CAUSINDY Renewable Energy Seminar (Event Recap)

14 Aug, 2121 | Webinars

The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has made news globally, further reinforcing the clear and present dangers of global warming: increased global temperatures, rising sea levels, wild weather events, not to mention the adverse and potentially irreversible impact on coral reefs, wildlife, oceans, forest, coastline and much else besides.

It’s been six years since the Paris Agreement was adopted, and the governments of both Australia and Indonesia have, to varying degrees, committed to taking action: hydropower projects in Indonesia, various clean energy policies in Australia, and so on. But how much more might be achieved via bilateral cooperation on renewable energy investment?

The Climate Change and Sustainability Series from CAUSINDY’s CICI team is an online series exploring renewable energy perspectives and trends, taking a specific lens to global climate strategies in Indonesia and Australia. The first event was a Renewable Energy Seminar featuring industry veterans Lufaldy Ernanda (Nestle, KPMG) and Con Hristodoulidis (AGL) and moderated by CICI team members Amadeo Ardisa and Jack Allen.

Lufaldy, an expert in sustainability and advisory services, ran through the various environmental, socio-political, economic factors of renewable energy investment in Indonesia, with Con, who boasts a career in utilities and energy retail, covering the role of Australian states and territories in pushing for climate and energy policies. (Disclaimer: Both speakers attended not as representatives of their respective employers but in a private capacity.)

The 90-minute interactive webinar, replete with Q&A and small group discussions, proved wide-ranging in scope, but participants aligned on one chief point: that investment in renewable energy benefits all – not only when it comes to the economic and corporate investment, but also the not-insignificant benefit of alleviating humanity’s destructive impact on the planet.

With activist and environmental groups advocating for better policies and garnering support from expanding membership bases, and individuals often taking things into their own hands, community support for change is growing.

The IA-CEPA has been ratified. Indonesia is one of the fastest growing nations globally. Australia could further capitalise upon existing renewable energy potential. As it becomes increasingly difficult to reverse damage done to natural habitats, global climate, human lifestyles and economic systems, what good can come from bilateral cooperation?

A pandemic is unpredictable, but the impact of climate change is entirely preventable. What’s required is effective action and collaboration.

For more information about the Renewable Energy Seminar, visit the CICI page.