Nonfiction

Superpower: Australia's Low-Carbon Opportunity

Superpower: Australia's Low-Carbon Opportunity

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  • Create Date：2022-03-30 04:53:55
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
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  • Author：Ross Garnaut
  • ISBN：1760642096
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Summary

The fog of Australian politics on climate change has obscured a fateful reality: Australia has the potential to be an economic superpower of the future post-carbon world。

We have unparalleled renewable energy resources。 We also have the necessary scientific skills。 Australia could be the natural home for an increasing proportion of global industry。 But how do we make this happen？

In this crisp， compelling book， Australia’s leading thinker about climate and energy policy offers a road map for progress， covering energy， transport， agriculture， the international scene and more。 Rich in ideas and practical optimism， Superpower is a crucial， timely contribution to this country’s future。

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Reviews

Alex ，

Long-winded and presented in technical language that will scare away all but the most dedicated scholars of the renewable economy。

Stanley Xue ，

Very compelling vision。 Lots of policy juice and economic discussion。Great marketing pitch that Australia - endowed with significant advantages in renewable energy generation - could become an energy and industrial "superpower"。 These changes in the electricity makeup will have massive flow-on benefits for industry and transport。 Given changes that are already occuring globally and our potential advantages in renewable energy generation， Australia may find itself in a position where it can revit Very compelling vision。 Lots of policy juice and economic discussion。Great marketing pitch that Australia - endowed with significant advantages in renewable energy generation - could become an energy and industrial "superpower"。 These changes in the electricity makeup will have massive flow-on benefits for industry and transport。 Given changes that are already occuring globally and our potential advantages in renewable energy generation， Australia may find itself in a position where it can revitalise local industries that require high energy inputs （e。g。 processing of aluminium， iron ores， and other important minerals in 21st century）。 We can conduct carbon capture and storage， given our large area of semiarid land， which may become more economically competitive for carbon capture and storage rather than low economic output grazing。 Australia can become a source of carbon credit exports and production of hydrogen， ammonia， and biomass hydrocarbons。 Another thing of note was the very unfortunate recollection that Abbott's climate policy - getting rid of the carbon tax （and planned integration into the EU emissions trading system） - has set us back for more than a decade。 But Garnaut discusses a multitude of policy tools that can support significant emissions reductions AND generate massive economic benefit for Australians - whilst bridging the way to a future where adoption of a broad-based carbon tax and international carbon/emissions trading system （hopefully） becomes a bipartisan issue。 Garnaut argues that we'll need more investment in long-distance high-voltage transmission lines to deliver electricity from renewable energy hubs。 Increase our incentives for encouraging electricity system stability。 Increasing our incentives for investment into carbon capture technology。 。。。more

Amin ，

Great book to read for the ideas， and historical and technical depth， but I think it needs a full edit to make it easier to read with better punctuation。 Some of the sentences were unnecessary complicated。

Nick Lucarelli ，

It is disappointing that so articulate a man writes in such a schizophrenic style。 Could not get into his train of thought。 He does， however， manage to highlight that the drawbacks of not embracing the green new world will set our economy back even more so than it will advance us by embracing it。 I did find myself both interested in his ideas - increasing grid interconnectivity， incentivising and supporting on shore manufacturing / processing hubs fuelled by green energy， and various carbon capt It is disappointing that so articulate a man writes in such a schizophrenic style。 Could not get into his train of thought。 He does， however， manage to highlight that the drawbacks of not embracing the green new world will set our economy back even more so than it will advance us by embracing it。 I did find myself both interested in his ideas - increasing grid interconnectivity， incentivising and supporting on shore manufacturing / processing hubs fuelled by green energy， and various carbon capture / storage programs - and concerned at how little action we've taken， and how much exponentially more we need to take every year we wait to get moving。 。。。more

Mathew ，

Dense but authoritative。 It is definitely not light reading but it's worth it if you're keen to see where Australian industry could go in the next few decades。 Dense but authoritative。 It is definitely not light reading but it's worth it if you're keen to see where Australian industry could go in the next few decades。 。。。more

Zeke Coady ，

Dense and a little too technical， but it’s founded on hope for the future。 Needed。

Bryce Ham ，

Ross Garnaut， the economist who wrote the 2008 Garnaut Climate Change Review for the Australian government， explores Australia's unique low-carbon opportunity in this book。 He envisions Australia becoming a global superpower of industry with processes like aluminum smelting and production of hydrogen having natural homes in an Australia powered by low-cost renewable energy。 A great book if you love the nerdy specifics of climate policy and Australia's low-emissions future。 Ross Garnaut， the economist who wrote the 2008 Garnaut Climate Change Review for the Australian government， explores Australia's unique low-carbon opportunity in this book。 He envisions Australia becoming a global superpower of industry with processes like aluminum smelting and production of hydrogen having natural homes in an Australia powered by low-cost renewable energy。 A great book if you love the nerdy specifics of climate policy and Australia's low-emissions future。 。。。more

Christopher Dean ，

Although in respect of climate change， Australia has ‘enjoyed’ a recalcitrant federal government since 2013， Ross Garnaut's Superpower is an optimistic exposition of how Australia could benefit from， and be a leader in， emission-reducing industries。Ross Garnaut is a prominent Australian economist and author of a major climate change review for a previous government。 Superpower devotes separate chapters to the major areas where opportunities reside。 These include: electricity generation， transmis Although in respect of climate change， Australia has ‘enjoyed’ a recalcitrant federal government since 2013， Ross Garnaut's Superpower is an optimistic exposition of how Australia could benefit from， and be a leader in， emission-reducing industries。Ross Garnaut is a prominent Australian economist and author of a major climate change review for a previous government。 Superpower devotes separate chapters to the major areas where opportunities reside。 These include: electricity generation， transmission and storage; transformations in manufacturing aluminium， clean iron and other energy intensive industries; transport transformation， including the electric car; and transformation of landcape and food production。Perhaps the most interesting section of the book is a chapter which discusses the point at which the benefits of climate change investments become evident。 Garnaut argues that one reason why democratic governments are hesitant to invest in a low-carbon future is because the benefits can only come to fruition well beyond the short political term of any one government。 In other words， the rate at which future benefits are valued relative to present benefits， what Garnaut calls the ‘discount rate’。 In a densely argued chapter， complete with its own separate appendix， Garnaut points out that circumstances have now changed so that the benefits of investment in climate change are no longer confined to a distant future。 The benefits are available now。In terms of readability， Garnaut’s Superpower is a dense read and contains many acronyms which sometimes slows the pace down， especially for a non-economist。 Nevertheless， Superpower is an important book and deserves to have a high readership， especially among Australia’s political leaders。 Garnaut’s optimism is palpable and the reader is better for it。 。。。more

Anthony Garvin ，

This well crafted book could （or should？） be the climate and business bible for every politician and senior business person in Australia！

Clare Snow ，

I want everyone to read this， esp Australia's politicians。"There is a chasm between a world that quickly breaks the link between modern economic growth and carbon emissions， and a world that fails to do so。 The side of the chasm we are now on is a dangerous place。 It would be reckless beyond the normal human irrationality for us to stay where we are。" At a point somewhere in my reading the very dry economics got to me and I considered DNF。 I'm glad I didn't。 If you hate economics read the last ch I want everyone to read this， esp Australia's politicians。"There is a chasm between a world that quickly breaks the link between modern economic growth and carbon emissions， and a world that fails to do so。 The side of the chasm we are now on is a dangerous place。 It would be reckless beyond the normal human irrationality for us to stay where we are。" At a point somewhere in my reading the very dry economics got to me and I considered DNF。 I'm glad I didn't。 If you hate economics read the last chapter and you'll get the gist of this very important book。I almost feel optimistic that we might be able to keep global warming to 1。5° 。。。more

Claire ，

Can’t pretend I understood everything in this book but what a treat to read something so hopeful about the possibilities for Australia in a changing climate。

Julia ，

“Australia has the strongest interest among developed countries in the success of a global effort on climate change。 Even if we abstract from the effects of climate change itself， we have the most to gain economically。 But we are stuck on the side of the chasm with the people who are against effective action”

Geoffrey ，

Fascinating。 Would recommend。

Andrew Carr ，

In 2008 and 2011 Ross Garnaut delivered two important reports on climate and energy policy。 Both showed that Australia had to face a serious problem， had to begin addressing it immediately， and would likely face high costs today， but achieve a better world - sans calamatious climate change - in the future。 A case of here's some bitter medicine， but the outcome is worth it。In Superpower， Garnaut argues that things have really changed since his earlier work。 Rather than simply doing the right thin In 2008 and 2011 Ross Garnaut delivered two important reports on climate and energy policy。 Both showed that Australia had to face a serious problem， had to begin addressing it immediately， and would likely face high costs today， but achieve a better world - sans calamatious climate change - in the future。 A case of here's some bitter medicine， but the outcome is worth it。In Superpower， Garnaut argues that things have really changed since his earlier work。 Rather than simply doing the right thing because we need to， Garnaut argues that for Australia there is a potentially golden opportunity to benefit and prosper from the change。 The heart of his argument is that with massive new energy capacity through renewables in certain key parts of the country， we see a significant change in the economics of key industries。 In particular， transforming raw resources into key metals as well as using agriculture to support energy or store carbon。 Now， much more than was anticipated a decade ago， we can be confident that we will be richer materially sooner rather than later， as well as very much richer in human and natural heritage should we embrace a zero-emission future。。。Australia should have a much stronger comparative advantage in energy-intensive minerals and agricultural processing in a zero-emissions world economy than it had in the fossil-energy past In many ways Superpower is really a third review by Garnaut， only this version is sold in bookstores instead of as a free PDF download。 It seems the book began life as a series of 6 academic lectures （which helps explain some of its structure and tone）， and it still reads more like a report than a book。 That said， once I'd come to understands the style （and look past the self-references）， I rather liked the wonkishness of it。 This book makes a nice compliment to Ketan Joshi's Windfall。 Both try and move away from the 'we need to swallow the bitter medicine from our century of sin' language of many climate activists and instead show that for Australia at least， there are huge， material advantages for making the change。 Joshi focused on Windfarming and bringing people into the new forms of energy， Garnaut emphasises that all the extra power can help us very cheaply process our mineral wealth， thereby gaining significant income。It would have been good to see Garnaut push this argument further。 What else could all that extra power be used for （such as defence needs against that other looming threat starting with C）？ How could it help shift trade and political relations in Asia？ What kind of country could we be if we play this new role as an energy super power？ The title seems to promise so much， and while it lives up to it in a 'here are some industries that could do very well'， It wasn't quite clear the theme had integrated across the entire analysis。A sensible part of this book is the recognition of politics。 Several time Garnaut offers advice to the Morrison government which he notes is consistent with the government's 2019 party platform。 While he rightly argues Australia will need to go far beyond what this government is doing - and like Joshi argues that we're only just getting by thanks to all the things everyone *except* the federal government are doing - he doesn't simply try and demand an elected government do an about face on a critical and controversial issue。 This is a welcome given too many climate activists （including some South Pacific leaders） thumb their nose at the notion of democratic constraints on what leaders should do。 Which is neither coherent as analysis （since domestic politics does and must matter） or useful for persuasion （the regional mugging in late 2019 just pissed off Morrison and many Australian diplomats）。 Again， I'm not excusing the government's horrible approach， but if your analysis isn't trying to work within the possible or plausible， you're not really trying to solve the issue you're claiming to care about。I still feel I don't know much about climate or energy， and this book is but one more effort to try and learn。 And perhaps I'm just attracted to the optimistic ones with titles like Windfall and Superpower。 But I do know that on many difficult public issues， a good dose of sugar always helps the medicine go down。 。。。more

Kerry ，

Excellent！ A great blueprint for Australia's economic future。 Should be read as widely as possible。 If you can forgive its slightly self-congratulatory style in parts it is hopeful and comforting （if frustrating at our past policy failures！） reading。 Excellent！ A great blueprint for Australia's economic future。 Should be read as widely as possible。 If you can forgive its slightly self-congratulatory style in parts it is hopeful and comforting （if frustrating at our past policy failures！） reading。 。。。more

S P ，

Slightly difficult and dense for the non-economist。 But push through - the true gift of this book is hope that Australia can address and even thrive from addressing climate change。This book took a while to finish。 While absolutely vital， it can be dense and verbose。。。perhaps， one might suggest unkindly， like a lot of economic analysis。But I'm glad I pushed through。 The strength of this book is its analysis。 It is well reasoned， clear， and rewarding to read as the author examines each sector of t Slightly difficult and dense for the non-economist。 But push through - the true gift of this book is hope that Australia can address and even thrive from addressing climate change。This book took a while to finish。 While absolutely vital， it can be dense and verbose。。。perhaps， one might suggest unkindly， like a lot of economic analysis。But I'm glad I pushed through。 The strength of this book is its analysis。 It is well reasoned， clear， and rewarding to read as the author examines each sector of the economy in detail， sketching a vision of that sector carbon free。Past the early Chapters， and the non-economist is rewarded - chapters 4-7 present clear， reasoned approaches to decarbonising the electricity， industrial， transportation and agricultural sectors。 Together， they provide a concrete message of hope - that carbon-free can be the future and Australia could even benefit from that future。The early chapters on economics and moral case are not for the faint hearted - it is dense and at some points felt somewhat repetitious。。。which may be because I wasn't understanding the subject matter！ It did make it difficult to get into the book though。But the main reason to read this book: it gives hope。 Yes the federal government might be full of climate denialists and nihilists committed to destroying Australia's climate change institutional architecture。。。but， the book argues， that doesn't matter。 Because business， the community， and state governments can and are stepping in。 I found this quite reassuring。 。。。more

Joel Blacker ，

A compelling piece of work， highlighting Australia's competitive advantage and significant opportunity in tomorrow's zero carbon global economy。 The book equally explains how this opportunity can be seized when we can collectively overcome the current shroud of archaic and harmful politics。 Whilst economics and politics can be a dry topic， this book is well structured and does well to remain somewhat succinct。 I would only query the discussion surrounding use of biomass and Australia's advantage A compelling piece of work， highlighting Australia's competitive advantage and significant opportunity in tomorrow's zero carbon global economy。 The book equally explains how this opportunity can be seized when we can collectively overcome the current shroud of archaic and harmful politics。 Whilst economics and politics can be a dry topic， this book is well structured and does well to remain somewhat succinct。 I would only query the discussion surrounding use of biomass and Australia's advantage in that regard。 Whilst I am sure it can be done in an environmentally sound manner。 Our native forests are currently being plundered for much poorer outputs， and I would be concerned that they might continue to be decimated under the "eco-friendly" guise of biomass。 Nonetheless I imagine that challenge could also be solved with sound policy such as an independent regulator。 I would encourage environmentalists engaging our political representatives， particularly those especially concerned with economics， to read this book and become more informed！ 。。。more

Nick Harris ，

Inspiring vision and detailed policy for a clean energy revolution in Australia - solar+wind+battery+hydro and then we can have boundless clean energy。 We can also reform land use to capture carbon。 All of this is eminently possible， and quickly - as long as the politics is right。

John Shaw ，

Excellent overview of the opportunities afforded to Australia by the global response to climate change。 Our renewable and mineral resource endowments， industrial and agricultural knowledge， and proximity to key export markets for energy and processed materials make many of the transitions complimentary to popular goals such as the reinvigoration of regional centres and the Australian manufacturing industry。 For those interested in the politics of Australian carbon and energy policy， Garnaut does Excellent overview of the opportunities afforded to Australia by the global response to climate change。 Our renewable and mineral resource endowments， industrial and agricultural knowledge， and proximity to key export markets for energy and processed materials make many of the transitions complimentary to popular goals such as the reinvigoration of regional centres and the Australian manufacturing industry。 For those interested in the politics of Australian carbon and energy policy， Garnaut does a good job of clarifying the rationale and effect of policy decisions。 Some passages will warrant rereading several times to override the scrambled logic imprinted by political obfuscation and lazy journalism。A visionary book， it may have benefited from addressing some potential counterarguments to each of the key recommendations。 However， they were well presented and substantiated， and I've no doubt that many of these ideas will be seriously considered and implemented to varying degrees in coming decades。 。。。more

Michael Knock ，

Something every Australian should read。

Brendan ，

An excellent， highly readable book of hope for all Australians who feel disappointed and frustrated with the lack of action on rising carbon pollution from federal Labor and Liberal governments since 2008， when the Green blew up Rudd's proposed ETS， the closest we got to a viable market based solution to rising emissions and irreversible climate change。 An excellent， highly readable book of hope for all Australians who feel disappointed and frustrated with the lack of action on rising carbon pollution from federal Labor and Liberal governments since 2008， when the Green blew up Rudd's proposed ETS， the closest we got to a viable market based solution to rising emissions and irreversible climate change。 。。。more

Gary Morris ，

Bring it on

Alexandria Blaelock ，

I read this book during the pandemic， and before the release of the Black Summer bushfire Royal Commission findings。And given it does an excellent job of demonstrating we're at the limits of what individuals and forward-thinking businesses can do without government support， as well as what governments can do to save the economy and the environment simultaneously。。。 Well， it seemed like a time ripe with the potential of overturning some long-held government policies and getting to work on making I read this book during the pandemic， and before the release of the Black Summer bushfire Royal Commission findings。And given it does an excellent job of demonstrating we're at the limits of what individuals and forward-thinking businesses can do without government support， as well as what governments can do to save the economy and the environment simultaneously。。。 Well， it seemed like a time ripe with the potential of overturning some long-held government policies and getting to work on making the world a better place。But the government， in an utter failure of imagination， wants everything except Industrial Reform BACK to normal。 As if that's possible。 So the thing to do is take this information and start getting it out there， and encouraging your local members to do something about it。 。。。more

Tony Castley ，

This book is an excellent overview of how the Australian economy， not only could but should pivot to zero net carbon。 Ross Garnaut's depth of knowledge on economics， politics and renewable energy is on display for all。 This book is an excellent overview of how the Australian economy， not only could but should pivot to zero net carbon。 Ross Garnaut's depth of knowledge on economics， politics and renewable energy is on display for all。 。。。more

Nicholas Harvey ，

Superpower is a refreshing combination of economics and science which paints opportunities out of acting on climate change。 A little optimistic at times and favouring the narrative of Australia is unique but also supports assertions with evidence。 Garnaut harks back to the days when CSIRO was world leading and suggests some clear chances to recover this edge。 He provides a list of industrial and agricultural opportunities that connect employment and business opportunity with climate change mitig Superpower is a refreshing combination of economics and science which paints opportunities out of acting on climate change。 A little optimistic at times and favouring the narrative of Australia is unique but also supports assertions with evidence。 Garnaut harks back to the days when CSIRO was world leading and suggests some clear chances to recover this edge。 He provides a list of industrial and agricultural opportunities that connect employment and business opportunity with climate change mitigation that should unite readers of political persuasions。 。。。more

Adam Hodgkiss ，

Garnaut paints a compelling picture of Australia’s competitive advantages in a low carbon world。 Filled with enthusiasm， strong ideas and hope - essential reading for anybody interested in moving beyond the broken culture wars and false binary choices that have stagnated progress in this area for way too long。

Leigh ，

Interesting take on the opportunities that will present themselves in Australia。 Lots of good stuff here regarding the logistics and economics of renewable fuels， although it’s a bit of a slow start with the recap and name dropping of the author’s personal involvement with different policy reviews。 The carbon farming element goes over my head as I can’t get past the sense it is a giant hollow rort like water rights in the Murray Darling basin。

Andrew ，

Garnaut argues that the prospects for carbon emissions abatement in Australia have improved dramatically in recent years。 This is principally because: 1） The cost of renewable energy technology has declined markedly; and 2） interest rates are very low， meaning that financing capital-intensive renewable energy projects is much easier。Australia is uniquely placed to benefit economically from the shift to low carbon electricity， as Australia has unparalleled renewable energy resources （eg wind and Garnaut argues that the prospects for carbon emissions abatement in Australia have improved dramatically in recent years。 This is principally because: 1） The cost of renewable energy technology has declined markedly; and 2） interest rates are very low， meaning that financing capital-intensive renewable energy projects is much easier。Australia is uniquely placed to benefit economically from the shift to low carbon electricity， as Australia has unparalleled renewable energy resources （eg wind and solar） and the cost of low carbon electricity can be lower in Australia than in almost any other country。 Accordingly， energy-intensive industrial processes （such as aluminium smelting and minerals processing） can shift to Australia。 Former industrial areas in regional Australia have natural advantages in this regard， with existing transmission networks and industrial workforces。 Regional Australia is also uniquely placed to sequester carbon into its soil， creating economic opportunity on otherwise marginal land。Garnaut proposes short-term policy solutions that are broadly compatible with the current Morrison Government's election commitments， but that will nevertheless advance Australia rapidly down the road towards zero net emissions by 2050。 This includes: support for new electricity transmission and electric vehicle charging networks; requiring companies to purchase offsets for fugitive emissions; and the use of snowy hydro to underwrite reliability of supply。A really important book that makes a convincing case that emissions abatement is compatible with - and will probably drive - economic growth。 。。。more

Stephen Torsi ，

This isn't a book for an uncommitted layperson， its full of acronyms， economic modelling and Industry-specific detail。 I struggled with some of this detail but I knew I had to push on and get as much out of it as my limited knowledge would allow as it is clearly an important book for the future of Australia。 Garnaut sets out a clear and compelling path towards a bright future for Australia without slipping into partisanship， he couldn't make it any easier for the current Government to make chang This isn't a book for an uncommitted layperson， its full of acronyms， economic modelling and Industry-specific detail。 I struggled with some of this detail but I knew I had to push on and get as much out of it as my limited knowledge would allow as it is clearly an important book for the future of Australia。 Garnaut sets out a clear and compelling path towards a bright future for Australia without slipping into partisanship， he couldn't make it any easier for the current Government to make changes to policy and budget without compromising election promises。 This is the story we need to 'sell' to the Australian public， Australia can become a global Super Power due to its unparalleled renewable energy resources and need to take the opportunity before its too late。 。。。more

Karen Liang ，

This was a pretty dense economic book to digest for me with foreign economic concepts which at times I struggled to understand。 As a result I don't think I fully understood the impact of this book so I would think it unfair to judge it based on my poor economic understanding lol。 Even the graphs didn't really help my cause。Maybe if I wasn't such a layperson in economics， I would've found this to be a more meaningful read。 This was a pretty dense economic book to digest for me with foreign economic concepts which at times I struggled to understand。 As a result I don't think I fully understood the impact of this book so I would think it unfair to judge it based on my poor economic understanding lol。 Even the graphs didn't really help my cause。Maybe if I wasn't such a layperson in economics， I would've found this to be a more meaningful read。 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Superpower: Australia's Low-Carbon Opportunity

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Superpower: Australia's Low-Carbon Opportunity&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Superpower: Australia's Low-Carbon Opportunity&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0