Australian capital going to overseas low carbon industries
great a risk of capital leakage – money moving offshore for low-carbon exposure, the money that will go to china, Europe or south America where governments are setting policies in place…....Not that it got a heck of a lot of media traction. That was afforded only to miners warning of the perils of a mining tax,
Australia’s capital leak, Business Spectator, Giles Parkinson, 6 Sep 2010, Climate Spectator As various industry groups marshal their forces to try and add momentum to the push for a carbon price, institutional investors are also mobilising to ensure that their members are not excluded from the opportunities of a low-carbon economy.
The chief concern for Australian-based Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC) is of capital leakage, where Australian money is funnelled overseas, seeking investments in low-carbon technology and industries because of limited opportunities in Australia.
This is already happening on a small scale. The only two Australian-based funds that specialise in clean technology investments both eschew Australia – not because of its lack of R&D and innovation, but because the policies are not in place to support the right business models.
Wind farm developers invested billions overseas, before returning to Australia and finding their plans frustrated again, and the geothermal industry is looking increasingly likely to follow the same path. Firms that specialise in carbon offsets and mitigation projects have already decamped.
But if the leaders of global industrial giants such as GE, Siemens, Hyundai, Samsung, Honda, Panasonic are right, and the world is heading into a period of massive investment into what the leaders of the US and China describe as the ‘green economy’, then that trickle of funds and business opportunities leaving our shores will potentially turn into a steady river and affect more than just a handful of innovative start-ups.
“The risk for Australia is for our capital flows to go offshore,” says IGCC CEO Nathan Fabian. “Miners talk about carbon leakage, but there is just as great a risk of capital leakage – money moving offshore for low-carbon exposure, the money that will go to china, Europe or south America where governments are setting policies in place…….
The National Business Leaders Forum for Sustainable Leadership comprised the likes of Lend Lease, Westpac, Visy, BP, Energy Australia, Dupont, Cisco, Interface, and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Not that it got a heck of a lot of media traction. That was afforded only to miners warning of the perils of a mining tax,CLIMATE SPECTATOR: Australia’s capital leak | Giles Parkinson | Commentary | Business Spectator
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1.This month.
Zoom webinar – “Nuclear Winter: The Environmental Consequences of a Nuclear Exchange.”
April 7th at 11:30 am PST / 2:30 pm EST
Nuclear Winter: The Environmental Consequences of a Nuclear Exchange”
Join us for an informative webinar with renowned atmospheric scientist, Professor Brian Toon, as he discusses the environmental risks and global impacts of a nuclear war. Despite the potential damage caused by the blast from even small nuclear weapons, many countries continue to invest in and expand nuclear arsenals. Professor Toon will provide a scientific assessment of civilian fatalities, agricultural failures, climate concerns, and complications with food supply that would follow any international nuclear conflict. We need to plan how to prevent nuclear conflict and avoid catastrophe. Politicians and military planners must be made aware of global climate and agricultural complications that would ensue. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from, and engage in, this vital conversation
The Road to War brings a sharp focus to why it is not in Australia’s best interest to be dragged into a war with China which will almost inevitably go nuclear very quickly. The filmmaker has interviewed some of Australia’s senior foreign policy analysts who have vast experience behind them in analysing what really is going on here as the United States rattles its sabres with China. And sets us up to be its proxy, like the poor Ukranians have been fed into the Meatgrinder. So America can remain the Top Dog. The Road to War reveals how the United States through its spy base at Pine Gap and by stationing six nuclear capable B52 bombers in the Top End (without permission from the traditional owners) is making Australia a prime nuclear target if the current war of words suddenly melts down into full scale war.
The Road to War shows the implicit connection between Carbon emissions (the US military uses a whopping 70% of America’s annual petroleum to move its armies and vast War Machine around the globe to its 800+ military bases..but under a loophole wangled at Kyoto, the US military does not have to report its C02 annual emissions). The Road to War starts screening at selected cities and regional centres in March. See the trailer end for details.
Antinuclear 
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