On May 3, students protested at the entrance to the University of Wollongong to call for 100% renewable energy on campus. The action was a part of nationwide events calling for renewable energy across Australia.
More than 2000 students have signed a petition calling upon the university to increase its purchase of renewable energy from the current 15% to 50% by the end of 2010, and then to 100% by the end of 2015.
Environment Collective member Jess Moore said: 鈥淭he science tells us that we have a decade to transition away from carbon intensive practices. Australia faces a choice: to continue with business as usual or make the changes needed for a safe climate future.鈥
Moore. who is also Resistance national coordinator, said: 鈥淚t would cost about 3.5% of Australia鈥檚 gross domestic product to switch to 100% renewable energy. And solar and wind power will be much cheaper in the long-run. When compared with Australia's estimated public debt for 2009 (18.6% of GDP) it becomes clear the lack of serious action on climate change is not primarily a financial issue.
鈥淭he renewable energy technology that is commercially available right now can supply baseload. So the problem we face is not financial or about technology, it鈥檚 political.鈥
Undergraduate Students鈥 Association environment representative, Patrick Harrison, said: 鈥淭he university constantly claims to be all about its鈥 students, and to be a 鈥榮tudent-centred鈥 university that puts our interests first. But despite an overwhelming response from students in a short space of time, they鈥檝e completely ignored us and shown the opposite to be the case.
鈥淲ollongong university should be leading the way in the use of renewable energy. Climate change has already meant rising sea levels, destroyed ecosystems and caused an increase in climate catastrophes. Australia is one of the worst emitters per person in the world.
鈥淚nstitutions like universities have the research capacity to lead the way in making the changes the planet needs. However, currently Wollongong university researchers are developing new technologies to win defence contracts through the Defence Materials Technology Centre. A change in priorities is needed.
鈥淎s the biggest employer in the Illawarra and one of the biggest users of electricity, the university could to make an enormous contribution to the transition to a sustainable economy based on renewable energy and green jobs.鈥