Why did MasterChef Australia accept sponsorship from such a controversial industry?
The 2024 season of MasterChef Australia, one of the most popular Aussie primetime lifestyle shows, brought with it a controversial sponsor in the Australian Gas Network (AGN).
Tell MasterChef to drop their greenwashing sponsor
The series kicked off with contestants cooking with biomethane and hydrogen, which AGN claims are ‘renewable’ and plausible alternatives to methane gas.
The problem that viewers may not have realised was, in reality, the hydrogen featured in MasterChef isn’t renewable, and can’t replace methane in our gas network. Biomethane will never be available at a price or scale suitable for residential use, and neither can it be purchased by consumers for use at home.
In reality, these gases are simply not available to consumers and they will never be a viable option for most everyday Australians — and the gas industry knows it. The Masterchef sponsorship is just the latest attempt by the gas lobby to greenwash its industry and extend its guaranteed profits for as long as possible.
Learn why hydrogen and bio-methane can’t save the gas network>>
MasterChef producers really should have known better than to allow its brand to be tainted by this ‘bait and switch’ attempt from the gas industry, which comes at a time when most Australians would like to see better energy and emissions labelling of gas appliances, in the same way we currently have the star rating system on electrical appliances.
The other reason gas labelling makes sense is purely economic. The reality is the days of cheap gas are long gone, but the gas industry is doing everything it can to try to keep Australians shackled to gas, instead of making way for a renewable electricity powered future.
State governments are already making plans that acknowledge this reality — including the Victorian government’s Gas Substitution Roadmap that has already seen gas connections ruled out for new homes and promoting the electrification of existing homes.
As a new Environment Victoria report Pipeline of Profits points out, the gas lobby group, the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association of Australia (GAMAA), has for decades been working hard to keep us in the dark about the impacts of gas use in homes.
As the climate crisis worsens and more evidence comes to light about the harm caused by methane gas, widespread gas usage is losing community support.
The gas industry has not only failed to adapt, but over decades it has actively resisted attempts to electrify and reduce pollution in our energy system, or provide energy users with accurate information about the impacts and energy ratings of their products.
The fact is that energy ratings systems on electrical appliances work — they mean that manufacturers must make sure their products meet a minimum standard of efficiency, while also clearly labelling them so people are informed and can choose the best in class.
The latest review of Australia’s Equipment Energy Efficiency program found it saves the average Australian household between $140 and $220 off their energy bill each year, and contributes between 9% and 15% toward our national emissions reduction targets.
The gas industry has resisted transparency and regulation at every turn, denying customers the opportunity to make informed choices about their products. The irony is that appliance energy efficiency programs are great for industry — according to the International Energy Agency, they drive innovation, create jobs, and bring down appliance prices.
The Masterchef sponsorship is just the latest in a long line of cynical tactics to keep Australians shackled to gas. Gas is expensive and it’s not getting cheaper. It’s time to electrify and enjoy lower bills and healthier homes — not wait for ‘renewable gas’ fantasies that will never arrive.
Hiding behind false claims of renewable gas or green hydrogen won’t fool a public who want to reduce power bills, live in safe clean homes and care deeply about reducing emissions to protect their children’s future. It’s time the gas industry stops fuelling its PR machine and allows the public to enjoy the benefits of a clean, renewably powered electric future.
This article was first published in Yahoo News on July 20 2024. You can read it here>>