6 February 2010
Australian Resources and Energy Minister in Delhi
Speaks to Delhi Sustainable Development Conference
Please find below a press release from the Australian Minister for Resources and Energy, The Hon. Martin Ferguson, regarding his visit to India on 5 and 6 February.
Mr Ferguson’s speech to the Delhi Sustainable Development Conference on 6 February is also given below.
MEDIA RELEASE
Martin Ferguson
Australian Minister for Resources and Energy
Australian Minister for Tourism
CLEANER ENERGY VITAL FOR GLOBAL PROSPERITY
The Australian Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson AM MP, has told the 10th Sustainable Development Summit in Delhi the Australian Government believes clean energy technologies are vital to achieve economic and social prosperity in the developing world. Clean energy technologies deliver quality of life through clean air, clean water and the sustainable use of energy resources.
Minister Ferguson told the first major international meeting on sustainable development since the UN conference in Copenhagen that economic development and wealth creation go hand in hand with solving the world’s environmental challenges.
Minister Ferguson said: "Technology created many of the problems we have today, and the next generation of technology will be the solution. Such is the power of human capital and creativity."
The 10th Sustainable Development Summit in Delhi is being attended by the Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh and Heads of States and Ministers from over twenty nations.
Minister Ferguson said: “There has been much said in recent months relating to the challenge of climate change and the responses available to us.
“It is also important we do not lose sight of the importance of developing and deploying clean technologies which improve air and water quality as well as the efficiency of our energy use because they will deliver the public health, clean environment, and other sustainable development outcomes we all seek.
“Experience shows that it requires action by governments to create the right policy frameworks and incentives to accelerate investment in developing the technologies to achieve these goals. Advanced technologies will improve productivity and reduce health and environmental impact through every sector of our economies.”
Minister Ferguson yesterday witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on New and Renewable Energy with Dr Farooq Abdullah, India's Minister for New and Renewable Energy. Minister Ferguson is also meeting government ministers and senior officials in Delhi to promote Australia’s resources and energy potential to one of Australia’s most important trading partners. This includes the uptake of clean energy technologies to boost economic growth while addressing sustainability issues associated with energy use.
Minister Ferguson is also promoting the inaugural Australia-India Energy and Minerals Forum scheduled to be held in Perth in May. The Forum will provide a good opportunity to engage with Indian decision-makers from across government, research organisations and industry, to build and strengthen our bilateral relationship on energy and minerals, and for Australian and Indian companies to showcase their clean energy expertise.
Media contact: Michael Bradley – 0420 371 744 (Canberra)
Joel Grant – 0421 852 651 (Delhi)
SPEECH TO DELHI SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE
The Hon Martin Ferguson AM MP
Australian Minister for Resources and Energy
Australian Minister for Tourism
SATURDAY 6 FEBRUARY:
Time: 11.15am – 12.45pm
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for the opportunity to address this forum.
The 21st century may only be one decade old, yet it’s not too early to suggest it may come to be defined by the twin challenges of delivering both clean and secure energy supplies.
The IEA tells us there are presently 1.6 billion people in the World who have no access to electricity.
Clearly, access to affordable, reliable, adequate sources of energy is needed to fuel economic growth, alleviate poverty, and deliver the economic and social development we all seek.
The challenge of meeting global energy demand – in a sustainable way – is daunting.
In Australia, we have a growing population, rising energy demand, and consumers who want cleaner energy.
Determining how we maintain our energy security, economic prosperity and a move over time to a cleaner energy mix is a challenge occupying a great deal of the Australian Government’s thinking at present.
The Australian Government is investing more than $4.5 billion in a range of clean energy initiatives.
We are giving new energy technologies the opportunity to compete in the market place.
Solar, wind, geothermal and biomass technologies are moving to the next stage of development.
We have also mandated that 20 per cent of our electricity must come from renewable sources by 2020, which is driving further investment.
Importantly, we also recognise that fossil fuels will continue to be vitally important in the decades ahead.
Australia’s liquefied natural gas industry is set to grow significantly throughout the next few years with many major projects either under development or approaching final investment decision.
I was very pleased to see Australia last year secure its first long-term LNG supply contract into the Indian market, from the Gorgon project; which is Australia’s largest ever resources project.
In addition to pursuing energy efficiency opportunities to reduce the use of coal and gas – Australia is focussed upon developing technologies to reduce emissions from these fuels.
This includes a focus on carbon capture and storage and carbon capture and use.
Technology has the potential to significantly reduce emissions from fossil fuels – and further technological advancement can also see these emissions utilised and commercialised.
We do not subscribe to the view that clean energy has to compromise legitimate aspirations for economic and social prosperity.
Economic development and wealth creation are essential to drive the investment we need in technological solutions.
There has been much said in recent months relating to the challenge of climate change and the responses available to us.
However, it is important we don’t lose sight of the importance of developing and deploying industrial technologies to improve the quality of our water and air, which improve the efficiency of our energy use and our public health, as they are necessary to deliver the sustainable development we seek.
Technology can improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact through every sector of our economies.
Experience shows that it requires action by government to create the right policy frameworks and incentives to drive the investment in technology we need.
It also requires partnerships with business and the research community.
And it requires we recognise that solutions do not lie in one single technology or set of technologies.
Delivering the growth we desire; growth which is economically and environmentally sustainable will require a broad suite of new technologies.