After looking at the Misfortunes of Malcolm, we can now look at another board, this one appointed by the Federal Government, that seems to be getting by with only half hearted protest….
The Climate Change Authority has a long and chequered history.
In 2014, it recommended the government set a 2030 climate target equivalent to a 45-60% cut in emissions below 2005 levels. The Coalition ignored the advice, setting a 26-28% reduction target.
Cox. A ‘win’ for fossil fuels: green groups critical as former Origin Energy boss named chief of climate body. The Guardian 9 April 2021
The Coalition tried to abolish the Authority and failed, so cut funding and staff.
CEO of the Climate Change Authority, Brad Archer, told a senate estimates hearing in February that the Morrison government has not asked the body to undertake any new work and has not been asked to complete any modelling or research into what may be required to transition Australia to a zero net emissions economy.
Mazengarb. Taylor slammed for “stacking gas lobbyists” on Climate Change Authority. RenewEconomy 9 April 2021
However the Federal government recently appointed, as its head, Grant King, well known for being the former CEO of Origin Energy, and a persistent advocate for the methane industry.
Dan Goucher of the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility said:
Under his leadership, Origin forcefully opposed credible climate policy. During his tenure on their boards, the Business Council of Australia and the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA) campaigned to repeal the carbon tax, the only effective policy Australia has ever had to reduce emissions
O’Malley ‘Uniquely unsuited’: Government accused of stacking climate body with fossil interests. Sydney Morning Herald, 9 April 2021
The Australia Institute remarks
King was responsible for initiating Asia Pacific LNG, the largest Queensland coal seam gas LNG project which has resulted in well over 200 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions already, which will rise to well over one billion tonnes over the life of the project
O’Malley ‘Uniquely unsuited’: Government accused of stacking climate body with fossil interests. Sydney Morning Herald, 9 April 2021
King was also on the board of the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA), which has campaigned strongly against climate action, and described itself as “the effective voice of Australia’s upstream oil and gas industry on the issues that matter“. It needs to be said that this body is more radical than the Government as they claim:
Policies should achieve emissions reductions consistent to achieve net zero emissions across the Australian economy by 2050 as part of a contribution to a goal of global net zero emissions by 2050. The Australian Government has the responsibility to set interim targets and for the policy framework that meets them.
APPEA Australia’s cleaner energy future, p2.
In counterposition, the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, told the National Press Club:
Our goal is to reach net zero emissions as soon as possible, and preferably by 2050.
Morrison. Address to the National Press Club, Barton ACT, 1 Feb 2021
Which might be said to mean, as soon as possible as late as possible ?? No interim targets have been mentioned.
Perhaps unsurprisingly the APPEA recommend more gas, and the money consuming fantasy of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).
The Minister for Emissions Reduction, Angus Taylor, described Mr King as:
a thought leader who has already made a significant contribution to the development of Australia’s emissions reduction policy framework
Taylor. Appointments to the Climate Change Authority, Press Release 9 April 2021
Which means, I suppose, that Mr King can be reliably expected to go along with Mr Taylor’s views.
The new board will also include Susie Smith, who was a long serving executive for the gas company Santos (who have large projected and new projects in Australia, one of which has been described as so rich in CO2 that it “looks more like a CO2 emissions factory with an LNG by-product.”) She is also head the Australian Industry Greenhouse Network, which has been heavily pro-fossil fuels, and some members once apparently called themselves the “Greenhouse Mafia“.
King and Smith have previously worked together on the ‘King Review’ which recommended CCS, and that ARENA and the CEFC not to be constrained to supporting only clean energy projects. The Review’s consultations have been described as being “heavily stacked towards representatives of big industrial emitters and the fossil fuel industry.”
Independent MP, Zali Steggall, said:
These new appointments are completely at odds with the Authority’s purpose to give independent advice on climate, science and policy to the Government.
The Morrison Government continues to only listen to vested interests in fossil fuels. We need a truly independent expert Climate Change Commission, as the UK has had since 2008, to advise the Government if we want a chance at achieving net zero by 2050. The Climate Change Authority, as it is currently is now constituted, is not it.
Steggall. MEDIA RELEASE: New appointments by the Morrison Government to the Climate Change Authority miss the mark
It is too early to tell what the media and political reaction will be, and I’ll keep adding as information accumulates, but my bet is that the media will largely leave it alone, or make it a one day wonder. The current most popular headline suggests the pick “ruffles feathers” – which suggests those who are complaining fuss about nothing. I also suspect in the current political climate that the government will see protests by climate concerned people as showing the Government is completely right about the appointments, as opponents have to be completely wrong. They are unlikely to be criticised by the Murdoch Empire, which may be almost all the media Coalition parliamentarians take seriously, so they will be happy. King and Smith do not have the political enemies that Turnbull made, so they will brazen it out, and the government will ignore protests.
This kind of standard neoliberal approach could lead to corruption, which is not corruption for neoliberals, such as taxpayer support for polluting gas, gas pipelines, gas exports, or legal threats against NSW if it decides it does not want the gas it agreed to. They will also encourage wasting more taxpayer funds on CCS, which almost certainly will not achieve its promises. But this will happen anyway, because its not corruption, or vested interest, its just what is called plain business good sense – it supports established business.
However, the news may not all be bad. King is associated with several organisations that want firm targets for 2050, and targets on the way, which is better than what the government wants, which seems to be aspiration alone.
The new members may also encourage a carbon price, which at least is a direct encouragement for people to reduce emissions (yes it has problems but I’ll take what I can get).
We shall see.
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