This document summarizes a forum on solutions and future directions for water, energy, and waste management. It discusses how climate change is affecting Australia through increasing temperatures, fewer cold days and more hot days. It notes that Australia has committed to reducing emissions by 5% by 2020 but current projections exceed this goal. The document outlines opportunities for cost-effective abatement and examples of companies transitioning to more sustainable practices. It argues that while the climate debate is polarized, evidence suggests being prudent in treating climate change as a risk and transitioning to renewable energy sources given Australia's natural advantages in solar, wind and other renewables.

1. Solutions and Future
Directions in Water,
Energy and Waste
Management
Forum
Yarra Valley Water
Tuesday 30 August 2011

2. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
• Summary of how we got here.
• Where are we today?
• Outlook for tomorrow.

3. The Greenhouse Effect

4. It’s All Relative
Diameter of Earth = 12,800 KM
Thickness of Earth's atmosphere (Troposphere) = 15 KM
Diameter of a Basketball = 240mm
Thickness of varnish = 0.3mm (0.012%)

5. A Fragile System

6. Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere
Source: NASA Earth Observatory (2010)
310ppm in 1960 to
392ppm in 2011
http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/trends/

7. What Have we Done since 1820?
http://www.gapminder.org/world/#$ma

9. Power Production ‐ Largest Contributor

10. Victorian Power
kg CO2‐e/kWh
Victorian Power = 1.23 = 37%
New South Wales 0.90
Power
For the same amount of power consumed – Victorian businesses will
generate 37% more greenhouse gases.
Factors from National Greenhouse Accounts (NGA) Factors July 2010 web site.

11. So How Has This Affected Us?

12. Less Cold Days in Australia over 50 Years
Source: CSIRO &BoM

13. More Hot Days in the Last 50 Years
Source: CSIRO &BoM

14. A Serious Supply Problem
40% Drop in
Inflows
Over 1997 - 2008
Period

15. The Trend Continues
"June 2011 : This was the 316th
consecutive month with a global
temperature above the 20th
century average. The last month
with below‐average temperature
was February 1985."
Data from NOAA on loading the climate dice, NOAA climate
statement for first half of
2011, http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/
Melbourne's early escape from winter
Press Release, Tuesday August 23, 2011 ‐

16. Today….
• Unfortunately the current debate is very
polarised
• US – nationally little progress. Some states
acting.
• EU and UK charging ahead
• China missed the dot com boom – it won’t
miss this one
• India, Mexico, Columbia, NZ all have put a
price on carbon

17. Givens for Australia
• Australia has signed international
commitments that are non‐negotiable.
• Both Labor and Coalition have committed to a
5% reduction from 2000 levels by 2020
• What does this mean?

18. Emissions Projections
Commitment by both parties ‐ 160MT/yr reduction – Current ~580Mt/yr

19. It Can be Done!
http://ec.europa.eu/clima/documentation/roadmap/docs/com_2011_112_en.pdf

20. Cost Abatement Curve
www.climateworks.org.au

21. 88% Global Energy Wasted!

22. Front Page Hitachi Annual Report 2010
(A US$110B/yr Company)

23. Corporate Adoption

24. A Victorian Success
Australia’s largest polyethylene manufacturer works with
City West Water and the Victorian Government to take
90% of its requirements from recycled water.

25. Ray Anderson ‐ Interface Carpets
Ray Anderson
1934‐2011
www.youtube.com/user/Ray
CAnderson
http://www.youtube.com/user/RayCAnderson

26. Tomorrow…..
• Plenty of evidence to be prudent
• Treat climate change like any other risk
• Being the worst emitter per capita makes it easier
to improve
• Australia blessed with lots of sun, wind, wave and
geothermal – and lots of land!
• Industrial competitiveness critical – learning time!
• Delay will cost more (Lord Stern, Prof Garnaut and
many others)

27. The Train is Leaving the Station