Regional Energy Outlook Australia, USA, Canada & New Zealand

1. Regional Energy OutlookAustralia, USA, Canada & New Zealand Sarah Holdsworth, Education for Sustainability, RMIT University, Australia Thomas Eatmon, Public Policy Southern University, USA

2. UCAN current energy situation • UCAN makes up 5% of the world’s population • Produces and consumes approx 20% of the world’s energy Source: International Energy Agency [IEA], 2003)

3. UCAN current energy situation Energyconsumption in 2003 by energy source for all UCAN region countries Source: International Energy Agency [IEA], 2003)

4. UCAN current energy situation Source: International Energy Agency [IEA], 2006)

5. Energy development relationship Energy  Services  Lifestyle Choices  Development/Standard of living GDP is used to measure standard of living in an economy. Key societal and environmental problems can be masked when the GDP is used as the sole measure of economic growth

6. Energy development relationship gross national product social welfare and quality of life time scale Growing GNP / drop of life quality OECD Study in progress 2003

7. Development?

8. Development and Politics Development and the shifting political ideological Government  Society  Economy Egalitarianism Collective  Government  Economy  Society Neo-liberalism Individual

9. Future Trends World Marketed Energy Use by Fuel Type 1980-2030 (EIA, 2003) • UCAN’s population is predicted to stabilise however, energy consumption will continue to increase • Heavy reliance on imported energy resources (oil) will lead to issues of supply security Source: http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/ieo/world.html

10. Development Continuum

11. Consumption: Putting priorities into perspective • Basic education for all ($6 billion) vs. • Cosmetics in the U.S. ($8 billion) • Basic health and nutrition ($13 billion) vs. • Pet foods in Europe and USA ($17 billion) • Reproductive health for all women ($12 billion) vs. Perfumes in Europe and the USA ($12 billion) source: Human Development Report 1998, “Consumption for human development” [www.undp.org/hdro/1998/98] World Watch Institute 2003

12. Do we need to consume to develop? Human Development Index is based on: • Life expectancy • Literacy • GDP

13. What is the future outlook? • Social - Level and access to health care - Level and access to education • Political - Continued dependency on Oil and Coal - Global security issues - Investments in Renewable but proportionably low compared with non-renewable • Environmental - Increasing ecological footprint - Increasing CO2 into atmosphere as a result of burning fossil fuels. • Economic - Energy needs vs. availability - Reliance on imports of fossil fuels - Instability of economy

14. What should be the future outlook? • The region needs to address two areas with respect to energy and development • Maintain current standard of living and energy services that support this while reducing negative impacts • -Address the existing inequalities in regard to accessing social services that enhance quality of life

15. Neo-liberal Policy Barriers • Market force expansion • Open competition • Enhanced mass production • Anti-poverty program reduction • Foreign investment • Consumption maximization • Trade liberalization • Expands industrialization • Increases pollution and natural resource demand • Globalizes consumption • Diffuses consumerism and encourages excessive consumption • Increases number of poor • Development without added value (Haque, 1999)

16. Our Vision for the Future Daly’s Triangle • Intermediate Means • Government • Civil Society • Industry and Financial Institutions • Individuals Equity & Human Well Being Economy, Technology, Politics & Ethics or “Intermediate Means” Natural Environment or “Ultimate Means” (Daly, 1980)

17. Intermediate Means Government • Participation in international institutions -Ex. Lack of commitment to Kyoto Protocol by US and Australia • Redistributive taxes and incentives (carrot and stick) -Ex. Taxing inefficient vehicles to provide incentives (price cuts) for more efficient vehicles Civil Society • Change the culture of consumerism and public consciousness through political socialization, knowledge dissemination, watchdog actions, and creating sustainability initiatives. -Ex. Sustainable Schools Program -Ex. Bill Clinton’s Global Initiative

18. Intermediate Means Industry and Financial Institutions • Corporate Responsibility and Ethics • Ex. Goldman Sachs, Interface, FIFA, Dupont, Ford Individuals • Street level decision-making • Voting • Conscious consumption • Active participation in government and civil society (collective action) • Leadership

19. References Daly, H., “Introduction to the Steady-State Economy,” pp. 1-31 in Daly, H., (ed.) “Economics, Ecology, Ethics-Essays Toward a Steady State Economy,” New York: W.H. Freeman and Company, 1980. The Happy Planet Index, New Economics Foundation, 2006 Haque, M. S., “The Fate of Sustainable Development under Neo-Liberal Regimes in Developing Countries,” International Political Science Review, 20,2, pp.197-218, 1999 International Energy Agency (IEA), website: www.iea.org  Intenational Energy Agency World Energy Outlook. Website:http://www.iea.org/textbase/publications/free_new_Desc.asp?PUBS_ID=1458 Redefining Progess, website: www.RedefiningProgress.org UNDP Human Development Report, 2005. http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/2005/