Antinuclear

Australian news, and some related international items

Compare policies between political parties on carbon, renewable energy

logo-election-Aust-13Environment policy: where the parties stand, ABC News 27 June 13 By Sarah Clarke and Andrew Greene   “………What aspects do the major parties agree/disagree on?

Greenhouse gas emission reduction targets

Both ALP and the Coalition agree on the science of climate change, and have formally backed Australia’s emissions reduction target of 5 per cent by 2020. But there are some differences

  • ALP: Committed to 5-25pc reduction on 2000 levels by 2020, based on the ambition of global agreement and 80pc reduction by 2050 which is in line with the UK and Germany. Signatory to second commitment period of Kyoto Protocol for 2020 reduction and intention to ratify.
  • Coalition: Committed to the 5-25pc reduction on 2000 levels based on ambition of global agreement. Review in 2015 to consider longer term target in light of international agreement. Coalition has stated “in principle” support for second commitment period of Kyoto Protocol but no position on ratifications announced.
  • Greens: Committed to 25-40pc reductions on 1990 levels by 2020, net zero emissions by 2050 and the second period of the Kyoto Protocol.

Carbon price

  • ALP: Carbon pricing legislated in 2011 along with independent  Climate Change Authority, Clean Energy Regulator, and Australian Renewable Energy Agency. Climate Commission established administratively in February 2011 to explain the science of climate change.
  • Coalition: Committed to abolish carbon price. Abolish the Climate Change Authority, Climate Commission, and the Energy security fund. Retain the Clean Energy Regulator and the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme (NGERS) as part of the administration of the Emissions Reduction Fund. Committed to introducing a carbon buyback via an Emissions Reduction Fund.
  • Greens: Made carbon pricing a condition of supporting the Gillard Government after the 2010 election, including the creation of Multi Party Climate Change Committee.

Clean Energy Finance Corp

  • ALP: CEFC legislated in 2012 with funding of $10 billion over 5 years to leverage private investment to deploy and commercialise large scale renewable energy and energy efficiency projects with funding from July 1, 2013. Investment functions of Low Carbon Australia now merged into CEFC.
  • Coalition: The CEFC to be axed and contracts already issued will not be acted on.
  • Greens: Will oppose any attempt to repeal the CEFC.

International climate deal

  • ALP: Labor supports a global deal through the United Nations negotiations and along with all member countries has agreed to set up a legally binding international deal for all major emitters by 2015 in Paris, to be up and running by 2019. Supports G20 and Major Economies Forum to shape global solution and climate deal.
  • Coalition: The Coalition supports the role of the UN and will be engaged in the international negotiations. In addition, the coalition believes that as Chair of the G20 there’s an opportunity for Australia to further negotiations between the US, China, India and the EU to secure an international deal.
  • Greens: Greens support a legally binding global deal through the UN negotiations by 2015.

  • Renewable Energy Target (RET)

    • ALP: Committed to the RET of at least 20pc by 2020 which maintains target of 41,000 GWh large scale renewable energy generation by 2020. Commitment not to review RET until 2016.
    • Coalition: Committed to the RET of 20pc by 2020 but will review it in 2014.
    • Greens: Committed to the RET of at least 20pc by 2020 which maintains target of 41,000 GWh large scale renewable energy generation by 2020 and to increase the 2030 RET to as close to 100pc as is possible.

    Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA)

June 27, 2013 - Posted by | election 2013

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