ASPO Australian Report
817. ASPO-Australia Progress Report ASPO-Australia is a network of professionals working to reduce oil vulnerability. It was formally launched by Prof Kjell Aleklett in Perth (in the media room of the Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia) on his Australian visit in November 2005 and we have an active and effective website, created and maintained by Dr Sherry Mayo in Melbourne. We have considerable strengths nationwide in transport planning, having been formed under the auspices of the Sustainable Transport Coalition which had held Peak Oil conferences in 2003 and 2004 . In Australia, as elsewhere, transport use dominates oil demand, so Peak Oil mitigation and adaptation depends on a good understanding how the transport and urban systems can become less oil-vulnerable. The proven "Individualised Marketing" TravelSmart demand management strategies used in several Australia cities have quickly and cheaply reduced car use (kms travelled) by some 12-13%. This is without pricing signals, or rationing, or publicity campaigns. Many Australian cities now have serious water restrictions, which provide a good model for petrol rationing if needed, and is the analogy that we should be preparing for petrol droughts as well. ASPO-Australia has active groups in major Australian cities, and a structure of many separate working groups focusing on the impacts of Peak Oil on various community sectors. Looking in detail at the oil-vulnerability of segments of society, either geographical or by industry, or other ways, offers the chance to avoid being overwhelmed by the big picture and to see the many opportunities to reduce oil use, and to understand the advantages that Peak Oil will bring in different areas, as well as the problems. The Health sector, the Social Services sector, and the Finance sector are areas affected by Peak Oil, but often overlooked. For instance, overall health levels in Australia will be improved with less automobile dependence as the physical and mental health benefits of active transport are large and well known now. However, trends to fewer larger hospitals should be reversed to prepare for oil shortages. We Have been concentrating on the corporate sector, and particularly the superannuation funds that have enormous resources to invest. Investments now in airports and toll-roads may not be sound way of financing pensions in 20 years, and superannuation is a useful link between ordinary people and the corporate sector. Oil-vulnerability risk assessment and risk management is an area with a lot of potential, and there is one study under way centred on Cairns in Far North Queensland. We have arranged very successful visits by international speakers, Kjell Aleklett, Ali Samsam Bakhtiari and Chris Skrebowski, with Roger Bezdek coming in June. Richard Heinberg also completed a whirlwind tour organised by Permaculture advocates. A highlight of the last year has been the Australian Senate Inquiry into Australia's Future Oil Supplies and Alternative transport fuels. ASPO-Australia made some 15 separate submissions from most of our working groups and as well ASPO people round the world also put in valuable submissions including from Sweden, Ireland, Italy, USA, and China. The final report was tabled in the Senate on 7th February, but received little media coverage due to a an overdue flurry of Climate Change political activity in Canberra. It is the first time any Australian Parliament has recognised Peak Oil, and it has a lot of information hidden away in the report. ASPO-Australia was invited late last year to present papers at the China University of Petroleum in Beijing and with Prof Aleklett at a conference in Kyoto and at a meeting of the Mottainai Society at the University of Tokyo. We have concentrated on the policy options available to Australian governments to reduce oil vulnerability. Many of these are "No-regrets" options already justified on grounds of equity, environment or economics. Moving towards European levels of bicycle and public transport usage, and towards European fuel tax levels are obvious steps. Demand management strategies, and tradeable gasoline rights (or equitable preparation for fuel rationing) are other areas with considerable promise to help Australia prepare for further oil shocks and for Peak Oil. We are very keen to work with other ASPOs and to arrange for further peak oil speakers to visit Australia.