The road to net zero paved with many contradictions

The debate over the environmental merits of waste-to-energy incineration, highlighted in Paul Garvey’s report (“Burning issue: Is ‘clean’ energy a load of rubbish?”, 5/12), underscores just how complex emissions management really is. Incinerating landfill to produce electricity generates fewer emissions than allowing the waste to decompose in landfill, yet it produces more emissions than a coal-fired generator.

This paradox shows there are no simple solutions in climate policy, only trade-offs that must be properly understood.

Australia has developed a habit of shutting down industries deemed high emitting without appreciating the full consequences. The results are often worse for the environment, not better.

In NSW, local gas production has been curtailed and the Narrabri project stalled, yet the state is proceeding with a liquefied natural gas import terminal at Port Kembla. Imported gas carries a higher emissions footprint than gas produced domestically, raising the obvious question: if we insist on using gas, why choose the option with greater environmental harm?

Climate change cannot be addressed by examining projects in isolation. We need an honest assessment of the whole system, otherwise we risk replacing domestic emissions with higher overseas emissions and calling it progress.

Don McMillan, Paddington, Qld

Congratulations to Western Australia for completing the Kwinana waste-to-energy plant, despite the usual scaremongering.

Presumably, they sent people to look at the experience of the many countries that have been getting power and heat from non-recyclable combustible waste for many decades. One of the countries most relevant to us is Finland, which has weaned itself off landfilling waste starting in 2009. Leaders in the other states and territories will be able to witness the success of this first Australian plant and copy it.

Andrew Lang, Lismore, Vic

That the Albanese government pursues net zero is well-known.

However, it does not stop with the climate. It believes in net-zero responsibility. Net-zero responsibility for high interest rates from excessive government spending. Net-zero responsibility for high power bills from the renewable push. Net-zero responsibility for the return of ISIS brides. Net-zero responsibility for the suffering of Linda Reynolds and Fiona Brown.

Net-zero responsibility for the anti-Semitic attacks witnessed over two years of inaction. Net-zero responsibility in defending allies such as Israel and Japan from attacks by dictatorial states. Net-zero responsibility for the bereft state of our defence readiness.

Net-zero responsibility for the poor immigration policies adopted that dilute our national cohesion rather than improve productivity and as a result net-zero responsibility for the housing and rental crisis faced by many Australians.

Net-zero transparency.

Gerard Abrams, Cherrybrook, NSW

The ALP has done an excellent job in convincing many Australians that to save the planet we must go all-in on renewables.

The government has no idea as to what the true delivered cost will be of renewable energy and right now many people cannot afford to pay their power bills, so what is Anthony Albanese going to do about it?

The government also needs to explain how renewable energy will provide power for data centres, alumina smelters and the like, which need large amounts of 24/7 uninterrupted power.

Before the last election, the ALP came out with its scare campaign about nuclear and its views on the dangers of gas and coal, and the scare worked. If nuclear power is so bad, why are 19 of the G20 countries embracing it?

Brian Barker, Bulimba, Qld

As Robert Gottliebsen has written, the recent debate over a nil emissions target in 2050 was a farce because the facts were not known (“A shocking truth: diesel is driving Labor’s renewables plan”, 4/12).

Now it seems Australia will depend on large quantities of diesel power generation to satisfy demand during an increasingly likely power shortage crisis and that truth has been concealed from the Australian people. It is imperative the truth of this concealment be publicly disclosed.

Ian Dunlop, Tea Gardens, NSW