Tackling climate change and our environmental challenges
Climate change is the most dangerous long-term threat to Australia’s prosperity. As one of the hottest and driest continents on Earth, Australia’s environment and economy will be one of the hardest and fastest hit by climate change if we do not act.
Australia’s economic future and well-being depends on protecting our environment by using our natural resources in a sustainable way, preserving biodiversity, reducing carbon emissions and keeping our water, land and air clean.
For twelve years the Liberal and National Parties failed future generations of Australians by remaining in denial about the reality of climate change.
They refused to be part of the global solution to climate change.
They allowed leading Australian renewable energy business to move offshore because of the lack of supportive policies in Australia.
They neglected to act to address the increasingly critical water shortages in many parts of Australia.
In the 2007 election, Australian Labor committed to taking decisive action on climate change. We committed to a comprehensive plan to reduce Australia’s carbon pollution and drive uptake of low-emission and renewable energy. We also committed to work with State and Local Governments, farmers, industry and the community to secure Australia’s long-term water supply.
Our economic future and well-being depends on protecting our environment.
We need to develop the knowledge and resources to make the transition to a more sustainable society and a more resilient environment.
We must support jobs in the low pollution industries of the future and use regulation effectively and efficiently.
Some Key Achievements
To prepare for the future challenges on climate change and water the Government has:
1. Ended ten years of delay and denial by ratifying the Kyoto Protocol and working to introduce a Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme in Australia. To give effect to our commitment on climate change we have introduced legislation to create a Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme that from 2011 will for the first time reduce Australia’s carbon pollution.
2. Expanded the national Renewable Energy Target to require 20 percent of Australia’s electricity to be obtained from renewable energy sources by 2020.
3. Established a $4.5 billion Clean Energy Initiative to speed the growth of clean energy generation – in particular low-emission coal and solar technologies-to reduce carbon emission and stimulate economic activity in sectors that will support thousands of new low-pollution jobs.
4. Made the largest commitment to energy efficiency through the Energy Efficient Homes Package, which will see ceiling insulation installed in almost two million Australian homes and help around 420,000 households install a solar hot water system, reducing carbon pollution and assisting households to reduce their energy bills.
5. Implemented a $12.9 billion national water strategy that:
- Established the Murray Darling Basin Authority as an independent, expert body to manage the water resources of the Murray Darling and to establish for the first time a basin-wide cap;
- For the first time purchased water entitlements to return water to the environment, including the purchase of 651 billion litres of water entitlements as at 30 November 2009 at a cost of $1.01 billion;
- Committed $5.8 billion to improve irrigation infrastructure and water use efficiency in rural Australia;
- For the first time made a direct Commonwealth investment in urban water security projects across Australia, including the $1 billion National Urban Water and Desalination Plan, which provides $228 million for the Adelaide Desalination Plant, establishes Centres of Excellence in water recycling and desalination in Brisbane and Perth, and provides $200 million for stormwater harvesting and reuse projects; and
- Provided rebates of up to $500 for households to install rainwater tanks or greywater systems under the $250 million National Rainwater and Greywater Initiative.
6. Committed $200 million to the Reef Rescue initiative to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
We have also:
- Supported the installation of a record number of solar panels onto Australian rooftops;
- Established the $427 million National Solar Schools Plan;
- Committed $100 million to develop a new ‘smart grid’ energy network; and
- Signed the National Strategy on Energy Efficiency with all States and Territories Governments.
