Reducing Australia's emissions
The Government is strongly committed to reducing Australia's carbon pollution.
If Australia takes no action by 2020 our carbon pollution could be 20 per cent higher than in 2000, not 5 to 25 per cent lower as the Government intends. The Government’s targets are equivalent to a reduction in every Australian’s carbon footprint of nearly one third to one half. To help achieve our ambitious target of lowering these emissions to up to 25 per cent below 2000 levels, the Australian Government is developing and putting in place the policies we need: to support Australian businesses and households reduce their carbon pollution, to create the new green-collar jobs of the future and to transform our economy.
The Australian Government believes the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) is the cheapest and most effective way of tackling climate change and is committed to the bipartisan emissions reductions targets. However, due to a lack of bipartisan support on the CPRS, combined with slow progress on reaching a credible global agreement to limit carbon emissions, the Government has delayed the introduction of the CPRS.
In the short term the Government will boost existing investments in clean and renewable energy and support greater energy efficiency measures in order to bring down greenhouse gas emissions.
Investing in clean energy
The Australian Government is investing more than $5 billion in developing and commercialising clean energy technologies because we know these technologies will be crucial for Australia’s efforts to reduce its carbon pollution emissions. These technologies will also be important to the rest of the world as they also need to reduce their carbon pollution.
Australia has set a Renewable Energy Target of 20 per cent by 2020. This means that by 2020, one-fifth of Australia’s electricity will come from renewable sources such as wind, solar and geothermal power.
Through our Clean Energy Initiative we are investing $4.5 billion to help Australia use our abundance of natural resources to create a cleaner energy supply and to reduce our carbon pollution emissions. The Initiative will create more jobs in clean industries by giving investors the confidence to back low emissions technologies such as solar power, energy from ‘hot rocks’ in the earth’s crust, and carbon capture and storage.
The Government is also supporting Australia’s car manufacturing industry through the Green Car Innovation Fund. The $1.3 billion Fund will provide assistance over ten years to Australian companies to enhance the research, development and commercialisation of Australian technologies that significantly reduce the carbon pollution emissions of passenger motor vehicles. It will also help create green collar jobs in the car industry.
Supporting business to take action
The Australian Government is helping Australian businesses take action to reduce their emissions. For example, through the Clean Business Australia program the Government is helping to increase the energy efficiency of Australia’s buildings and the manufacturing process of our industries, while also helping businesses commercialise products and services that address climate change.
To help businesses pay for energy efficiency improvements that will save time and money the Government is establishing the Australian Carbon Trust. The trust will bring together public and private funding, innovative business approaches and technical knowledge to help business and community groups invest in energy efficiency and reduce emissions.
The Government also recognises the importance of training Australians so they are ready to join the new clean industries and take up the new green-collar jobs of the future. Skills for the Carbon Challenge will help develop and trial training resources and qualifications that teach green skills and sustainability principles across a number of industries.
Supporting households to take action
Australian households are directly responsible for about a fifth of Australia’s carbon pollution. Households and individuals have an important role to play in combating climate change. The Government is investing in helping Australians change the way we act to help reduce carbon pollution.
For example, the Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme (REBS) offers eligible Australian households:
- A $1,000 rebate for a solar hot water system; or
- A $600 rebate for a heat pump system.
The Green Loans Program is also helping households to ‘go green’ by providing home sustainability assessments that will help thousands of Australians to improve the energy and water efficiency of their homes, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The National Strategy on Energy Efficiency will also help Australians choose energy efficient appliances, homes and buildings, and make residential and commercial buildings more energy efficient.