renewable energy is now available and that Australia can get started building a renewable energy system, right now, today,” says Wright
“Australia needs a nation-building climate change project with the scale and vision of a Snowy Mountains Scheme for the 21st Century. This approach can win the hearts and minds of Australians and put us on track to restore a safe climate. It’s in this country’s DNA and in all the parties’ electoral interests to do so,” says Wright.
The Zero Carbon Australia Stationary Energy Plan (ZCA Plan) will be made publically available at this event and can be downloaded or purchased from the BZE and Melbourne Energy Institute websites, www.beyondzeroemissions.org and www.energy.unimelb.edu.au.
The plan will be launched at a free public seminar incorporating a panel discussion at 6:00-8:00 pm on Thursday August 12 at the Sydney Town Hall, 483 George St.
For more information contact: Emma O’Neill, Media Unit, University of Melbourne on 03 83447220 or 0432758734; Susannah Powell, Melbourne Energy Institute on 8344 3519 or 0422 920 592; and Matthew Wright, Beyond Zero Emissions on 0421 616 733.
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