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Conference to explore how Aust can reach 2030 waste target

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11 Oct, 2024

This post was originally published on Sustainability Matters

The Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia’s (WMRR) inaugural Australian Resource Recovery Conference, to be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre on 16–17 October 2024, will explore how the nation can meet its 2030 target of an 80% resource recovery rate.

“Currently, Australia generates around 76 million tonnes of waste material a year and recovers only 45 million tonnes for a resource recovery rate of 63%,” said WMRR CEO Gayle Sloan. “This means the nation needs a net increase in resource recovery rate by about 1.5 million tonnes a year if it is to reach its 80% target by 2030.”

Sloan said this would require a huge shift in behaviour and action across the entire value chain given that, to date, per capita waste material continues to increase.

“Achieving this means there needs to be both a paradigm shift and behaviour change to address unnecessary consumption and overproduction of products in the first place,” she explained.

“There also needs to be a drive to create market demand for recycled materials, a reduction in the reliance on virgin material, and investment in all stages of extending life (reuse, repair) to increase local remanufacturing capacity and grow both Australian jobs and skills.”

This new national conference aims to bring together operators, practitioners, policymakers, regulators and product developers from across the country to discuss all aspects of material recovery, the manufacturing of products and maintaining a circular economy. At the same time, it will examine the waste recovery industry’s role in addressing emissions and biodiversity loss.

Keynote speakers include South Australian Deputy Premier Susan Close; SEC Newgate’s Sue Vercoe; CSIRO Environment’s Dr Heinz Schandl; Greens Spokesman on Waste and Recycling Senator Peter Whish-Wilson; and Green Industries SA CEO Josh Wheeler. There will also be a virtual address from Reloop co-founder and CEO Clarissa Morawski on lessons from Europe.

There will be eight technical and specialist sessions covering regulation; planning, infrastructure and investment; data insights; product and market development; education and behaviour change; regional and remote; innovation and technology; and disaster recovery.

“One of the challenges for the WARR industry is to educate the community that recycling doesn’t end when material goes in the recycling bin,” Sloan said. “It needs to extend to what people purchase in order to create the circularity required to make the system work as effectively as possible.

“Consumers, business and government should actively choose to buy recycled. Consumers need to use their purchasing power to influence business to use products made from recycled materials, be it packaging, compost or building products — the list goes on and on. Ask the question ‘is this made from recycled material and if not, why not?’

“The benefits of this are twofold — it is good for Australian green jobs and good for the planet.”

For more information, including the full program, click here.

Image credit: iStock.com/Rawpixel

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From coal to clean: accelerating Asia's renewable energy transition

From coal to clean: accelerating Asia's renewable energy transition

With world leaders, climate and environmental scientists and business leaders having gathered in Baku for COP29 — the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) — we’ve been advocating that this transformation poses significant challenges while simultaneously providing opportunities for growth, resilience and innovation.

The role of coal and the need for change

Coal remains the largest contributor to climate change, generating 35% of global electricity as of 2023. The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) net-zero scenario calls for OECD countries to reduce coal’s share in power generation to 14% by 2030, with a complete global phase-out of unabated coal by 2040.

This underscores the fact that achieving global climate goals hinges on a viable energy transition strategy, particularly in Asia, where demand continues to surge.

The need for decarbonisation is stark: Asia’s carbon emissions now account for over half of the global total. The young age of Asia’s coal fleet — about 13 years on average — complicates the shift to renewables, with significant investments still tied up in coal plants. According to the World Economic Forum, policies that streamline and incentivise plant closures or conversions can accelerate the pace of transition.

Economic and environmental challenge

Transitioning to renewables in Asia requires not only technological shifts but also robust financial mechanisms.

We need financing models that incorporate public and private capital, with mechanisms like loans and grants making clean energy more accessible and competitive.

Countries like Vietnam face hurdles such as rigid power purchase agreements that protect coal plants from competition. Overcoming these barriers demands innovative financing, potentially reducing the cost of capital to make renewable projects more viable and less risky.

The move from coal to renewables also requires securing grid stability and resilience. The diversity of resources across Asia — from hydropower in Southeast Asia to solar in China — necessitates tailored strategies for integrating these resources into a cohesive and stable energy grid. GHD is actively involved in helping clients to navigate these complexities by advising on technical planning, decommissioning and the use of renewables like solar and wind.

Action steps to help Asia transform from coal to clean:

Develop robust financing models: Facilitate access to capital with a mix of loans, grants and public–private partnerships to make renewable energy more competitive and scalable.

Strengthen policy frameworks: Governments should adopt supportive policies to encourage investment, ease regulatory restrictions and provide incentives for renewable energy projects.

Invest in grid resilience and smart technology: Modernising grid infrastructure, including smart grids, is essential for integrating renewables and managing intermittent supply efficiently.

Encourage regional knowledge-sharing and collaboration: Cross-border partnerships can accelerate technology transfer, innovation and the development of best practices for transitioning from coal.

Support local workforces and communities: Implement training programs, workforce transition initiatives and local engagement strategies to ensure a fair and equitable transition for coal-dependent communities.
 

Based on this, there are three critical pillars for a successful transition: stable technical solutions, sustainable stakeholder engagement and a strong business case. Every project requires bespoke planning that integrates stakeholder interests, addresses environmental impacts and leverages technical expertise to ensure grid reliability.

A well-defined transition strategy that supports all stakeholders and secures financial backing is essential for a viable energy future.

Creating such a strategy involves evaluating the potential of each project and exploring repurposing opportunities, from battery storage to hydrogen production.

Looking forward: policy, financing and social impact

A successful transition will rely on supportive policies that facilitate investment and foster technological advancements. We need to understand the importance of a ‘just transition’ that balances environmental goals with economic equity, especially in coal-reliant communities.

Communities cannot be sidelined; local stakeholders need to benefit from new economic opportunities in renewables. At COP29 in Baku, GHD has been advocating for a holistic approach, including policy alignment, financial innovation and active community engagement.

The shift from coal to clean energy isn’t merely a goal — it’s an urgent necessity. Through collaboration, innovation and commitment to sustainable development, we can achieve a cleaner, greener future for Asia and beyond.

*Richard Fechner is GHD’s Enterprise Business Advisory Leader, leading the global business in providing strategy, commercial, economic, business case, logistics, policy, regulatory, asset management and transaction services. With over 30 years of experience, Richard has held senior roles in both the private and public sectors, contributing significantly to infrastructure development, investment and delivery across various sectors including ports, agriculture, energy, government and defence. He has advised on approximately AU$150 billion in infrastructure transactions and is a highly skilled infrastructure and business professional with expertise in strategic planning, business management and project engineering.

**Dr Tej Gidda is a distinguished expert in clean energy transitions and currently serves as the Global Leader for Future Energy at GHD. With over 20 years of industry experience, Dr Gidda holds a PhD in Environmental Engineering and is a registered Professional Engineer in Ontario. His work focuses on integrating clean energy technologies into existing systems and developing innovative strategies to overcome challenges related to reliability and affordability. Dr Gidda’s expertise spans hydrogen, renewable natural gas, traditional renewables, energy from waste, energy security and planning. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of Waterloo.

Top image caption: Pagudpud Wind Farm, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. Image courtesy of GHD.

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