Australia and California join forces to combat climate change and promote renewable energy.
Australia and California Join Forces to Combat Climate Change
Australia and the U.S. state of California have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to tackle climate change and promote renewable energy adoption. This partnership, outlined in a joint media release by the Australian government, aims to foster cooperation on climate action and ecosystem protection.
The memorandum identifies several key areas for collaboration, including clean transportation, nature-based solutions, climate adaptation initiatives, and the development of clean energy supply chains and technologies.
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The agreement also encompasses “green” finance, investment, climate-friendly business, and research and development.
Furthermore, the Australian and Californian governments aim to address climate risks such as heatwaves, storm surges, wildfires, droughts, and flooding.
Australia has set a target of achieving net zero emissions by 2050, while California aims to reach 100 percent “carbon neutrality” by 2045.
In an interview with Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Radio, Energy and Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, highlighting the shared goals and achievements of California and Australia in renewable energy.
Minister Bowen stated, ”California and Australia actually share a lot in common. Now they have about half of the energy generation being renewables. Their solar is about 27 percent. Their EV (electric vehicle) policy is very advanced. So there’s a lot we can work on together.”
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong emphasized Australia’s commitment to collaborating with international partners to address the climate crisis, which she described as the most significant threat in the Indo-Pacific region.
Ms. Wong stated, “Our new partnership with the state of California will accelerate our shared efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change, including by promoting climate-related disaster resilience and supporting the development of clean energy technologies.”
No Access to United States’ $500 Billion Funding
While the agreement is highly valued, Minister Bowen acknowledged that it does not grant Australian businesses access to funding from the United States’ $500 billion Inflation Reduction Act.
However, he highlighted that Australia has secured preferential treatment under the U.S. Defense Production Act, which is significant for the renewable energy sector.
“You might think defense production and renewables aren’t that related. Actually, they are increasingly around the world,” Minister Bowen explained.
“Both governments see this as a national security opportunity and challenge as well as an environmental and economic imperative.”
Although the exact investment amount from Australia in the California partnership was not disclosed, Minister Bowen assured that his department has a budget for international engagement.
Opposition climate change spokesman Ted O’Brien expressed optimism about the memorandum, emphasizing the benefits of collaboration with the United States for the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
Mr. O’Brien stated, “What’s important for us in Australia is to keep an open mind to all technologies so we can decarbonize our economy without de-industrializing it.”
California Extends Use of Gas-Powered Plants to Avoid Energy Crises
While California is making significant efforts to transition to renewable energy, the state still relies on traditional power plants to ensure the stability of its power grid.
Recently, the California Energy Commission approved a plan to extend the use of the state’s last three gas-powered power plants for another three years to prevent electricity shortages during summer months.
The commission acknowledged that California is not yet ready to completely eliminate the use of fossil fuels.
“We need to move faster in incorporating renewable energy. We need to move faster in
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