Scene Setter and Keynote Panelist: Accelerating to Net Zero – The Race Is On
Andrew Garnett AA Director, UQ Centre for Natural Gas and Director, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Program, The University of Queensland
The APPEA Journal 63 - https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ21481
Published: 2 June 2023
Abstract
A famous German scientist reportedly once said, ’Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler’. In our path to net zero discourse, we might add ... ’In our quest to make things simpler, make sure that conclusions drawn are sound or risk making things worse’. This isn’t an excuse for inaction. It is a requirement to think and talk things through … better.
The public discourse on energy transition is simplified and sloganised; its ethical dimensions often reduced to Marie Antoinette levels. There are well accepted truths that aren’t, and an easy disregard for risks of worsening human suffering at home and abroad. This isn’t an excuse for inaction either. It is a requirement to avoid facile reassurances and deal soberly with the scale of challenge.
There’s far more to Net Zero than CO2 reduction and the ’Trilemma’. It is much harder than you think; and it’s much harder than they think. While Net Zero Scenarios can be informative (and always simpler than necessary), many are ’bust’ by the time of publication. They are more valuable as analyses than headlines.
The international conversation is maturing. Ukraine’s tragedy provides salutary lessons if we’re open to look. It really matters where you get your energy from; restricting supply before functionally equivalent, affordable alternatives are ready creates GHG reversals and harm; and, before proclaiming ’no new fields’ be sure you research the underlying assumptions and deeply explore the ramifications - what this means for real people and our climate goals.
To view the video, click on the link to the right.
For more than a decade Professor Andrew Garnett has led a large multidisciplinary research program focussing on varied aspects of Queensland’s natural gas industry including social and environmental impact, and cost and supply optimisation. He has more than 30 years’ international experience within multinational companies across conventional and unconventional hydrocarbon projects, and is well respected for his contribution to the global transition to a low emissions economy. Professor Garnett began his career in the oil and gas sector, prior to consulting on unconventional developments. Prior to joining UQ, he led the 500MW ZeroGen integrated gasification combined cycle and carbon capture and storage (CCS) project, ultimately closing the project down as CEO. Most recently, as the Director, UQ CCS Program, Professor Garnett led a three-year study identifying strategies to make material emissions cuts in Queensland as well as to enable low carbon baseload power, deliver significant benefits for regional employment, and stimulate the hydrogen economy. He has been a reviewer for the International Energy Agency’s World Energy Outlook (natural gas) and Energy Technology Perspectives. |
