Children’s stories provide a wonderful way to communicate the essence of complex issues to the broadest possible audience in a way that’s fun, inclusive and positive.
They’re also innately linked with the future – preparing the next generations with the attitudes and knowledge to thrive and create a better world.
During the heavy political climate of late 2018, these uplifting characteristics motivated me to tell the story of the energy transition as an illustrated children’s book.
The goal from the outset was to create “a great book to teach young children and old politicians about clean energy,” as Craig Reucassel put it.
In a heartening sign of how far the conversation (and politics) around the energy transition has improved in the intervening years, the resulting book – Amy’s Balancing Act – was recently launched in Federal Parliament with endorsements from across political parties.
Amy’s story contains three layered balancing acts, each of which was commented on by speakers.
The Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen directed his speech to the children in the room and focused on how Amy (who represents AEMO) has to learn to balance the abilities of different clean technologies.
“We need to use clean sources of energy for you, because this is about making sure the planet’s clean for you when you grow up.”
“You can’t use all sun, and you can’t use all wind, but we need to use both.”
“This book is about explaining that and helping people understand that we need the balance: we need to store sun, we need to store wind. So the planet is nice and run on clean green energy, which is what we really need.”
Liberal MP Bridget Archer’s speech meanwhile focused on how the story creates an inclusive framing by balancing respect for the historic service of coal generation and coal communities with confidence and clarity in the 100% renewable energy system of the future.
“This book perfectly illustrates, pun not intended, the importance of how the right language and narratives can effectively change people’s minds and create effective change.”
“Amongst the many frustrations I feel when it comes to the topic of climate change, is the lack of inclusivity. The ‘them versus us’ mentality does not progress the conversation.”
“My view is that, as elected representatives, if we want to bring people with us in a new and different direction, it’s critical to use language that feels inclusive to them.”
“I think for any of us who are parents or who might be around young people on a regular basis, we already know just how persuasive children can be and how they take on board the messaging around caring for the environment.”
(Bridget’s speech was read by a staffer as Bridget was unexpectedly held up in divisions in the house together with Zoe Daniels MP, Kate Chaney MP, Kylea Tink MP, Allegra Spender MP who were also intending to speak at the launch.)
The story’s third balancing act relates to the tension within the energy sector of needing to provide energy as an affordable, essential service while simultaneously transforming the ways in which it’s produced.
This aspect was brought out by Prof Brian Schmidt AC – Nobel laureate physicist and Vice Chancellor of ANU – whose (impressively upside-down) reading of Amy’s Balancing Act you can watch on the ANU youtube channel.
“We really need to find a way for, as Minister Bowen talked about, how we can make energy clean and green. So that it doesn’t pollute the atmosphere, but make sure it’s equitable so that no one is left behind; that everyone ends up being better off.”
“One of the great things about this [book, is it’s] done in a way that is meaningful, that will actually help parents and grandparents have a conversation and think about it.”
This emotional layer of the story has also struck a chord with the energy professionals working on the transition.
It’s been a true delight to receive feedback from people working within energy companies, ministerial offices and departments, advocacy groups, and the market bodies – including AEMO CEO Daniel Westerman (who’s predecessor Audrey Zibelman was another inspiration for the story’s protagonist).
It’s likewise been fantastic to have more than forty copies be gifted to school and have Cool Australia produce fantastic teaching resources for years 3&4, 5&6, and parents.
Despite the excitement of being in parliament, it’s really this feedback, community engagement, and the experience of reading the story in schools and socially that gets to the heart of the matter.
The energy transition affects everyone and requires support and input from everyone if it’s to lead to a comprehensively positive outcome.
Amy’s Balancing Act provides a way to engage oft excluded audiences to build a shared understanding of how a 100% renewable energy system will work and be reliable, and how the transition to this brighter future is simply a process of learning to work with diverse new technologies.
This is how the book can fulfill Kane Thornton’s ambition that “this book will change the world.”
Bjorn Sturmberg is a Research Leader in the Battery Storage and Grid Integration Program at the ANU.
Amy’s Balancing Act is available directly from the author, using the code xmas22 to receive a 20% discount, or from your favorite bookstore.
It is also freely available as an audiobook on the LiSTNR platform, on the Kinderling Kids Radio show.
