Antinuclear

Australians support renewable energy, despite the vitriolic campaign against climate scientists,

Australians’ strong renewables backing, Climate Spectator, 25 Jul 2012, Lane Crockett As reported yesterday, the Climate Institute launched Climate of the Nation 2012 which is an annual research piece that seeks to understand the attitudes of Australians regarding climate change and energy.

While this year’s report finds that Australians are exhausted by the politics around climate policy and are somewhat confused on climate change science their vision of a low-carbon future is crystal clear: they want renewable energy.

Increasing the amount of renewable energy is perceived as the most effective greenhouse gas emission reduction policy, which along with energy efficiency rated well ahead of other suggested measures.

For the last few years climate change and its solutions have been the target of a well-oiled campaign against innovation, efficiency and clean energy investment. This campaign has included vitriolic attacks directed at highly regarded members of the scientific community, vain attempts to debunk well-established climate change science and highly inaccurate and
misleading claims made about possible solutions such as renewable
energy.
What is clear form this is that no matter how certain the science or
how innovative and exciting new clean technologies are, there will
always be areas of uncertainty that those opposed will seek to
exploit.
But the Australian community is seeing through the bluster of climate sceptics and vested interests as their support for and commitment to a clean energy future remains strong.
People do not trust, or agree with the constant attacks from those who
continue to peddle conspiracy theories about renewable energy that are
ill-informed and usually misleading. While there will always be
avenues for the likes of the IPA, ACCI and others to peddle such
bluster-filled opinion, the poison pill for them remains: the
community like clean energy and they want it to lead the way.
When asked to rank their three most preferred and least preferred
energy sources, solar, wind and hydro topped the ladder. Gas is
favoured by some but disliked by others while – not surprisingly –
coal and nuclear are the least preferred.
Increasing the amount of renewable energy is perceived as the most effective greenhouse gas emission reduction policy, which along with energy efficiency rated well ahead of other suggested measures.
Support for renewable energy manifests itself in countless ways in the
Climate of the Nation 2012 report. Even when asked if they support
carbon pricing, which draws a pretty low number at 28 per cent,
renewables turn the picture much brighter. Support for the carbon
pricing laws rises to 47 per per cent when it is correctly explained
that all the revenue raised goes to support renewable energy
development, and households and business…..
http://www.climatespectator.com.au/commentary/australians-strong-renewables-backing

July 26, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, energy