Australian Energy Policy - "A Mistake and a Disaster"

SHARE THE WORLD
SPARE THE PLANET

Australia's government has rejected a clean energy plan that would have forced electricity companies to source a percentage of their power from renewables. The government also said it would scrap incentives and subsidies for wind and solar generators from 2020 to lower costs. Conservation groups say the decision is a huge mistake, warning it signals a damaging shift away from renewables in a country that relies heavily on its abundant coal reserves for power and export revenues.

The plan, known as the National Energy Guarantee (NEG), is notably different to the Clean Energy Target (CET) that was recommended by the country's chief scientist following a landmark review of the energy sector. The CET would have forced power companies to provide a certain percentage of their energy from renewable, low emission sources such as wind and solar to help Australia meet its obligations under the Paris climate change agreement.

The Climate Council, an Australian non-profit, described it as a "disaster for both energy prices and pollution...Any policy that doubles down on old polluting power at the expense of clean energy is a barrier to progress," the organization said.

Mark Wakeham from conservation group Environment Victoria accused the government of rejecting "a clean energy target in favor of a coal energy target." And adding "Australia joins Donald Trump's United States as one of only two major national governments to remove support for investment in renewable energy and redirect it to aging and polluting power stations."

 John Grimes from the Australian Solar Council told ABC that ending subsidies for renewables could cost the sector more than 10,000 jobs.

Many scientists say that the 1.5 degree goal is fast slipping out of reach because of insufficient action by all nations to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The World Socialist Movement has always asserted that capitalist governments would place national interests before the welfare and the well-being of people and the planet.