Climate change and sustainability issues are some of the greatest economic, social, and environmental challenges of our time. As the driest inhabited continent on earth, Australia experiences severe drought and water shortages and is vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Australia also has a carbon intensive economy and reducing carbon emissions will be challenging. The Government believes that meeting this challenge is critical and is committed to the reduction of greenhouse pollution in Australia, as well as actively preparing for an altered climate in the near future.
Participants in the Sustainability Stream at the 2020 Summit agreed that Australia should aspire to be a leader in taking effective action on climate change and water management, with environmental issues integrated into household, business and government decision making. Other key ideas included a robust national emissions trading scheme, a focus on a healthy Australian ecology, incorporation of environmental considerations into economic assessments and the development of sustainable cities.
The Sustainability Stream developed a broad range of ambitions, themes and ideas that have influenced and guided the Government's policy in this area, including:
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Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme - The Government is committed to a Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme commencing in 2010. The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme White Paper was released on 15 December 2008 and outlines the design of the national emissions trading scheme, including a mid-term target range of a 5 to 15 per cent reduction in emissions below 2000 levels by 2020. This sets Australia on a path to achieve its long term goal of a 60 per cent reduction in emissions from 2000 levels by 2050.
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Intergovernmental Agreement on the Murray-Darling Basin Reform - The Government is working hard to secure water supplies and restore the Murray-Darling Basin to a sustainable footing. On 3 July 2008, the Australian, New South Wales, Victorian, Queensland, South Australian and the Australian Capital Territory governments signed an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) on Murray-Darling Basin Reform. Under the IGA, governments committed to a new culture and practice of Basin-wide management and planning, through new structures and partnerships. On 4 December 2008, the Federal Parliament passed the Water Amendment Bill 2008, giving effect to crucial reforms on the management of the Murray-Darling Basin. As part of the Government's Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan, the Government has agreed to accelerate water purchases for the environment and targeted infrastructure investments.
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Skills for the Carbon Challenge - The Government recognises that equipping workers and businesses with skills for sustainability will be essential if Australia is to take the opportunities presented by a transition to a low carbon economy. The new Skills for the Carbon Challenge program will accelerate the response of both industry and the tertiary education sector to climate change by auditing current skills gaps, investing in training infrastructure and providing incentives for industry to take up skills for sustainability.
The following tables provide the Government's response to the ideas raised by the Sustainability Stream at the 2020 Summit.
Key ideas being taken forward by the Government
Topic | 2020 proposed ideas | Government response |
Climate Change - Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Also raised by: Economy |
| The Government is committed to a Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) commencing in 2010. The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme White Paper was released on 15 December 2008 and outlines the design of the national emissions trading scheme, including a mid-term target range of a 5 to 15 per cent reduction in emissions from 2000 levels by 2020. The 5 per cent reduction represents an unconditional commitment by Australia to reduce emissions even if no international agreement to do so is reached. This sets Australia on a path to achieve its long term goal of a 60 per cent reduction from 2000 levels by 2050. The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme White Paper proposes that a scheme regulator be created with powers to monitor compliance, educate liable entities, investigate suspected non-compliance and initiate enforcement action if necessary. The scheme is specifically designed to link with international developments in this area. |
Climate Change - Personal Carbon Footprint |
| Agree in-part. In the CPRS White Paper, the Government committed to supporting households by delivering energy efficiency measures and providing consumer information so that households can save on their energy bills. In the 2008-09 Budget the Government also committed $14 million to implementing a 10-star energy labelling system for appliances and introducing minimum greenhouse and energy standards for appliances. Furthermore, in June 2008, the Government committed to a staged approach for the national roll-out of smart meters. The Government is currently working with the energy industry and the states and territories to develop and implement national standards for these meters to ensure that compatible technologies are used across Australia. |
Climate Change - Low-emissions Energy Also raised by: Productivity |
| Agree. Reflecting many of the ideas raised at the Summit, the Government has already announced a number of new initiatives to develop a low-emissions economy:
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Climate Change - Linking with Regional Partners |
| Agree. Australia is already working with partners, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, on practical actions that contribute to the global effort to respond to climate change. Since 2002, seven bilateral partnerships have been established with China, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa, USA, UK and the European Union, under which more than 70 projects have been undertaken. Examples of international programs include the International Forests Carbon Initiative (IFCI), International Climate Change Adaptation Initiative and Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (APP). |
Climate Change - National Climate Adaptation Strategy Also raised by: Rural |
| Agree in-principle. The Government recognises the importance of preparing Australia for the impacts of unavoidable climate change and will continue to improve the nation's capacity to adapt to climate change through the COAG Working Group on Climate Change and Water. The $130 million Australia's Farming Future initiative will assist primary producers to adapt to climate change. Both COAG and the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council have identified biodiversity as a priority for climate change adaptation. The Government is taking action to address the impacts of climate change on biodiversity through activities such as the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility. The Government has increased funding for Australia's National Reserve System, a nation-wide network of reserves established to protect Australia's environment. This network is part of the Government's Caring for our Country initiative which focuses on achieving a healthy, protected and well-managed environment. |
| Agree in-principle. Existing data published by the CSIRO, the Bureau of Meteorology and of the Australian Climate Change Science Program maps the impacts of climate change across Australia. In addition the Department of Climate Change website provides information on the impacts of climate change across Australia. Work continues on assessing the impacts of climate change across Australia, including through the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility. | |
Skills for the Carbon Challenge |
| Agree. The Government recognises that equipping workers and businesses with skills for sustainability will be essential if Australia is to take the opportunities presented by a transition to a low carbon economy. The new Skills for the Carbon Challenge program will accelerate the response of both industry and the tertiary education sector to climate change by auditing current skills gaps, investing in training infrastructure and providing incentives for industry to take up skills for sustainability. This program reflects many of the ideas discussed at the Summit. |
Water Management and Reform Also raised by: Rural |
| Through its $12.9 billion Water for the Future initiative, the Government is funding infrastructure projects to secure water supplies through recycling, desalination, urban stormwater harvesting and improving the efficient use of water. The initiative includes:
In rural areas, the Government is working with the states and territories to improve key irrigation infrastructure to minimise system losses and enhance the efficient use of water. In addition, the Government has funded the $82 million Groundwater Action Plan:
In July 2008, the Australian, New South Wales, Victorian, Queensland, South Australian and the Australian capital Territory Governments signed the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) on Murray-Darling Basin Reform. Under the IGA, governments committed to a new culture and practice of Basin-wide management and planning, and to a new approach to partnerships with the community. In November 2008, COAG agreed to a number of initiatives to improve the operation of water markets and trading through faster processing of temporary water trades, and to coordinate water information and research through the development of national water modelling strategy and a national water research strategy. On 4 December 2008, the Federal Parliament passed the Water Amendment Bill 2008, giving effect to crucial reforms on the management of the Murray-Darling Basin. |
Urban Sustainability - National Energy Efficiency Strategy Also raised by: Communities |
| In October 2008, COAG agreed to develop a National Strategy for Energy Efficiency to help households and businesses prepare for the introduction of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. The strategy includes options for the development of national legislation for appliance energy performance standards to reduce transaction costs for business. The Government is considering further action in this area. The Government's Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme White Paper sets out a new package of financial assistance for Australian households worth around $6 billion a year to be funded from the sale of carbon pollution permits. In addition, the $3.9 billion Energy Efficient Homes Package will provide up to $1,600 for installing ceiling insulation for Australian home owner‑occupiers and $1,000 for installing insulation in private rental properties. This package will result in ceiling insulation for around 2.7 million homes. |
National Waste Policy Also raised by: Productivity |
| The Government is giving priority to the development of a National Waste policy, which is scheduled to be released in 2009. The Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme will also cover landfill sites, creating new incentives for efficient waste management. |
Sustainable Cities Also raised by: Communities |
| Agree in-principle. The Government is providing urban planning policy leadership through the creation of the Major Cities Unit within the Infrastructure portfolio, announced on 30 April 2008. This Unit's task is to identify opportunities where federal leadership can make a difference to the prosperity and sustainability of our cities and the wellbeing of their residents. The Water for the Future initiative and COAG's further work on urban water, water efficiency and sustainable buildings are also addressing this issue. In November 2008, COAG agreed to the adoption of the enhanced national urban water reform framework to improve the security of urban water supplies. Australia's Future Tax System Review will also consider the issues of fuel, roads and transport, including the efficiency of existing taxes. It will explore possible opportunities to move to more targeted taxes and user charges that promote the efficient use of transport networks. |
Consumer Information - Environmental Hubs for Consumers |
| Agree. The Government's new $3 million One Stop Green Shop initiative will provide the Australian community with a single 'window' to all government environmental programs for sustainability at home. |
Metrics - Sustainable Company Reporting |
| Agree in-principle. The National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007 established a regulatory framework for Australian corporations to report greenhouse gas emissions, reductions, removals and offsets, and energy consumption and production from 1 July 2008. In addition, almost 4,000 facilities from a range of industries report annually to the National Pollutant Inventory. The Energy Efficiency Opportunities program requires mandatory energy efficiency reports for Australia's largest energy users. In February 2009, COAG agreed to consider at its next meeting improving the energy efficiency of residential and commercial buildings, through new building requirements, improving national consistency and the phase-in of mandatory disclosure of the energy efficiency of commercial buildings and tenancies. Triple Bottom Line (TBL) reporting is also becoming an accepted approach for organisations to demonstrate they have strategies for sustainable growth. |
Metrics - National Water Account |
| Agree. The $450 million Improving Water Information program, announced in April 2008 and administered by the Bureau of Meteorology, will produce the annual National Water Account, supported by a national water monitoring and data collection network. |
Metrics - National Environmental Accounts |
| Agree in-principle. The Government has committed to a new National Water Account maintained by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) and a new National Carbon Accounting System toolbox to support the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. The Government is also looking into the establishment of a broader set of national environmental accounts. This will need to consider existing accounting mechanisms including: the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory, the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting System, the National Carbon Accounting System, the new National Water Account, and water and other environmental accounts developed and published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. |
Biodiversity - Caring for our Country Program Also raised by: Rural |
| Agree in-principle but without a commitment to the targets proposed. The Caring for our Country program commenced on 1 July 2008 and seeks to achieve an environment that is healthy, well-managed and resilient, and that provides essential ecosystem services in a changing environment. The program will be delivered in partnership with private landowners, regional natural resource management groups, local, state and territory governments, Indigenous groups, industry bodies, land managers, farmers and landcare groups. |
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