Scientists Label APEC Declaration "Weak"

Australasian Science
October, 2007 Page: 15

The Sydney Declaration on Climate Change, Energy Security and Clean Development, released at, the APEC meeting in September, has received a poor response from leading scientists working in fields related to global warming and the technologies that may prevent it.

"After many years of denying that climate change was an issue or even existed, it is refreshing to see Howard and Bush finally coming to the table to discuss what will be the defining issue of this century," said Prof Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, Director of the Centre for Marine Studies at the University of Queensland, and one of the world's most cited coral reef scientists. "At last they seem to get what people have been telling them for over a decade," he continued. "Overall, however, the APEC Declaration on Climate Change, Energy Security and Clean Development is weak and elusive of the major issues and responses that are needed."

Dr Mark Diesendorf of the University of New South Wales Institute of Environmental Studies was even harsher, saying the Declaration "contains nothing of substance". After condemning the use of an "aspirational goal" rather than a firm target, Diesendorf noted: "Even if the aspirational goal were achieved, the proposed reduction in energy intensity is likely to involve a large increase in greenhouse gas emissions. This is because energy intensity is defined as energy consumption divided by GDP.

Even if global energy intensity is decreased by 25% by 2030 (as proposed in the Declaration), while global GDP doubles, emissions could increase by 50%. Thus the Declaration is actually a cloak for disguising business-as-usual." Wasim Saman, Director of the Sustainable Energy Centre at the University of South Australia, was more positive, describing the Declaration as "a significant first step forward. The emphasis on energy efficiency and transportation is particularly welcome as immediate positive results are possible." However, Australian Conservation Foundation President and Griffith University Emeritus Professor Ian Lowe said: "The Sydney Declaration looks more like the Kirribili cop-out".

Like several other scientists, Lowe compared the Sydney Declaration with the Kyoto Protocol, which is now almost 10 years old, and noted that while the science had advanced since then the Australian and US governments have yet to catch up. The official budget for security at APEC was $169 million, more than 5 years worth of federal investment in renewable energy research and development.

Prof Andrew Blakers, coinventor of the Sliver solar cell and Director of the Australian National University's Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems, was one of those most directly affected by government cuts to solar research and said: "There is a remarkable disconnect between the urgent need, the potential and the reality" of solar energy in Australia.