Luxton Memorial Lecture 2015
Australia: Energy SuperpowerÌýof the
Low-Carbon World
Presented byÌýProfessor Ross Garnaut AO,ÌýProfessorialÌýResearch Fellow in Economics at theÌýUniversity of Melbourne
Australia was a superpower of the old energy economy.ÌýCan Australia become an energy superpower of the lowcarbonÌýworld?
Australia’s old energy economy supported relatively low domestic energy costs,Ìýrelatively high real household incomes andÌýinternationally competitive energy-intensiveÌýindustry. However, things have changed sinceÌýthe start of this century with internationalÌýpricing for coal and gas, a network ofÌýregulatory systems that elevated networkÌýdistribution costs to the highest in theÌýdeveloped world, and the high realÌý exchangeÌýrate from the resources boom. AustraliansÌýget a second chance at internationally lowÌýenergy costs with the world’s transition to
a low-carbon economy. Managed well, theÌýtransition to a low-carbon economy willÌýrestore and enhance old Australian strengths,Ìýthis time built on sustainable foundations.ÌýThese strengths will be especially important inÌýSouth Australia.
When: Tuesday 23 June 2015, 6:00 - 7:30pm
Where: Braggs Lecture Theatre, Braggs Building, University of 911±¬ÁÏÍø, North Terrace
About the speaker
Professor Garnaut AO is a ProfessorialÌýResearch Fellow in Economics at theÌýUniversity of Melbourne (since 2008).ÌýHe was the senior economic policy official inÌýPapua New Guinea’s Department of FinanceÌýin the years straddling Independence in 1975,Ìýprincipal economic adviser to AustralianÌýPrime Minister Bob Hawke 1983-1985, andÌýAustralian Ambassador to China 1985-1988.ÌýHe is the author of a number of influentialÌýreports to Government, including Australia andÌýthe Northeast Asian Ascendancy (AustralianÌýGovernment Publishing 1989), The GarnautÌýClimate Change Review (Cambridge UniversityÌýPress 2008) and The Garnaut Review 2011:ÌýAustralia and the Global Response to ClimateÌýChange (Cambridge University Press 2011).
History of the Lecture
The Memorial Luxton Lecture is presented by the Centre for Energy Technology and the Institute for Sustainability,ÌýEnergy and Resources in honour of Professor Russell Escourt 'Sam' Luxton, FTS, FIEAust, FAIE, FRSAMC, FRSA (1933-2013).
Professor Luxton was a truly remarkable person, who made significant contributions to the national energy direction in recommending the establishment of the National Energy Research, Development & Demonstration Council (NERDDC), a precursor to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). He was also a national leader in the engineering and education professions, through his roles as Professor and Head of the University of 911±¬ÁÏÍø’s School of Mechanical Engineering and a champion for progress along the path to a cleanerÌýenergy future through the twin pillars of innovativeÌýtechnology development and policy initiatives.
General enquiries
Centre for Energy Technology
Email: cet@adelaide.edu.au