Melbourne Climate Change Forum

After many years of debate, climate policy has moved squarely into the implementation stage. The next six months are critical in determining what policies will be put in place and how effective they will be in containing global warming. The Melbourne Climate Policy Forum (MCPF) hosted six briefing seminars on key policy issues facing Australia, set in the context of the global decision making process.

Each of the briefings provided an assessment of current knowledge and its implications for the policy issue in question, based in part on the ongoing research activities of the MCPF partners. Following the briefing, a distinguished external discussant reviewed the briefing provided, commented on the policy issue and introduced general discussion.

The MCPF is a joint initiative of Victoria University, through the Centre for Strategic Economic Studies (CSES), and Carbon Market Economics Pty Ltd (CME).

Following the outcomes of the IPCC Copenhagen meeting, a new program will be continued in the new year. If you wish to be added to the MCPF email list, please send a request to margarita.kumnick@vu.edu.au.

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The major developed countries have recently committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050, in the context of an appropriate agreement with developing countries. If such a process were put in train it would signal a fundamental reshaping of economic and technology structures around the world, with quite new patterns of competitiveness and growth.

The three speakers in the last briefing explored how this reshaping of the world economy is likely to play out, and what its implications may be. How well are Australia and Victoria poised to respond, by comparison with countries such as China and the USA?
The titles of their papers were:

• Innovation and the Low Carbon Economy: The Growth Implications (PDF, 164KB)- Prof. Peter Sheehan
• Reducing Emissions from Motor Vehicles (PDF, 340KB) - Dr Kim Sweeny
• Realising Opportunity from Crisis: China’s Response to the Challenge of Climate Change (PDF, 444KB) - Dr Alex English.

Each of the speakers is involved in the Centre’s project with the Energy Research Institute of the Chinese Government, funded by the Australian Government. This joint project is exploring these issues from the viewpoint of China, with the aim of developing concrete policies to be incorporated in China’s 12th Five Year Plan. Their work on this project was part of their presentations at Briefing 6.

Briefing (click on headings for further information)	Date and Time	Presenters	Discussants
1. Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change: The Dynamics of Global Action	Thursday 29 October 5 – 7pm	Professors Roger Jones and Peter Sheehan (CSES)	Erwin Jackson
2. Making Adjustment Payments to Electricity Generators Effective	Thursday 5 November 5 – 7pm	Mr Bruce Mountain (CME)	Ben Skinner and Sally Weller
3. Australia’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme: Can Carbon Markets Deliver?	Thursday 12 November 5 – 7pm	Professor Peter Sheehan (CSES)	Stephen Howes
4. Australia’s Approach to Renewable Electricity Generation	Thursday 19 November 5 – 7pm	Mr Rob Jolly and Mr Bruce Mountain (CME)	Mike Hill
5. The Challenge of Adaptation: Victoria as a Case Study	Thursday 26 November 5 – 7pm	Prof. Roger Jones (CSES)	John Marsden
6. The New Industrial Revolution: Implications for Australia and Victoria	Thursday 3 December 5 – 7pm	Prof. Peter Sheehan ,Dr Kim Sweeny (CSES) and Alex English	-

1. Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change: The Dynamics of Global Action Thursday 29 October, 5-7pm
Prior to Copenhagen there remains much uncertainty on what emissions paths need to be achieved to avoid dangerous climate change and whether such paths are indeed achievable. This is especially so after the global financial crisis and in the light of the offer of the G8 countries to reduce emissions by 80% by 2050. This briefing will explore potential emissions paths for various countries consistent with avoiding dangerous climate change.
Presenters: Professors Roger Jones and Peter Sheehan (CSES)
For notes on this briefing download: Briefing 1:Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change (PDF, 2617KB).

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2. Making Adjustment Payments to Electricity Generators Effective Thursday 5 November, 5-7pm
The current CPRS legislation before the Australian Parliament provides for assistance of over $4 billion to companies involved in coal-fired power generation, on the condition that they retain their current production capability. This briefing will examine ways in which these funds could be provided to generating companies in a framework which provides much greater incentives for pro-active structural change and emissions reductions.
Presenter: Mr Bruce Mountain (CME)
For notes on this briefing download Briefing 2: Making Adjustment Payments to Electricity Generators Effective (PDF, 84KB).

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3. Australia’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme: Can Carbon Markets Deliver? Thursday 12 November, 5-7pm
If Australia adopts stringent emissions reduction targets after the Copenhagen conference, could these be achieved by an emissions trading scheme as currently proposed? Do the limitations of emissions trading mean that it will be unable to achieve large scale reductions in emissions? Should the CPRS be supplemented or amended in some way, either now or after Copenhagen?
Presenters: Professor Peter Sheehan (CSES) and Mr Rob Jolly (CME)
For notes on this briefing download Briefing 3: Australia's Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme - Can Carbon Markets Deliver? (PDF, 138KB).

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4. Australia’s Approach to Renewable Electricity Generation Thursday 19 November, 5-7pm
The Australian Government has set a renewable electricity generation target of 20% for 2020. Is this target likely to be achieved? What impact will the expanded renewable energy target (RET) have on renewable electricity generation in the future? How significant are other federal and state government policies on increasing renewable electricity generation? Should the RET Scheme be modified? Should complementary measures be introduced to encourage increased investment in renewable electricity generation?
Presenters: Mr Rob Jolly and Mr Bruce Mountain (CME)
For notes on this briefing download Briefing 4: Australia's 20% Renewable Energy Target: Objectives and Outcomes (PDF, 296KB).

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5. The Challenge of Adaptation: Victoria as a Case Study Thursday 26 November, 5-7pm
There is now clear evidence that the climate of south east Australia shifted sharply in 1996-98, and rainfall, temperature and other related variables are outside worst case projections. These facts, which will be reviewed in this session, raise key questions about the scale and strategy of adaptation activity in Victoria, and how the science on climate change, impacts and adaptation can be integrated to guide an effective strategic response.
Presenter: Prof. Roger Jones (CSES)
For notes on this briefing download Briefing 5: Jones Challenge of Adaption:Victoria as a Case Study (PDF, 993KB)

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6. The New Industrial Revolution: Implications for Australia and Victoria Thursday 3 December, 5-7pm
If the major developed countries commit to reducing emissions by 80% by 2050, in the context of an appropriate agreement with developing countries, this will signal a fundamental reshaping of economic and technology structures around the world, with quite new patterns of competitiveness and growth. How is this reshaping likely to play out? How well are Australia and Victoria poised to respond, by comparison with countries such as China and the USA?
Presenters: Prof. Peter Sheehan and Dr Kim Sweeny (CSES)
For notes on this briefing download:

• Innovation and the Low Carbon Economy: The Growth Implications (PDF, 164KB)- Prof. Peter Sheehan
• Reducing Emissions from Motor Vehicles (PDF, 340KB) - Dr Kim Sweeny
• Realising Opportunity from Crisis: China’s Response to the Challenge of Climate Change (PDF, 444KB) - Dr Alex English.

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Discussants

29 October 2009

Erwin Jackson, Research and Policy Director, Climate Institute
With nearly 20 years practical experience in climate change policy and research, Erwin has developed and led many national and international programs aimed at reducing greenhouse pollution. He has represented non-governmental groups and advised government and business in national, regional and international fora, including being a non-governmental expert reviewer of the reports of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. He is currently a member of the Victorian Premiers Reference Group on Climate Change. Erwin has written, researched and produced many publications on climate change and energy policy.

5 November 2009

Ben Skinner is Market Development Specialist at AEMO, Australian Energy Market Operator.

Sally Weller is Senior Research Fellow at the CSES, Victoria University. She was lead author of the Centre’s report The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme: Adjustment Strategy for the Latrobe Valley, prepared in early 2009 for the Victorian Department of Treasury and Finance.

Thursday 12 November

Stephen Howes is Professor at the Crawford School of Economics and Government, ANU. From 1994 to 2005 he worked in the World Bank, first in Washington and then in Delhi, where he was Lead Economist for India. From 2005-2008 he was Chief Economist at the Australian Agency for International Development. During 2008 he was a major contributing author to Garnaut Review on Climate Change.

Thursday 19 November

Mike Hill has an extensive background in advocating for local governments and environmental sustainability. Mike is a member of the Environment Protection Advisory Board Victoria and he chairs the Victorian Local Sustainability Advisory Committee, ECO-Buy Ltd, the Moreland Energy Foundation and the Natural Resources and Conservation League. He is a co-Director of WestWyck Pty Ltd, the company creating the WestWyck ecovillage in Brunswick West. Mike was formerly Mayor of Moreland and Brunswick City Councils and Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA).

Thursday 26 November

John Marsden is a public policy economist and lead author of the AGO’s climate risk assessment framework Climate Change Impacts and Risk Management: A Guide for Business and Government. He has expertise on risk decision frameworks and the principles and practice of decision making on optimal (infrastructure) portfolios under uncertainty across Australia, particularly across the Australian water sector. Influential reports include “Securing Australia’s Water Supplies: opportunities and impediments” for the Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet and the PMSEIC report “Water for our Cities, building resilience in a climate of uncertainty" which provided principles for best practice decision making under uncertainty.

Brief Details of Presenters

Roger Jones, a leading Australian climate scientist, was a Coordinating Lead Author of the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report and technical adviser to the Garnaut Review and to the Australian Treasury. Formerly with CSIRO, he is now a Professorial Fellow at the CSES at Victoria University.

Peter Sheehan is Director of the CSES at Victoria University. He was an advisor to the Australian and Victorian Governments and consultant to the Garnaut Review. Much focus of his recent research has been on the implications of industrialisation in developing countries, in the context of rapid technological and structural change, on the future prospects of global warming and climate change.

Kim Sweeny is Principal Projects Officer at the CSES, Victoria University, in Melbourne. He specialises in the strategic analysis, assessment and development of innovation. With previous experience in the assessment of biomass to fuel and new battery technologies, as well as carbon offset opportunities, Kim is currently working on the development of carbon reduction strategies for the automotive industry.

Rob Jolly is a Director of CME and is an environmental economist specializing in the economics of renewable energy, waste management and greenhouse gas reduction. He has worked in the field of environmental economics since 1990, providing advice on policy development, strategic planning and carbon market analysis. Rob was Treasurer of the State of Victoria from 1982 to 1990.

Bruce Mountain is a Director of CME, and is a management consultant specialising in energy and network economics, policy and strategy. For most of his career he has worked as a consultant to governments, regulators, energy producers, consumers, investors, lenders and peak bodies in Australia and internationally. He is an electrical engineer and accountant.

Alex English is a China expert, formerly with the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and now a Research Fellow at the CSES. He is manager of the centre’s project with the Energy Research Institute of China entitled Implementation Issues for Achieving More Sustainable Energy Use in China: Economic Structure and the Application of new Technologies.