There will be a very sharp focus on how Australia is meeting this challenge - or isn't - as world leaders gather at the global climate conference in Glasgow next month.

The energy shortages hitting many countries as the northern hemisphere readies for winter are a stark reminder that managing the energy transition is not easy.

The Newcastle and Hunter communities sit literally at the coal face of these changes. For generations, the region has depended on the economic benefits of mining, using and exporting coal. And its industry-based economy is particularly dependent on secure and affordable supplies of energy, including natural gas.

Virtually everybody acknowledges that coal will have a smaller role in the future. Some think it will disappear from Australia's energy mix altogether, along with all fossil fuels. But more credible forecasts see an evolving energy mix. Renewable energy sources will dramatically increase their contributions. New energy sources such as hydrogen will play a significant role. But oil, gas, and even coal, will remain part of our energy equation for decades to come.

Asset Energy, the holder of the offshore Petroleum Exploration Permit 11 (PEP-11), wants to play a direct role in the Hunter region's energy transition.

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Potential gas production offshore from Newcastle, and the potential to use that same area to permanently store captured carbon emissions, can both contribute to meeting the challenges of climate change and sustaining secure jobs in the region.

Of course, we must show that these activities can be conducted safely and sustainably.

The good news is we know they can.

The offshore oil and gas industry might not be too familiar in NSW, but around Australia it has a long and strong track record. More than 3000 wells have been drilled, more than 1000 of which are offshore Victoria, which also has some of the country's most productive commercial fisheries, whale nurseries, and a spectacular coast that attracts millions of visitors yearly

Closer to home, people from the Hunter might remember the gas well that was drilled off Nelson Bay in 2010 and which caused no negative impacts in some of the most pristine waters in the state.

If our exploration is successful, and leads to production, it could provide gas to supply NSW homes and businesses for more than 20 years. That would support local jobs and boost local industry.

Business NSW estimates 250,000 jobs in NSW rely upon gas as a feedstock and energy source - that includes workers at Orica, BlueScope Steel, Brickworks, Qenos, and other companies.

Further, assessing the viability of permanently storing CO2 in rock structures deep below the seabed offshore Newcastle could become an important part of the Australian Government's technology-led approach to emissions reduction. The area could be an ideal location for carbon capture and storage, about 100 kilometres from some of Australia's largest CO2 emitters.

In short, replacing coal with gas-fired power generation and advancing carbon capture and storage are obvious steps to help Australia meet the challenges of climate change.

Despite this, protesters are painting alarming scenarios such as surfers dodging oil rigs off the coast and scaremongering about oil spills. We believe there's no reason our activities should impact the NSW coast in any way.

Asset Energy is exploring for natural gas, not oil. All the scientific evidence collected over years shows there is no oil to spill in the area where we are planning to explore.

We do not propose any offshore activity closer than 15 kilometres to the coast. That's well beyond the horizon, let alone the good surf. After the 60-90 day drilling period, the drill rig and any other infrastructure are removed and there is nothing visible from the coast or air.

We acknowledge that many in the community have genuine questions and we want to respond to them in a forthright and truthful manner. We agree with the Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon, who highlighted on these pages last weekend that all too often the debate about PEP-11 has become about politics, not public interest.

It is important that we have a public discussion that is grounded in fact. False and exaggerated claims do nothing to inform the sometimes difficult and often complex issues that regulators must consider.

It's time for both sides of the discussion to be heard.

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