Australian Conservation Foundation’s Post

Offshore wind has the potential to reshape our energy system while creating new jobs, opportunities and investment in regional communities. Yesterday the Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen MP and Senator Dr. Jess Walsh launched the Gippsland Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA) in Gippsland. Committee for Gippsland and Gippsland Climate Change Network Inc. are leading the Alliance, which provides a local platform for collaborative action to create an offshore wind industry that benefits the region. It brings together community and regional leaders, councils, government agencies, education and training providers and offshore wind licence holders, to work with local communities, maximise job and supplier opportunities, and create a positive legacy. We take our responsibility as an industry leader seriously. As an Alliance member we’ll continue to advocate for the development of Australia’s offshore wind industry and the benefits it will bring to regional communities – starting with Gippsland. We’re looking forward to seeing the Alliance progress as we work towards building a new industry for Australia. #OffshoreWind #Gippsland #community #benefit #Australia #collaboration

The clean energy industry has yet to meet the bar set by existing industries on partnerships and benefit sharing with Australia's Traditional Owners. There is the potential to do so much more and go beyond transactional and cultural relationships; however, rhetoric and business development often drown out real opportunities and progress. Please read this article published in The Guardian over the weekend - and join me in congratulating Kilara Capital and Andrew Thomson in progressing this partnership with the Nari Nari Tribal Council Ltd on the Wilan Wind Farm. Not sure there's anything else like this in Australia - a real and commercial partnership. #firstnations #cleanenergy #Australia

The experience being amassed in South Australia is of epochal significance. It IS the Transition to a new society. Vast reductions in airborne and land pollution from energy production, cheaper power for households now largely independent from often malevolent utility firms, the Greening of manufacturing; all of this is denied as technically impossible, risky and perilous to public safety - the lights might go out at any time - and the stuff of fantasies on the part of tree-huggers like me. It is fantasy no more. It never was fantasy. We will not need fossil fuels, nor plutonium. We can have drinking water available for all; food increasingly produced indoors while releasing land for rewilding projects, and at last, the beginnings of social justice right up to the global level. The Just Transition will be the next great leap forwards.

Duncan Clark, UK and Ireland head of Orsted talked about how the company has pivoted completely from a traditional oil and gas company to become a completely renewable company. This has brought many challenges in new infrastructure development as well as nurturing and training the workforce needed to deliver their new strategy. This involves bringing the communities in which they work along their journey. This involves showing them tangible benefits over the long-term. They have lots of examples of how they are investing in jobs and community benefit funds to upgrade the lifestyles of their stakeholders and regenerate declining communities which is where their facilities are located.  Orsted is a great example of applying the energy transition into action. #weareallgenc #greencareers #sustainabilityleadership #sustainability #climateeducation

Green power for the entire island with Bornholm's Havvind On Bornholm, a group of citizens and small and medium-sized companies want to set up jointly owned wind turbines off the coast, but political stumbling blocks are slowing down the project. They are calling for support for a fast, local and democratic green transition https://lnkd.in/dM8ENmia

GOVERNMENT DOESN'T BUILD ECONOMIES This is what the Federal Labor Government doesn't get. Business builds economies. Capitalism builds economies. Entrepreneurs build economies. The role of Government is to get out of the way and facilitate that growth. The arrogance of picking winners and losers is creeping into Australian politics again. Last time we went through this it cost the Australian economy dearly. Will they never learn????????? #economy #government #politics

As African Energy Week discussions unfold in Cape Town, The Green Connection with the support of Project90By2030 and Extinction Rebellion Cape Town gathered today to demand that African governments halt investment in the oil and gas industry and end fossil fuel partnerships. Africa is at a crossroads in its energy future and now is the time that the continent must redirect its focus from fossil fuel expansion to instead prioritise sustainable, renewable energy sources that ensure both environmental integrity and economic resilience. 

The road to #offshorewind in #Australia. Here are my key takeaways from my recent visits to #Melbourne and #Sydney.   The country has ambitious plans to generate 82% of its power from renewable sources by 2030. To achieve this, the government has set clear goals and initiatives making determinative strides in support of the Australian energy transition. With the now awarded Seabed Feasibility Licences in Gippsland, Victoria, Australia is taking the first tangible steps towards offshore becoming part of Australia's energy mix. With the right stimulus, offshore wind can act as a major contributor in Australia achieving net zero by 2050 by providing affordable green energy close to peak demand centers.   We, at RWE, welcome the regulatory framework and environmental standards offered already and, we look forward to working with State and Federal Governments in securing the strides needed to ensuring a market friendly environment paving the way for the investments required.   We acknowledge and embrace the challenges that will need to be faced head-on, not only securing sustainable offtake, the needed ancillary infrastructure (port and grid upgrades) but also marine spatial planning and least not on social licensing where - let's be honest - conversations about the past will also need to be brought into the equation.   On this potentially thorny topic, I really enjoyed listening to and learning from Sara Rhodes-Ward moderating a great dialogue with Kellie O'Callaghan and Kerryn Ellis on what we as developers should and more importantly shouldn't do and why consulting local experts remains crucial. Additionally, invigorating was the following panel discussion led by Cameron Spence featuring Katherine Brewis, Leigh Kennedy, Laura Macpherson and Paul Johnson, where I must say the work done by Paul and the Team from Southerly Ten is nothing short of impressive.   Following the keynote of local champion Darren McCubbin was no small task. I hope I managed to share some perspective of what was one of the best mornings I've had in a long time listening to and debating the potential of our industry taking off in Gippsland in a manner of inclusion, transparency and collaboration for the benefit of our society in general and for Gippsland, the Latrobe Valley, and for First Nations people specifically.   As a final takeaway, I was impressed and filled with optimism by Hon. Minister Bowen, who at the Clean Energy Council galla dinner, when asked about growing concerns about the energy transition responded:   "The challenge is, and the opportunity is, if a large economy steps back. Do we all step back? Or do we step forward?   We, at RWE are willing and able to step forward and deliver our piece. Last year our group CEO Markus Krebber announced our plan to invest 6 billion AUD into the Australian energy transition. With the right support and commitment, this pledge will now grow even further. Thanks to everyone at #TeamRWE Australia for all your efforts!

Today is the International Day of Climate Action. Community energy, or citizen owned renewable energy projects, can play a key role in decarbonising and democratising our energy system! ☀ One of our grant partners, Friends of the Earth Malta, is working on a scoping study to prepare the ground for Malta's first renewable energy community in the 'People Power Up' project. 💪 As part of their research, they met up with a Renewable Energy Community from the island of Menorca, the COURE energy cooperative, to take inspiration from their experiences and learn valuable lessons for setting up similar initiatives in Malta. Their first initiative is now close to reality, with the first solar panels being installed soon! 🙌 The COURE project is supported by Menorca Preservation, a sister organisation of the Malta Environment Foundation, both part of the global Conservation Collective. 🌍 #MaltaEnvironmentFoundation #FriendsOfTheEarthMalta #Maltaenvironment #Malta #RenewableEnergy #CommunityPower #SustainableFuture #FossilFreeMalta #ClimateChange #ClimateHope #ClimateAction

A insightful report from Institute of Welsh Affairs on ensuring all of Wales benefits from the transition to renewable energy. Sustainable renewable energy has the potential to transform Wales as a sustainable energy-producing nation and see the benefits directly invested into our communities. Having seen the impact of community funds, there is incredible potential for local communities to directly benefit from the duration of energy production. A Wales Wealth Fund could further this, and directly contribute to the wider economy and the benefit of future generations. From an arts sector perspective, I see huge potential for sustainable funding building on the funding already in place which is supporting arts and cultural activity in local communities across Wales https://lnkd.in/e89svZch