Climate change ignorance
Last year the Australian Coal Association agreed to develop a clean coal technology fund through a 20c per tonne levy which was expected to raise over $1billion. It definitely did that, but, it did while price for coal actually increased by between 130-250% thus dramatically increasing the coal company profits.
Now I am not fussed that they got the extra profits or that they didn't choose to increase the size of the clean coal technology fund; what I am surprised about, however, is the ignorance of their comment when asked by green groups why they don't contribute more...
"The fund is regarded as a great contribution for the industry and adequate for the purpose"
The ignorance of this comment is astounding for two reasons: First, "...a great contribution"?? Umm, hello, clean coal is not something you should be merely 'contributing' to, it is something you should be betting your life on! If the renewables sector (which is supported extensively in Australian and world-wide by the academic sector, multi-nationals and Government) get the answer first then you are out of business.
Secondly, "...adequate for the purpose"?? What purpose? The purpose of deflecting criticism or buying good PR? Maybe they think the purpose is to buy them favour with the Government so that they will be protected from actually having to do anything?
Either way, I think this demonstrates their complete lack of understanding of this issue. Irrespective of how it started, a new movement has started at both national and international levels of politics which will eventually change the way the we use energy forever. One day (and sooner than we think) we will all have solar cells on our roofs, buildings will be self-sustaining, materials will actually degrade properly and things will be designed properly. It will be this way because although the human race is incapable of changing its wasteful ways, it is more than capable of developing goods and services that mean we don't have to think about it.
And that is where the problem with this comment lies; they still think dealing with climate change is about giving money, buy off-sets or writing sustainability reports. It's not, its about developing new and better products and services, and, ironically, those companies that get to this first will make a CRAP load of money doing it.