On this day nine years ago…
Policy uncertainty could cause essential investments to be deferred or distorted at a huge cost to consumers, business groups warn.
Major business organisations and energy users have urged federal and state governments to work cooperatively to map out a “strategic response to Australia’s energy transition and challenges” ahead of a meeting of energy ministers scheduled for Friday – warning that investment is at risk.
Murphy, K. 2016. Energy ministers urged to map out strategic response to renewables. The Guardian, 5 October.
The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was 404ppm. As of 2025, when this post was published, it is 425ppm. This matters because the more carbon dioxide in the air, the more heat gets trapped. The more heat, the more extreme weather events. You can make it more complicated than that if you want, but really, it’s not. Fwiw, I have a tattoo of the Keeling Curve on my left forearm.
The broader context was well, look at the previous day’s post. There’s all sorts of promises about getting hold of energy production, consumption, efficiency. You feel so powerful when you convene meetings. And then… what happens?
The specific context was that the Turnbull government was trying to pretend it would do something about climate change, to placate “green” Liberal voters.
What I think we can learn from this – “co-ordination problems” exist. So does incumbent power.
What happened next – The energy ministers all took that onboard, and Australia is now leading the way on emissions reductions. Oh yes.
What do you think? Does this pass the ‘so what?’ threshold? Have I got facts wrong? Interpretation wrong? Please do comment on this post, unless you are a denialist, obvs.
Also on this day:
October 5, 1988 – Vice Presidential Debate and ‘the Greenhouse Effect’
October 5, 1989 – Enviro minister “Richo” warns Hawkie to save “Kakadu”
October 5, 1992 – Ignoreland hits the airwaves. #Neoliberalism
October 5, 2006 – Greenpeace sues Blair Government over shonky energy “consultation”