Morrison to command attention from world leaders at Glasgow climate summit because of Australia’s unique position

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is set to command attention at Glasgow climate summit, thanks to Australia’s unique position. Picture: Gary Ramage/NCA NewsWire

The speech writer for Scott Morrison for the Glasgow climate summit can help him deliver a message not available to any other leader of a developed country. World leaders will listen to what we have to say because they recognise our unique position.

As a small country, theoretically if we double our carbon emissions or eliminate them in the next 12 months it will have no significant impact on world carbon emissions.

But, as I explain below we can help both parts of Asia and Europe in their carbon reduction programs and, because of our natural advantage, we can buy help time for those nations that are big customers of our gas and coal.

The anti-Morrison press has given the Prime Minister a terrible time and no doubt many are going to Glasgow with a predetermined message.

China’s disastrous blackouts have shown the world that carbon reduction must be carefully managed or it will make emission reduction very unpopular. And the China blackouts underlined to India the importance of Australia.

Australia’s strength comes not just because of our natural carbon reduction advantages but because we are a true federation.

Our founding fathers gave significant power to the states and every one of those states has committed to zero emission target in 2050 and three of them — representing half the population — have committed to a 50 per cent reduction by 2030.

Moreover our largest equity investors, the industry superannuation funds, have backed the transformation — along with the Reserve Bank and most of the trading banks. This combination unites the population behind the broad goals.

The Nationals get the headings but for the wrong reasons. Rural Australia is set for a return to a level of influence akin to the days when metaphorically we lived “off the sheep’s back”. In addition little can be can be done without the states ands our capital markets.

When Morrison was in the US, the Speaker of the House of Representative Nancy Pelosi praised Australia’s environmental efforts. She knows that. when we undertake a carbon reduction target, we exceed it.

Australian emissions reductions are currently at the 30 to 35 per cent level compared to our 26-28 per cent target. We will be at zero emissions far faster than 2050 given the momentum in the community.

In Glasgow, Morrison can talk about the remarkable efforts of Andrew Forrest and others to erect major solar generation farms in the middle of Australia to generate power for Singapore.

Each of our states have large wind and solar farms. The roof tops of our houses are becoming solar power stations. Given the momentum of this thrust we will move to electric cars quickly and charge their batteries with roof top solar.

And we are also working on technologies to produce green steel, carbon reduced concrete, hydrogen and a vast array of other techniques some of which will succeed while and others will fail.

In Glasgow, Morrison must work hard to link our carbon efforts to the AUKUS alliance. Indeed it was that alliance that made it essential that he attend and that Barnaby Joyce back Zero in 2050

We don’t talk about it but the world knows Australia have a proven technique (its not new technology) which is capable of off setting almost of our carbon emissions while dramatically increasing the productivity and profits of our farmers.

Early this month under the heading “Australia should lift 2030 emission cuts, lock in zero emissions by 2050 to supercharge rural revenues”, I described how many Australian farmers are rotating their grazing and planting grasses whose roots go deep and enable carbon to be stored in the soils. That storage can be measured.

I was delighted that a week later John Durie gave more details of this wonderful scheme to boost farming profits and offset our carbon.

We have the opportunity of using the carbon stored to offset our emissions but, as I suspect will happen, those emissions will come down dramatically so we can sell surplus stored carbon credits to the Europeans and generate large sums.

It underwrites the national strategy but the restoration of carbon in our soils should be undertaken irrespective of climate considerations. Large segments of our rural sector are going to prosper in this environment and the extra taxes they will pay will help support those that miss out.

We can be very confident that our net emissions reductions by 2030 are going to be substantially above our Paris undertakings and will almost certainly exceed 40 per cent.

As I discussed yesterday the transformation of Australia will require capital which is why the involvement of the superannuation funds, and our Business Growth Fund plus the process of transforming in the medium sized business sector so enterprises can obtain cash flow based loans is vital.

The task of reducing emissions under our federation is not simply the federal government waving a wand. The key levers of power generation are held by the states. The commonwealth has the money power which why their polices are so important but so is the partnership.

Footnote: Crown shareholders can thank Ziggy Switkowski for their second chance. It took a lot of courage for a person of Ziggy’s proven ability (he made order of the NBN shambles) and well deserved reputation for honesty to take on the chairmanship of the mess that is Crown Resorts. He didn’t need to do it. But the fact that he did take the role gave people confidence that the company could be restored. Ziggy, you have my good wishes.