REALITIES TO DRIVE CHANGE
Andrew Forrest, the head of Fortescue Metals, has called the goal of the upcoming COP26's net zero emissions by 2650 "a smokescreen" based too much on carbon capture and storage (CCS), a method favoured by the LNP.
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The science-literate magnate reminds us that CCS plants have captured only 0.4 per cent of emissions worldwide.
"It's not going to happen," he says. "The fossil fuel industry has lobbied hard for taxpayers to fund transition ... on their timetable. That is a highway to climate disaster."
Those Australians who snarl "greenie" and tout fossil fuels are riding a dying horse.
Worldwide, investors don't want these fuels, nor, increasingly, do banks or insurers, who see them as a poor bet.
"Too dangerous to climate, too expensive, potential stranded asset" summarises their attitude.
The big money is going into renewables. China, the world's biggest coal financier, has recently announced an end to such financing outside their borders.
Forrest is already pouring billions into clean hydrogen and "green" steel from renewable power.
Those above-named Australians resisting the inevitable remind one of the ancient legend of King Canute, who, high on the idea of the divine right of kings, waded into the sea, commanding the waves to stop.
Not too difficult to guess how that one worked out.
Forrest will build massive renewable installations, producing low carbon steel through electrolysis for export of that and hydrogen power to the world.
Overseas, the first shipment of such steel has arrived in Scandinavia from Germany.
The LNP want "blue steel", from fossil fuels and want to pour $250 billion of your money into coal and gas, while spruiking carbon capture and storage.
Forrest's contempt for the government's attitude is obvious in his statements.
Despite our ridiculous politicising of these issues when politics should be irrelevant to them, these climate crisis solutions will be driven by hard economic realities.
The jobs of the 21st century are not going to come from 19th and 20th century technology.
Bob Montgomery, Mount Austin
READ MORE LETTERS:
OBJECTION TO PHONE TRACKING
When did we vote to be tracked and discriminated against via our phone?
As I recall it was two weeks to flatten the curve?
Now we have the government importing foreign workers to replace people who have refused an experimental vaccine?
Whilst the rest of the world is dumping these track and trace control mechanisms and people are protesting in the streets of France, Italy, Switzerland to get rid of it, the government courts country towns in its control system by stealth roll out.
Not fooled. Not buying it. Will not be doing it. Nor should any Aussie.
C A Harris, Wagga
COMMENTARY ON NEW ACT LAW
On October 8, the ACT became the first Australian jurisdiction to criminalise the non-consensual removal of a condom during sex.
It is not a criminal offence for a woman to falsely claim that she is taking birth control medication.
Christopher Kanck, Lake Albert
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