Ecological Economist New Book
At the time of Colin’s death he was conducting research for a new book.
His intended title of the book was: Powering the future: it's the sun, stupid!
Colin’s vision for the book was that it deal with the potential of solar power to relieve poverty, cut greenhouse emissions and help save the world. He planned to include the technical, economic, climate change and social dimensions of embracing the solar revolution and hoped to publish the work in late 2014.
Click here for Chapter 1.
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C. Hunt, 2013. Illustrated implications of the Terrifying New Math of Meinshausen and McKibben in Economic Analysis and Policy, 43(3) (December 2013)
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For an analysis of the failings of environmental impact assessments for coal and CSG projects, see this article
https://theconversation.com/coal-and-gas-fail-the-test-when-it-comes-to-environmental-impact-13746
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Submissions to Inquiries
A submission to the inqury on coal seam gas by the NSW Chief Scientist can be found here, and to the inquiry by the Commonwealth here.
Artesian drawdown in Queensland
For a summary of issues in artesian drawdown by CSG activity on the Condamine aquifer and the Great Artesian Basin in the Walloon Coal Measure, and the Bowen Basin, click here.
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Energy policy and climate change
Kyoto Protocol fails: Get ready for a hotter world
Australia is on track at the end of this year to meet its emission reduction target under the Kyoto Protocol. http://www.climatechange.gov.au/search.aspx?query=projection%202012&collection=agencies&profile=climatechange But that should not encourage us to believe that the Kyoto Protocol has succeeded in driving down global greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs). On the contrary, the Protocol has failed, and large temperature rises are now inevitable.
See the full article at The Conversation, posted 16 November 2012: https://theconversation.edu.au/kyoto-protocol-fails-get-ready-for-a-hotter-world-10742
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Conflict between economic growth and conservation: the case of the Great Barrier Reef
Research Question: Is it possible to manage development, both within and adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, such that the imperatives of economic growth and ecological preservation are both achieved?
The conflict between the rapid development of coal seam gas export and the need to conserve the values of the Great Barrier Reef has been highlighted by media reports. http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/2011/11/03/3355047.htm; http://theconversation.edu.au/what-is-gladstones-lng-development-really-doing-to-the-environment-3885 The massive dredging program in Gladstone harbour and the building of three or four liquefaction plants on Curtis island are both taking place within the World Heritage Area.
These dredging and construction activities will, from 2014, allow the export of non-conventional liquefied natural gas (LNG) worth billions of dollars and at the same time will generate a large royalty revenue stream for the Queensland government.
The dredging and the construction activities in Gladstone harbour are affecting water quality. Deterioration in water quality affects the whole ecosystem, as manifest in a reduction in recreational and commercial fish catches. In addition the high level of ferry and other transport in the harbour as a result of the developments threatens dugong, turtles and dolphins.
But the development in Gladstone harbour is but one of many planned for the Queensland coast, mainly to export coal.
The scale of the developments came to the notice of UNESCO which has oversight of World heritage Areas. It sent a delegation to Australia to report on the threats to the GBRWHA posed by present and future developments.
The delegation has reported back to the World Heritage Committee (Mission Report, Reactive Monitoring Mission to Great Barrier Reef, Australia, 6th to 14th March) 2012 http://whc.unesco.org/en/sessions/36COM/documents, and a report on the GBRWHA will beconsidered at the 36th Session of the World Heritage Committee, 24 June to 6 July, 2012, Saint-Petersburg. UESCO_1_June_whc12-36com-7BAdde_1.pdf
The thrust of the report is that developments must be confined to existing ports and that the Australian government must show how it will manage the threats. If substantial progress is not demonstrated the GBRWHA may be put on the World Heritage in Danger List.
He had an abiding interest in the preservation of the outstanding universal values for the GBRWHA given that he was one of the architects of The 25-year Strategic Plan, which has guided reef management since 1994. http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/about-us/legislation-regulations-and-policies/the-25-year-strategic-plan-for-the-great-barrier-reef-world-heritage-area
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In ECO magazine of December 2012, posted December 13, 2012
The economy versus the coast: development and death by a thousand cuts (click for full article)
Colin Hunt Ecological economist
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Benefits and opportunity costs of Australia's Coral Sea marine protected area: A precautionary tale
Click for complete article: C. Hunt, Marine Policy, 3 (2013):352-360.
Abstract
The article analyses the benefits and costs of the Coral Sea Marine Reserve which, together with the contiguous Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, creates the largest marine protected area in the world. The benefits are found to be minimal, in both anthropocentric and ecocentric terms. The establishment and management costs are yet to be determined but could be in the order of $A20 million and $A13 million respectively. Meanwhile, serious depletion of the vital fish stocks of the largest tuna fishery in the world in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean – in which Australia is a management partner – continues, as does the rapid erosion of the unique and outstanding values of the Great Barrier Reef. It is concluded that current investment in the creation and management of the Coral Sea Reserve – in the face of the demonstrably urgent needs for investment in the management of marine resources in the near region and in Australia – is problematic.
See right bar for pictorial detail.
Proposed Commonwealth network of Marine Protected Areas, September 2012. Source Commonwealth of Australia
The Coral Sea Marine Reserve covers hectares 990,000 km2, extending eastwards from the boundary of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park to the limit of Australia’s territorial waters. The Great Barrier Reef and the Coral Sea Reserve will together constitute the largest marine protected area in the world. (Note that the South East Marine Region was established in 2007.)
