‘Fossil fools’ seek a clean, efficient energy balance

Trump’s special adviser on ­energy said his plan was to use fossil fuels in a way that was ‘clean and ­efficient’.

Environmental protesters at the summit in Poland. Picture: Getty Images

Protesters chanted “keep them in the ground” but Preston Wills Griffith, special adviser on ­energy to the US President said Donald Trump’s plan was to dig them up and use fossil fuels in a way that was “clean and ­efficient”.

Australia was the only country to join the US at the controversial pro-fossil fuel seminar in the Katowice climate conference centre in Poland yesterday.

About 200 protesters disrupted the meeting on “clean coal”, fracked gas and new nuclear power, attempting to “shame” participants but not staying to listen to discussion.

Protesters said it was a meeting of “fossil fools” talking about “fossil fuels”.

Mr Griffith said he “appreciated the spirit of engagement”.

He said the US approach was to balance economic growth with energy security and environmental protection.

Australia’s ambassador for the environment, Patrick Suckling, joined Mr Griffith and US Department of Energy Assistant Secretary Steven Winberg on the presentation panel.

Mr Suckling said Australia shared the US’s technology-­neutral approach to emissions reduction.

“It is important that we do so,” Mr Suckling said. “We need to be open to innovation and new technology to open every pathway towards energy security and emissions reductions.”

He said Australia was committed to research and devel­opment on carbon capture and storage that was needed under any modelling scenario to meet global emissions reductions targets.

Mr Suckling said Australia had the ­potential to be the world’s largest producer of ­hydrogen.

Australian Environment Minister Melissa Price, who ­arrived in Katowice yesterday, did not attend the meeting.

Mr Winberg said the US was working to develop smaller, more modular coal plants that could use a range of fuels.

He said the plants were ­between 50 and 350 megawatts in size, near zero emissions and highly flexible to back up ­renewables.

“They offer opportunities for developing countries to use ­tomorrow’s coal technology to achieve energy security,” Mr Winberg said.

Mr Griffith said the purpose of yesterday’s US-sponsored event was to provide a forum for honest and objective discussion.

“It is important to the overall climate discussion that we consider realistic and programmatic points of view for solutions,” he said. “Alarmism should not ­silence realism.”

Mr Griffith said Mr Trump had made it clear that under his leadership the US would “not subject its citizens to agreements that hamstring our economic growth, prosperity or financial security”.

“This administration thinks the Paris Agreement harms the US competitive position while allowing those (coal) plants to operate in China at greater levels of emissions,” he said.

Mr Griffith said the US position supported all sources, ­including fossil fuels, nuclear ­energy and renewables.

“This approach is shared by others to achieve the model of energy security, environmental and economic goals,” he said.

Mr Griffith said the US believed strongly that “no country should have to sacrifice economic prosperity or energy security in pursuit of environmental sustainability”.

US policy was to support the free-market sector where the role of government was to encourage innovation rather than regulate or mandate.

He said that from 2005 to 2017, while its economy grew by 19 per cent in real terms, the US led the world in reducing carbon emissions, cutting them by 14 per cent.

“Countries will continue to use fossil fuels to ensure they have basic power, transport and industrial needs, and nuclear power will also continue to provide large amounts of emissions-free baseload power,” he said.

“We are serious about eradicating poverty; it is clear energy innovation and fossil fuels will … play an important role.”