- The Lowy Institute’s annual national survey suggests Australians believe climate change is a critical threat
- More than half of those surveyed support reducing coal exports to other countries
- LTR lands third and final offtake agreement with Ford as the automaker looks to secure raw materials for EVs
Roughly 90% of Australians support federal government subsidies for renewable energy technology, while less than a third still favour subsidising existing coal power stations, a new poll shows.
The Lowy Institute’s annual national survey suggests Australians are becoming increasingly concerned with global warming with an estimated 60% confirming ‘it is a serious and pressing problem’ – one that needs to be addressed now even if it involves significant costs.
Of the 2006 Australians surveyed over the phone and online in March, more than half support reducing coal exports to other countries (65%), introducing an emissions trading scheme (64%), and banning new coal mines (63%).
Interestingly, 59% support the increasing use of gas and 52% backed removing the ban on nuclear power.
Climate councillor and former director of preparedness and mobilisation at the Australian Department of Defence, Cheryl Durrant, said more than half of those polled view climate change as a critical threat.
“Climate change ranked just behind concern over cyberattacks, and just in front of the perceived threats of North Korea’s nuclear program,” she said.
“Unfortunately, we’re now in a world where climate change not only poses an existential threat, it amplifies and multiplies the global events that rank above it too.
“It’s also critical that Australia catches up with other countries who are way ahead on the decarbonisation journey.
“If we don’t start the transition now, we will see greater threats of food insecurity and disruptions to the global supply chain.”
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HAZER GROUP (ASX:HZR)
After four years with Geoff Ward as managing director and CEO, Hazer has appointed Glenn Corie to the role, effective from October 2022.
Corrie will be based at Hazer’s Perth headquarters and Ward will remain in his role until that date, supporting any required transition requirements.
HZR chair Tim Goldsmith thanked Ward for the journey he has taken Hazer on in establishing the platform for the future and congratulated Corrie for joining the team in a key part of the company’s transition in the next stage of growth.
“Our company has undergone a significant transformation over the last four years with the completion of the Woodman Point Commercial Demonstration Project and securing the Burrard Hydrogen Project in British Columbia,” he said.
“We look forward to driving these projects to demonstrate the huge potential of our technology to provide clean energy and emissions reduction in difficult-to-abate sectors.”
LIONTOWN (ASX:LTR)
LTR has secured its third and last foundational offtake agreement with leading global automaker, Ford, together with a debt facility for the Kathleen Valley Lithium Project and paving the way for a final investment decision for the project.
Ford’s vice president of EV Industrialisation Lisa Drake said this is one of several agreements the company is working on to help secure raw materials and support its plan to deliver EVs for customers around the world.
The offtake agreement is for the supply of up to 150,000 DMT per annum of spodumene concentrate – a source of lithium essential in key EV battery chemistries.