Public power for planetary health equity: why ownership matters

As we overshoot our climate targets, the solution remains crystal clear: stop burning fossil fuels, and build more renewables – but who should build them, and why? The norm in places with privatised energy systems (like Australia) is for these new infrastructures to be privately owned, developed to generate ongoing profits. In this webinar, drawing on perspectives from history and political economy, Matt will explore the case for publicly owned renewable power. It would seem that this approach is preferable across the grounds of emissions reduction, equity, engineering, and cost – so what is the catch? As we increasingly question privatisation across many aspects of economic life, it is time to revisit power.

The ‘Saving the World’ webinar series, presented by the Planetary Health Equity Hothouse, releases a new episode each month, discussing the intersections between climate change, inequity and human health. The webinars focus on actions that enable transformative change away from the harmful consumptogenic system to systems that promote good health, social equity and environmental wellbeing.