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Climate Policy Paralysis in Australia: Energy Security, Energy Poverty and Jobs

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  • Saleem H. Ali

    (Department of Geography and Spatial Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
    Sustainable Minerals Institute, University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Australia)

  • Kamila Svobodova

    (Sustainable Minerals Institute, University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Australia)

  • Jo-Anne Everingham

    (Sustainable Minerals Institute, University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Australia)

  • Mehmet Altingoz

    (Department of Geography and Spatial Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA)

Abstract

According to the 2020 Climate Change Performance Index, Australia was ranked as the worst-performing country on climate change policy. The country has an ambivalent record of climate policy development as well as implementation, and has been criticized for its inaction. This paper considers why the country has been locked in climate policy “paralysis” through analyzing defining attributes of such a paralysis, and the tentative connections between domestic energy policies and international trade and development. We conducted a media content analysis of 222 articles and identified media narratives in three cases of energy projects in the country involving thermal coal exports, domestic renewable energy storage, and closure of a domestic coal power station. The analysis reveals that policy paralysis in Australian climate change policy can be traced back to the countervailing arguments that have been pervasive around domestic energy security, rural employment and international energy poverty. The political establishment has struggled to develop a sustainable consensus on climate change and the citizenry remains polarized. We also discuss how a “focusing event,” such as a major natural disaster can break the impasse but this is only possible if energy security at home, energy poverty abroad and employment imperatives across the board are clearly delineated, measured and prioritized.

Suggested Citation

  • Saleem H. Ali & Kamila Svobodova & Jo-Anne Everingham & Mehmet Altingoz, 2020. "Climate Policy Paralysis in Australia: Energy Security, Energy Poverty and Jobs," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-16, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:18:p:4894-:d:415531
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Simshauser, Paul, 2018. "Garbage can theory and Australia's National Electricity Market: Decarbonisation in a hostile policy environment," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 697-713.
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    5. Svobodova, Kamila & Vojar, Jiri & Yellishetty, Mohan & Janeckova Molnarova, Kristina, 2020. "A multi-component approach to conceptualizing the reputation of the mining industry from a stakeholder perspective," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    6. Svobodova, K. & Owen, J.R. & Harris, J. & Worden, S., 2020. "Complexities and contradictions in the global energy transition: A re-evaluation of country-level factors and dependencies," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 265(C).
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    Cited by:

    1. Omri Carmon & Itay Fischhendler, 2021. "A friction perspective for negotiating renewable energy targets: the Israeli case," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 54(2), pages 313-344, June.
    2. Vlado Vivoda, 2022. "Australia’s Energy Security and Statecraft in an Era of Strategic Competition," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-23, September.
    3. Tim Nelson & Tahlia Nolan & Joel Gilmore, 2022. "What’s next for the Renewable Energy Target – resolving Australia’s integration of energy and climate change policy?," Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, vol. 66(1), pages 136-163, January.

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