What the Government is doing
The Australian Government is acting to reduce carbon pollution, create the jobs of the future and secure Australia’s future prosperity.
Through its commitment under the Kyoto Protocol, Australia is on target to slow growth of its carbon pollution emissions to 108 per cent of 1990 levels in the first compliance period. Progress against this target is tracked in Australia's National Greenhouse Accounts.
Further, the Government has set ambitious targets to reverse this trend and drive down Australia’s carbon pollution emissions from 2010. Its goal is to reduce emissions to 25 per cent below 2000 levels by 2020, if there is a fair contribution from all emitters around the world to take strong action to reduce the risk of dangerous climate change by restraining atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases to 450 parts per million. That’s reducing the average emissions of every Australian by almost a half over the next ten years.
If the world is unable to reach agreement on a 450 parts per million target, we will still reduce our emissions in Australia by between 5 and 15 per cent below 2000 levels by 2020.
The Government recognises its responsibility to act on behalf of future generations. We will strengthen our effort to prepare Australia for a low carbon pollution future through the Renewable Energy Target, research and development of clean energy, and measures to help households, businesses, communities and regions transition to a low carbon future.
We are also preparing Australia for the impacts of climate change that are already ‘locked in’ due to the carbon pollution already released into the atmosphere. We are investing in the science, research, information and skills needed to help communities, industries and governments adapt to a changing climate.
We are also continuing to work with other countries to develop a global solution to this global problem. An investment of more than $15 billion in climate change initiatives is putting Australia on track to a low carbon future where our society is prosperous, our economy is strong and our environment is protected.
Australia can create jobs and protect the environment at the same time – and the Government’s plan for cutting carbon pollution will deliver this while preparing Australia for a better future.
Three pillar strategy
Underlying the Government’s climate change policy are three pillars:
• mitigation - to reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions
• adaptation - to adapt to the climate change we cannot avoid
• global solution - to help shape a collective international response.
The Australian Government is committed to developing programs and rebates to support householders, industry and the community to save energy and reduce emissions. The A-Z of Government initiatives provides a comprehensive listing, or you can view the 2010-11 Portfolio Budget Statements to read more about the big picture.