Latest news with #JohnGrimes
Sky News AU
09-07-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
Smart Energy Council CEO John Grimes' controversial China climate praise, attack on 'Team Australia' panned
A controversial speech by Smart Energy Council CEO John Grimes, in which he praised China's approach to climate change and claimed Australians "tear each other apart", has been met with staunch criticism. Catch up with all of the day's breaking news and live interviews from politicians and experts with a Streaming Subscription.
Sky News AU
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News AU
‘Ruthless machine': Climate CEO slammed for comments on China playing ‘as a team'
Sky News host Paul Murray slams Smart Energy Council CEO John Grimes for claiming China's government 'plays as a team'. 'Unbelievably he said this, and there was not a gasp in the room when he said it,' Mr Murray said. 'They do not play as a team, the Chinese government … it is a ruthless machine.'
The Advertiser
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
Australia must 'throw everything' at climate summit
Leaders need to "throw everything" at winning Australia's bid to host a key climate summit as the nation finds itself in a global race to net zero. Australia has teamed up with the Pacific in a proposal to jointly host the 2026 United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP31. But the bid to hold the talks faces a challenge from Turkey. Addressing the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday, Smart Energy Council chief executive John Grimes said Australia must secure the summit. "It's time for the prime minister and foreign minister to throw everything at it, and our industry stands ready," he said. "It actually takes all of us swinging behind this, but the government really, really needs to do whatever it can, because this is a big dividend for Australia. "This is actually Australia at its best when there's a middle power ... out advocating on the global stage for something that is of the community and global benefit and interest." The climate change conference would deliver billions of dollars to the Australian economy through trade deals, tourism and business exposure, he said. The government will hold talks with leaders in Tuvalu, Palau, Samoa and the Republic of the Marshall Islands to discuss ways to amplify their voices as nations highly exposed to the impacts of climate-fuelled disasters. Mr Grimes said Australia needed to work with the Pacific to achieve the world's first 100 per cent renewables region. The head of the body representing the nation's solar and storage industries called on the government to commit to a new emissions reduction target for 2035 to reduce emissions in the 70 per cent range. Australia was on-track to meet its legislated 43 per cent by 2030 emissions reduction target, Mr Grimes said. The Paris agreement, which Australia and 195 other parties adopted in 2015, aims to limit global temperature rises to 1.5C and less than 2C. It requires signatories to increase their emissions targets every five years and not water them down. "The world is in the process of electrifying everything that can be electrified - transportation ... renewable energy and more, Mr Grimes said. "They're not doing it because there is a UN mandate or a charter. "They're doing it because it saves them money. It's actually the cheapest thing to do." Leaders need to "throw everything" at winning Australia's bid to host a key climate summit as the nation finds itself in a global race to net zero. Australia has teamed up with the Pacific in a proposal to jointly host the 2026 United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP31. But the bid to hold the talks faces a challenge from Turkey. Addressing the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday, Smart Energy Council chief executive John Grimes said Australia must secure the summit. "It's time for the prime minister and foreign minister to throw everything at it, and our industry stands ready," he said. "It actually takes all of us swinging behind this, but the government really, really needs to do whatever it can, because this is a big dividend for Australia. "This is actually Australia at its best when there's a middle power ... out advocating on the global stage for something that is of the community and global benefit and interest." The climate change conference would deliver billions of dollars to the Australian economy through trade deals, tourism and business exposure, he said. The government will hold talks with leaders in Tuvalu, Palau, Samoa and the Republic of the Marshall Islands to discuss ways to amplify their voices as nations highly exposed to the impacts of climate-fuelled disasters. Mr Grimes said Australia needed to work with the Pacific to achieve the world's first 100 per cent renewables region. The head of the body representing the nation's solar and storage industries called on the government to commit to a new emissions reduction target for 2035 to reduce emissions in the 70 per cent range. Australia was on-track to meet its legislated 43 per cent by 2030 emissions reduction target, Mr Grimes said. The Paris agreement, which Australia and 195 other parties adopted in 2015, aims to limit global temperature rises to 1.5C and less than 2C. It requires signatories to increase their emissions targets every five years and not water them down. "The world is in the process of electrifying everything that can be electrified - transportation ... renewable energy and more, Mr Grimes said. "They're not doing it because there is a UN mandate or a charter. "They're doing it because it saves them money. It's actually the cheapest thing to do." Leaders need to "throw everything" at winning Australia's bid to host a key climate summit as the nation finds itself in a global race to net zero. Australia has teamed up with the Pacific in a proposal to jointly host the 2026 United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP31. But the bid to hold the talks faces a challenge from Turkey. Addressing the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday, Smart Energy Council chief executive John Grimes said Australia must secure the summit. "It's time for the prime minister and foreign minister to throw everything at it, and our industry stands ready," he said. "It actually takes all of us swinging behind this, but the government really, really needs to do whatever it can, because this is a big dividend for Australia. "This is actually Australia at its best when there's a middle power ... out advocating on the global stage for something that is of the community and global benefit and interest." The climate change conference would deliver billions of dollars to the Australian economy through trade deals, tourism and business exposure, he said. The government will hold talks with leaders in Tuvalu, Palau, Samoa and the Republic of the Marshall Islands to discuss ways to amplify their voices as nations highly exposed to the impacts of climate-fuelled disasters. Mr Grimes said Australia needed to work with the Pacific to achieve the world's first 100 per cent renewables region. The head of the body representing the nation's solar and storage industries called on the government to commit to a new emissions reduction target for 2035 to reduce emissions in the 70 per cent range. Australia was on-track to meet its legislated 43 per cent by 2030 emissions reduction target, Mr Grimes said. The Paris agreement, which Australia and 195 other parties adopted in 2015, aims to limit global temperature rises to 1.5C and less than 2C. It requires signatories to increase their emissions targets every five years and not water them down. "The world is in the process of electrifying everything that can be electrified - transportation ... renewable energy and more, Mr Grimes said. "They're not doing it because there is a UN mandate or a charter. "They're doing it because it saves them money. It's actually the cheapest thing to do." Leaders need to "throw everything" at winning Australia's bid to host a key climate summit as the nation finds itself in a global race to net zero. Australia has teamed up with the Pacific in a proposal to jointly host the 2026 United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP31. But the bid to hold the talks faces a challenge from Turkey. Addressing the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday, Smart Energy Council chief executive John Grimes said Australia must secure the summit. "It's time for the prime minister and foreign minister to throw everything at it, and our industry stands ready," he said. "It actually takes all of us swinging behind this, but the government really, really needs to do whatever it can, because this is a big dividend for Australia. "This is actually Australia at its best when there's a middle power ... out advocating on the global stage for something that is of the community and global benefit and interest." The climate change conference would deliver billions of dollars to the Australian economy through trade deals, tourism and business exposure, he said. The government will hold talks with leaders in Tuvalu, Palau, Samoa and the Republic of the Marshall Islands to discuss ways to amplify their voices as nations highly exposed to the impacts of climate-fuelled disasters. Mr Grimes said Australia needed to work with the Pacific to achieve the world's first 100 per cent renewables region. The head of the body representing the nation's solar and storage industries called on the government to commit to a new emissions reduction target for 2035 to reduce emissions in the 70 per cent range. Australia was on-track to meet its legislated 43 per cent by 2030 emissions reduction target, Mr Grimes said. The Paris agreement, which Australia and 195 other parties adopted in 2015, aims to limit global temperature rises to 1.5C and less than 2C. It requires signatories to increase their emissions targets every five years and not water them down. "The world is in the process of electrifying everything that can be electrified - transportation ... renewable energy and more, Mr Grimes said. "They're not doing it because there is a UN mandate or a charter. "They're doing it because it saves them money. It's actually the cheapest thing to do."
SBS Australia
09-07-2025
- Business
- SBS Australia
Renewable energy sector says Australia has opportunity of a lifetime
The renewable energy sector says Australia has the business and trade opportunity of a lifetime... Survivors mark the 30th anniversary of Europe's only acknowledged genocide since World War II... And in AFL, Carlton coach Michael Voss acknowledges threats on his life amid the Blues struggling season. The head of the Smart Energy Council says Australia has the business and trade opportunity of a lifetime through becoming a renewable energy superpower. CEO John Grimes told the National Press Club that Australia must accelerate its renewable energy strategy due to the country's natural strengths. "As a nation we have a staggering national advantage. If you put a solar panel in Australia and the exact same panel in Germany, the one in Australia will produce up to four times more energy than the one in Germany. Same panel, much stronger sun. The solar panel costs the same but the economic return is four times greater. And that's why it's so important that Australia does lean in because this is the trade and investment and business opportunity of a lifetime." He also says Australia must learn lessons from its trade partner China and work as a team, across the political aisle, to ensure the country seizes this energy production and exporting opportunity. are skeptical of the latest announcement from United States President Donald Trump that he is considering additional heavy sanctions on Russia, saying the Trump administration has been unreliable in its support of Ukraine. President Trump announced the potential sanctions while approving a new delivery of defensive weapons to Ukraine. It come after a recent decision by the Pentagon to halt some shipments of weapons to Ukraine which prompted warnings from the Ukrainian leadership last week. Mr Trump's failed efforts at ending the Russia-Ukraine war have angered the US leader whose frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin has only been increasing. Dr Matthew Sussex, a visiting fellow at A-N-U's Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, tells Sky News that the possible sanctions should be taken with a grain of salt. "The White House had held up air defence missiles for Ukraine for a while. It then reversed that. It said that it's been quietly winding back some of the sanctions on Russia. Now, Trump says he's considering this very heavy sanctions deal, so whether or not it's good for Ukraine, it might be good for them in the short term. But the short term with this particular administration can be measured in hours rather than days or weeks." Nearly 7000 people have embarked on a three-day peace march through the forests of eastern Bosnia in memory of the thousands of victims of the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, Europe's only acknowledged genocide since World War II. The 30th anniversary of the mass killing of more than 8000 men and boys from the Bosniak ethnic group, primarily Muslims, in a UN-protected safe area in Srebrenica by Bosnian Serbs, has also been commemorated at a sombre event at the UN General Assembly in New York. The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia ruled that the massacre and the mass expulsion of Bosniak civilians constituted a genocide. The annual 100 kilometre march retraces a route taken by the Bosniaks who were massacred as they tried to flee Bosnian Serb forces in the closing months of the country's 1992-95 interethnic war. One survivor, Amir Kulaglic says he has returned to support his son and cousin retrace his steps. 'I am the survivor of this path, march of the dead, from Srebrenica to the village Nezuk. My trip lasted for seven days and eight nights. And today I'm here so I can see my son, Sultan, on this walking path.' The Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia have sworn in three new dogs into their National Court Dog Program to help calm victims of trauma and hardship. The courts have welcomed the trained facility dogs Molly, Lani and Sunny into the Parramatta, Sydney and Newcastle registries respectively. In welcoming Molly to the Parramatta court, Chief Justice Will Alstergren says the dogs represent a more trauma-informed and sensitive approach to victims who find court processes difficult to bear. " Our courts are extremely pleased to be able to welcome Molly as our official court dog for the Parramatta registry. This is such an incredibly important registry and it represents real challenges for people who come to this court under serious trauma and anything we can do to lessen that trauma is so incredibly important. A professionally trained facility dog can provide support to people who are experiencing severe stress and offer a positive and calming distraction." Carlton coach Michael Voss has responded to what has been described as "death threats" on his life amid the Blues struggling season. The AFL's integrity unit is reportedly investigating a message directed at the Blues coach referencing a brutal end to his life. The threat, delivered to the MCG's venue service hotline during Carlton's 56-point loss to Collingwood on Friday is not currently being treated as a credible death threat by Victoria Police. It also comes after vandals targeted the Blues headquarters with graffiti last month. Michael Voss says this kind of behaviour cannot be tolerated. Voss, a three-time premiership captain with the Lions, has been assured of his job until at least the end of this season.
Sky News AU
09-07-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
‘China plays as a team': Smart Energy Council boss praises world's biggest polluter in bizarre National Press Club rant
The CEO of a major climate change charity has praised China – the world's worst carbon emitter – in a bizarre speech in which he attacked Australians for not being 'team players'. The rant by Smart Energy Council Chief Executive John Grimes took aim at Australians for 'tearing each other apart', while applauding the Chinese Communist Party's approach to energy. 'One thing you can say about the Chinese system is that China plays as a team,' Mr Grimes told The National Press Club on Wednesday. 'And Australia spends all of our time trying to tear each other apart. That is no way to compete for Team Australia.' Mr Grimes also acknowledged that he had 'spent a bit of time in China' including a visit to the battery maker, CATL, which has been accused of being linked to slave labour. The charity has also been tied to numerous other 'black-listed' organisations. China has long been the largest CO2 producer, spewing 15,779 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2023, according to independent scientific project, Climate Action Tracker. That was about 2.5 more than the United States at 6,378 tonnes, and about 30 times more than Australia at 530 million tonnes. China's coal demands have also exceeded the rest of the world combined as the source continues to play a disproportionate role in the energy landscape. The Climate Action Tracker (CAT) has warned that China's efforts towards net zero remain 'highly insufficient'. 'The country's energy transition continues to reflect two seemingly opposing trends: rapid deployment of renewables… and a surge in coal power construction,' CAT said. However, despite the data warning about China's uncontrollable emissions, Mr Grimes told audiences that they were winning the energy transition race. 'If the (energy) transition of the world were a marathon race, then countries like Australia and Japan… would be like the runners at the start line, limbering up,' he said. 'But the only problem was that the race began an hour ago. That's how far ahead China is in this race.' Meanwhile, CAT said China was 'significantly off track in meeting its emission intensity reduction targets under … its 2030 NDC commitment under the Paris Agreement'. Mr Grimes' comments were made at the National Press Club where he was also challenged about how his charity justified donating to the Australian Labor Party. Sky News Political Correspondent Reuben Spargo grilled the charity boss on previous donations to the Labor Party. 'The Smart Energy Council has donated to the Labor Party for two consecutive years,' Mr Grimes said, in defence of charity funds being used politically. 'It's actually not a donation. We're part of something called the Labor Business Forum, Technically, that is a membership fee. 'It's not a donation and it is not disclosable… We've chosen to disclose that.' The Smart Energy Council is listed with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), a status that exempts it from paying tax. The Albanese government relied heavily on cost estimates produced by the Smart Energy Council during the federal election campaign. These were highly disputed claims that put the cost of the Coalition's nuclear energy rollout at $600 billion, well above the $331 billion calculated by independent consultants Frontier Economics.
