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2010 Election Snapshot

ALP Climate Change Policy

  • Summary

    While the ALP subscribes to emission targets and carbon concentration levels that are lower than the Greens, they are committed to binding obligations under the Kyoto Protocol. They approve of non renewable geothermal energies such as coal seam methane gas, and the continued investment in coal fired electricity providing carbon sequestration and underground storage is implemented. Notably, the ALP seek community consensus to implement their $42bn CPRS in 2012.


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    The ALP recognises the threat of Climate Change as it applies to the world and to our country. Australia’s geographical characteristics do not lend themselves to rising tides and expansion of deserts due to an absence in dry season rainfall. The ramifications of Climate Change will directly impact on our country and on our traditional way of life. The fact that we are heavily reliant on high polluting energy sources makes it imperative to mitigate the consequences of Climate Change immediately, in order to avoid an unaffordable cost to the nation in the event of inaction. While present carbon concentration levels remain at 390 ppm the ALP recognise that 450ppm is the threshold for opportunity to limit global temperature growth by at least 20 C.


    Accordingly, while 2007 carbon emissions are 597.2 Mt CO2 the ALP seek by 2020 to cut emission levels by 5% from those in 2000 (552.7 Mt CO2.), and intend to have 20% of our electricity powered by renewable energy by 2020. This will reduce Australia’s carbon emissions by 39 Mt CO2.


    The manner in which this is to be achieved is through a reduced dependency on polluting sources of energy as a means to economic growth. By providing an incentive for investment to pursue alternate energy sources from wind, solar, bio-fuels, wave energy and geothermal energy, and avoiding public investment that maintains existing high emission technology for an extended period of time (new coal fired power stations must be carbon capture and storage ready), Australia can make the transition to a low carbon economy. Distribute generation with renewable energy will be heavily invested in to facilitate feed- tariffs (payment for depositing energy into the grid), and allow just-in-time energy generation that is localized to the user.


    Until very recently, the ALP drew on scientific and economic consensus to endorse a Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) that was to charge polluters a fee to purchase a carbon license. This license or part thereof was able to then be traded in the open market, if the holder’s emission levels were lowered. The net carbon licensed by the government was to be aligned with dedicated emission targets. Funds raised from the sale of carbon licenses were to assist the community and business to adapt to Climate Change and shift to a low carbon economy. This scheme effectively placed a price on carbon as a reflection of its expense to the economy and the environment.


    Unfortunately, the CPRS was blocked in the Senate by the Coalition and the Greens for unique reasons of their own; the Greens were of the view that CPRS targets were not sufficient, and the Coalition that $42bn was too high a cost for the taxpayer. The Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen also resulted in a certain ambivalence toward committed carbon emission targeting.


    The ALP has since, reinforced their adherence to the Kyoto Protocol and the binding emission targets set for 2012, but has postponed the reintroduction of the CPRS until further consultation is undertaken within the community to culminate in 2012. In the ALP’s view, the CPRS represented an ideology of monumental proportions. It represented a dramatic change in our community and way of life, and is deserving of further consultation and information in the community. While the passing of a CPRS only requires political consensus, the ALP find that it is an informed community consensus that in this situation is required. After receiving community consensus to a CPRS, blocking of the CPRS Bill in the Senate will only be possible in the face of public repudiation; bipartisanship on a CPRS is assured with the mandate of community consensus.


    Investment in the energy sector desperately needs stability in respect of emission targets to be set for the future. The incidence of a CPRS and carbon emission targeting is profoundly interconnected with the upward pressure on electricity prices that the community is presently experiencing. Due to the current uncertainty in carbon emission targets, higher prices are inevitable in order to attract sufficient investment to maintain security and reliability of supply that conforms to evolving regulation. With energy generation forecast to grow by 50% in 2030, the 2012 review of the Kyoto Protocol provides an excellent opportunity to reintroduce the CPRS. Through community consensus for a CPRS, the ALP will be able to ease the anxiety of investment and electricity prices will begin to ease, due to security had by one and all. Investment will be then able to flourish in new and innovative sources of alternative energy.


    While committed to a market based scheme to reduce carbon emissions, the ALP will institute a Climate Change Commission to inform the community on the issues pertaining to Climate Change. A Citizens Assembly that is representative of the community will examine the evidence on Climate Change and mitigation thereof over a period of 12 months. In effect, the review of the Kyoto Protocol in 2012 will be undertaken by the Australian people through the Citizens Assembly and the Climate Change Commission mechanism.


    In any event, the ALP will begin mitigating against the consequences of Climate Change immediately. Businesses and consumers that take early action to reduce carbon emissions will be rewarded. In offering future investment immediate security, the ALP commits to the emission baselines for industry assistance as expressed by the CPRS. Tax incentives for business and cash subsidies like that for solar power and low emission vehicles to consumers will allow the wheels of change to begin to turn. They will be heartily greeted when a National Energy Market is introduced by community endorsement.