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

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) UCAN current energy situation CountryUSACanadaAustraliaNew Zealand Electricity use per capita (KWh/ capita)

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

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

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

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

Development? CountryGDP per capita in $US (Rank), 2003 Gini IndexHappy Planet Index ranking Australia29,632 (10) Canada30,677 (6) United States37,562 (4) New Zealand22,582 (3)3694

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

Future Trends Source: World Marketed Energy Use by Fuel Type (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

Development Continuum

Consumption: Putting priorities into perspective % ww private consumption % worlds population USA and Canada31.5%5.2% Australia and New Zealand 1.5%0.4% World Watch Institute 2003 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” [

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

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 CO 2 into atmosphere as a result of burning fossil fuels. Economic - Energy needs vs. availability - Reliance on imports of fossil fuels - Instability of economy

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

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)

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

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

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

References Daly, H., “Introduction to the Steady-State Economy,” pp in Daly, H., (ed.) “Economics, Ecology, Ethics-Essays Toward a Steady State Economy,” New York: W.H. Freeman and Company, 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 , 1999 International Energy Agency (IEA), website: Intenational Energy Agency World Energy Outlook. Website: Redefining Progess, website: UNDP Human Development Report,