It’s Getting Hot In Here

It is with great disappointment that I today learnt of two new agreements signed between two of Australia’s leading Universities and fossil fuel bodies. The announcements come in the wake of two recent reports on the influence of the mining and fossil fuel industries on Australian universities; the Australian Student Environment Network’s report Opportunities to Waste: Australian Universities and the Nuclear Industry (www.asen.org.au/OpportunitiesToWaste), and The Australia Institute’s recent paper University Capture: Australian universities and the fossil fuel industries (www.tai.org.au).

The Sydney Morning Herald reported:

“THE University of Sydney has struck a deal with Rio Tinto to accept $21 million to establish a “sponsored chair” whose research on remotely operated mining - including work by more than 10 students - will be offered exclusively to the mining giant…The Rio Tinto Centre for Mining Automation will be “embedded” in the Australian Centre for Field Robotics, which employs about 150 university staff.

The university’s governing body met last night to endorse the move, negotiated between the acting vice-chancellor, Professor Don Nutbeam, and Technology Resources, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto. It was signed on July 5 and commits the company to provide $21 million over five years to the research centre for mining automation, to be headed by Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte. University senate papers note: “[Technology Resources] will receive an exclusive royalty-free licence to use the results of the project in the field of mining.”

And from today’s issue of The Australian:

“THE University of Western Australia has made two senior appointments in a clear bid to indicate its commitment to the resources industry.

It has appointed noted marine scientist Alistar Robertson as a pro-vice-chancellor, as part of a “energy and minerals initiative”.

Tim Shanahan who has been CEO of the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of WA for more than six years, will become the initiative’s inaugural director. “The appointment of Tim Shanahan reflects UWA’s commitment to supporting the minerals and energy industry in WA and also the nation,” vice-chancellor Alan Robson said.”

The announcements come in the wake of two recent reports on the influence of the mining and fossil fuel industries on Australian universities; the Australian Student Environment Network’s report Opportunities to Waste: Australian Universities and the Nuclear Industry (www.asen.org.au/OpportunitiesToWaste), and The Australia Institute’s recent paper University Capture: Australian universities and the fossil fuel industries (www.tai.org.au).

One of the most frustrating things about today’s fossil fuel partnership announcements is that while Australian Universities have the potential to be a major force for good in solving our climate crisis, their governing bodies are instead choosing to perpetuate climate change by supporting environmentally destructive industries.

It is no coincidence that as federal government funding to Australian universities has been cut, universities are increasingly seeking funding from corporations. This compromises the role of the University as a relatively unbiased research institution, as corporate agendas are pushed into the University’s research and teaching priorities with each fat cheque. The ASEN Report states that the most significant element of University restructures over the 11-year term of the Coalition government has been a shift in the funding base of universities from public to private sources, namely fee-paying student and business. In 2002, then Education Minister Brendan Nelson, campaigning for the passage into legislation of his reform package, ‘Our Universities: Backing Australia’s Future,’ which greatly accelerated this trend, argued “our definition of universities should not be so narrow as to exclude one that undertakes research which is driven predominantly, but not entirely, by industry”.

Furthermore, states the ASEN report, the Australian Federal Government (notoriously against action on climate change) is using remaining levels of public funding to exercise far more explicit control over university activities. Michael Gallagher, senior figure in the Commonwealth higher education administration form 1988-2003 argues “few expected The Higher Education Support Act of 2003 to have been so prescriptive and narrow in defining the relationship between universities and the state in ‘purchaser-provider’ terms, and to have been so intrusive into areas of long standing university autonomy in Australia”.

Universities have historically been at the centre of paradigm shifts in technology and culture, such as the development of the internet. There are over 37 major Universities in Australia, each with a number of campuses. As huge institutions that use a lot of energy, they can provide an important market “tipping point” for renewable energy technology. Campuses can also showcase models of energy efficiency and environmental sustainability that can prove the feasibility of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Finally, campuses are the place where we educate and build support for the next generation of voters, politicians and business leaders who can demand that their politicians work for clean energy solutions.

Our universities don’t have to support the fossil fuel industry. Our education can help, not harm, our environment! Our Universities can choose to conserve energy, organise for more efficient systems, and support solar and wind power, bringing energy-related jobs into our communities in a way that doesn’t destroy the environment upon which our lives depend. Our Universities and governments will not take up the fight on their own. But when we organise and apply pressure to those who hold decision-making power, we can direct Institutions away from the traditions of the past towards a clean energy future rooted in climate justice. Get involved in your local campus environment collective (especially if you’re at Sydney Uni or UWA) or contact the Australian Youth Climate Coalition at aycc.national.coordinator@gmail.com.