Jon Anstey

After decades on the rise, climbing out of niche obscurity, and often ridicule from the old #fossilfuel energy establishment, the #cleanenergy movement has arrived! It’s quite a momentous powershift for #auspol, but the old guard of #coal and #gas still has power and fights on, and #nuclearpower is trying to crash the party. A #renewables led #energytransition is well and truly underway, but it’s still fragile and vulnerable to #misinformation and #disinformation, as I write in The Fifth Estate

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⚡️An Australian Made Energy Transition 💡From #agrivoltaics to #synbio, the Future Made in Australia Act could represent a much-needed opportunity for our world-class energy researchers and communities to join forces and create a justice-driven energy transition with our regions at its heart. #energytransition #justtransition #madeinAustralia

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The lack of proper #fauna and #flora studies and inadequate #community #engagement has led to massive opposition against large-scale renewable projects (83% are against these projects in the Have YourSay survey: https://lnkd.in/gp_SCbzC). It should not come as a surprise because altering the #environment and #lifestyle of communities and #FirstNations peoples, and interfering with #nature inevitably triggers backlash. When projects of such magnitude are proposed without thorough consideration of their impact on local #ecosystems and without involving the affected communities in decision-making processes, it disrupts established ways of life. It raises valid concerns about #environmental degradation and loss of #cultural #heritage. This resistance reflects an instinct to protect the #environment and #traditions, especially when they feel their interests and voices are not adequately represented or respected in the planning and implementation of these projects. To address these challenges, The Community Engagement Review led by Andrew Dyer made recommendations including establishing independent rating schemes for #developers, implementing clearer project zoning, and prioritizing genuine community benefit sharing and communication programs, underscoring the crucial role of building trust and integrating community engagement efforts into project development. Coalition for Conservation Inc. Australian Wildlife Conservancy UN Biodiversity The Biodiversity and Climate Change Network (BCCN). United Nations Steven Nowakowski Animals Australia Bush Heritage Australia Landcare Australia American Conservation Coalition Nature Conservation Council NSW Ben Goldsmith

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Unpopular opinion: there's a lot of very important habitat in the path of the 500kv transmission corridor the NSW government is saying has to be constructed between Liddell and western Lake Macquarie to facilitate the Hunter renewable energy zone. So far, promises that exponential deployment of renewable energy in Australia and globally will lead to emissions reductions and avert catastrophic global warming have not come to pass. This means Australian biodiversity may be facing the triple whammy of the accruing extinction debt of the last two centuries, *and* further habitat loss for the new industrial transformation *and* climate change. We need to ask serious questions about what fire we are fuelling with all this centralised energy and over-production, what kind of society we want to live in, and why small communities, ecosystems and wildlife have to keep paying the price for a voracious machine that seems to never slacken pace and not really be satisfying most people anyway?

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Discover how the Federal Budget 2024 is steering climate action in Australia. Learn about the key allocations and initiatives designed to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable practices across industries. See how these changes can impact your business and help shape a greener future. https://bit.ly/4aBCIId #ClimateAction #FederalBudget2024 #Sustainability

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Reflecting on the recent Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Monday #4corners program on wind power and local communities, it's evident that some challenges persist in the renewable energy sector. In 2004, as a renewables and climate campaigner, I conducted a tour of Gippsland with Julie Taylor Mills to understand the opposition to wind projects better. Key insights included: - Issues with poor community consultation processes by some project proponents, impacting developers striving to engage the community effectively. - Communities overwhelmed by numerous projects without the resources to respond and engage for optimal local outcomes. - Financial benefits being unevenly distributed, causing disputes among neighbors. - Concerns over nature impacts, such as the Orange-Bellied Parrot, emphasizing the importance of addressing these issues. - Discussions on amenity, particularly regarding changes to the landscape. - Health concerns raised by a minority. - Influence from anti-wind and anti-climate action groups in conservative communities. Addressing climate, energy, and biodiversity challenges demands a collective effort to create a clean energy future that benefits both local communities and the environment. By implementing dedicated funds for local infrastructure, promoting local employment, adopting co-ownership models, and enhancing regions for tourism and agriculture, we can pave the way for a sustainable future. Strategic planning and best practices are crucial to ensure a clean energy transition that minimises nature impacts and invests in nature restoration. Let's work towards a legacy of pride across local communities by embracing innovation and higher expectations in our journey towards a greener tomorrow. #RenewableEnergy #ClimateAction #CommunityEngagement

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Australia's Future Gas Strategy: Is There A Role For Biogas-to-Grid? https://bit.ly/4bnMU8s While there is overall agreement on the need for phasing out conventional gas to meet emissions reduction targets, the Australian Government's "Future Gas Strategy" recognises its necessity for supplying hard-to-abate sectors such as steel, chemicals, and other selected industries, where current alternatives are not be viable at scale. One aspect of the strategy that I talk about here is that it proposes the use of renewable gases like biomethane as transitional solutions. This approach not only addresses technological limitations and environmental imperatives but also ensures energy system flexibility, facilitating a gradual transition away from fossil fuels while aiming to meet carbon reduction targets effectively. However, the practicality of implementing Biomethane-to-Grid (BtG) hinges on the questions of how much biomethane can be realistically brought online and at what cost. This article explores the opportunity of looking closer at transitional, practical, renewable sources of gas, such as a transition to BtG, that at least partially could fill the demand gap created by the hard-to-abate industries. I have also highlighted a NSW Government Program that is enabling the market for creation of renewable gas credits which needs to be considered as a supporting government policy to enable a reduction in emissions from the gas sector, and that has broader application nationally. Read my article here:

The "Community Engagement Review Report to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy," conducted in December 2023, underscores the necessity of robust community engagement in Australia's transition from coal-fired electricity to renewable energy sources. It outlines the challenges and opportunities for enhancing community involvement, with recommendations for improving engagement outcomes. For Landcare NSW, this report identifies critical challenges working with landholders, highlighting the importance of community participation, the need for effective engagement strategies, and the chance to influence environmental and planning reforms. This aligns with Landcare NSW's commitment to sustainable development and environmental conservation, emphasising its role in advocating for and facilitating sustainable community and farming practices leading to equitable outcomes during this critical transition. https://bit.ly/42oElGy

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The "Community Engagement Review Report to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy," conducted in December 2023, underscores the necessity of robust community engagement in Australia's transition from coal-fired electricity to renewable energy sources. It outlines the challenges and opportunities for enhancing community involvement, with recommendations for improving engagement outcomes. For Landcare NSW, this report identifies critical challenges working with landholders, highlighting the importance of community participation, the need for effective engagement strategies, and the chance to influence environmental and planning reforms. This aligns with Landcare NSW's commitment to sustainable development and environmental conservation, emphasising its role in advocating for and facilitating sustainable community and farming practices leading to equitable outcomes during this critical transition. https://bit.ly/42oElGy

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The "Community Engagement Review Report to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy," conducted in December 2023, underscores the necessity of robust community engagement in Australia's transition from coal-fired electricity to renewable energy sources. It outlines the challenges and opportunities for enhancing community involvement, with recommendations for improving engagement outcomes. For Landcare NSW, this report identifies critical challenges working with landholders, highlighting the importance of community participation, the need for effective engagement strategies, and the chance to influence environmental and planning reforms. This aligns with Landcare NSW's commitment to sustainable development and environmental conservation, emphasising its role in advocating for and facilitating sustainable community and farming practices leading to equitable outcomes during this critical transition. https://bit.ly/42oElGy

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The "Community Engagement Review Report to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy," conducted in December 2023, underscores the necessity of robust community engagement in Australia's transition from coal-fired electricity to renewable energy sources. It outlines the challenges and opportunities for enhancing community involvement, with recommendations for improving engagement outcomes. For Landcare NSW, this report identifies critical challenges working with landholders, highlighting the importance of community participation, the need for effective engagement strategies, and the chance to influence environmental and planning reforms. This aligns with Landcare NSW's commitment to sustainable development and environmental conservation, emphasising its role in advocating for and facilitating sustainable community and farming practices leading to equitable outcomes during this critical transition. https://bit.ly/42oElGy

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The "Community Engagement Review Report to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy," conducted in December 2023, underscores the necessity of robust community engagement in Australia's transition from coal-fired electricity to renewable energy sources. It outlines the challenges and opportunities for enhancing community involvement, with recommendations for improving engagement outcomes. For Landcare NSW, this report identifies critical challenges working with landholders, highlighting the importance of community participation, the need for effective engagement strategies, and the chance to influence environmental and planning reforms. This aligns with Landcare NSW's commitment to sustainable development and environmental conservation, emphasising its role in advocating for and facilitating sustainable community and farming practices leading to equitable outcomes during this critical transition. https://bit.ly/42oElGy

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The "Community Engagement Review Report to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy," conducted in December 2023, underscores the necessity of robust community engagement in Australia's transition from coal-fired electricity to renewable energy sources. It outlines the challenges and opportunities for enhancing community involvement, with recommendations for improving engagement outcomes. For Landcare NSW, this report identifies critical challenges working with landholders, highlighting the importance of community participation, the need for effective engagement strategies, and the chance to influence environmental and planning reforms. This aligns with Landcare NSW's commitment to sustainable development and environmental conservation, emphasising its role in advocating for and facilitating sustainable community and farming practices leading to equitable outcomes during this critical transition. https://bit.ly/42oElGy

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The "Community Engagement Review Report to the Minister for Climate Change and Energy," conducted in December 2023, underscores the necessity of robust community engagement in Australia's transition from coal-fired electricity to renewable energy sources. It outlines the challenges and opportunities for enhancing community involvement, with recommendations for improving engagement outcomes. For Landcare NSW, this report identifies critical challenges working with landholders, highlighting the importance of community participation, the need for effective engagement strategies, and the chance to influence environmental and planning reforms. This aligns with Landcare NSW's commitment to sustainable development and environmental conservation, emphasising its role in advocating for and facilitating sustainable community and farming practices leading to equitable outcomes during this critical transition. https://bit.ly/42oElGy

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