#ausvotes

Greens Climate Change Policy

• Summary

  The Greens believe that Climate Change mitigation can be successfully implemented through the use of economic incentives to alter the very nature of demand. A price on carbon is inevitable. The Greens advocate a market based transition as opposed to one based on fiscal policy. This needs to be complemented by committed emission target setting, development of alternate energy sources, and intolerance for fossil fuel energy sources in the long term.

  
  

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  The Greens have a comprehensive policy and are the premier advocates for addressing Climate Change both domestically and on a global scale. While sceptics still exist, the science cannot be ignored. The Greens believe that Australia can be a regional and world leader in Climate Change mitigation, by promoting conversion to alternative energy sources through economic and diplomatic influence.

  
  

  Climate Change poses the greatest threat the world has yet seen, and requires immediate action to reduce the atmospheric concentration of green house gases, the majority of which is carbon dioxide. Present concentration levels are in excess of 390ppm, but a safe environment demands at least 350ppm.

  
  

  The reduction of carbon emissions will incur a cost, as we presently rely heavily on the burning of fossil fuels for our energy needs, and the Greens believe that this cost ought to be distributed equitably within our own economy and equitably throughout the international community. After ratifying the Kyoto Protocol with 187 other nation states in 2007, Australia is now bound to reduce her emissions to equal 108% of her 1990 emission levels (547.7Mt CO2 ), to equal 591.5 Mt CO2 by 2012. Considering that in 2007 Australia was emitting 597.2 Mt CO2, and that we have the 3rd largest emissions of carbon per person in the world (18.75 tonnes CO2 per person) and also a high per capita total green house gas emission rate, Australia has some work to do to achieve our goals for 2012. Indeed the only improvement since 1990 has been in emissions per dollar of GDP which has reduced from 0.83kg CO2 to 0.51kg CO2 , simply due to some awareness beginning to take foot in emissions management, decline in land use, and a expansion of the energy efficient Australian services sector. The reason for our high per capita rates is primarily, a heavy reliance on electrical energy powered by coal (the greatest emitter of carbon), an aluminium smelting industry and a manufacturing exports industry that is heavily energy intensive, our dependency on fuel for transport, and emissions connected with our use of land.

  
  

  Apart from inspiring international climate change mitigation, the Greens want national targets set for 2012, 2020, and 2050, along with a practical strategy to reduce emissions from transport, energy, industry, land management, and waste.

  
  

  The Greens believe in economic investment in alternative energy sources, and that energy prices ought to reflect the environmental and social costs of production and use. In their view, when the economic social and environmental costs are taken into account, immediate action will be cheaper than mitigation instigated in the future. In that event a world full of receding coastlines, expanding deserts and environmental refugees through displacement of multitudes of people will likely surpass any international disaster to date. This scenario may then escalate into regional conflict around the globe. The cost of rectification at that point will be unfathomable.

  
  

  Still, renewable energy must be ecologically sustainable, must meet certain criteria, and must be subject to development guidelines. Nuclear energy for example is not advocated as it threatens our environment, is of limited supply, and is a threat to national security. Similarly, non renewable sources such as Greenfield coal bed methane and power stations fuelled by new hydroelectric and native forests are also unacceptable.

  
  

  As coal emits the more carbon than any other fossil fuel, the Greens certainly encourage a switch to natural gas as it emits the least carbon, but go further to work against the major refurbishment of existing coal fired power stations; it undermines efforts toward emitting less carbon through alternative renewable energy, hampers demand management strategies, and delays the transition to greater efficiency in energy use. Additionally, the Greens oppose new developments in carbon sequestration and storage as they remain unproven to date, but corporations venturing into these measures ought to be held accountable for any subsequent leakage.

  
  

  The Greens herald the inevitability of peak oil; while some contend it is yet to be reached, the mere fact that the oil price rose to US$140 per barrel in 2008 on an inability to supply is indicative of its close proximity. The suggested shift to equally harmful fossil fuel alternatives such as shale and coal oil is also out of the question. The Greens advocate a Kyoto type oil- specific protocol instituted internationally in order to wean the planet off its oil consumption.

  
  

  Australia needs to adapt to the incidence of Climate Change and must be committed to a scheme of eventually being free of a reliance on coal fired electricity and the export of coal. The Greens believe in aiming high and want Australia to have net zero emissions by 2050 and a 40% reduction in 1990 carbon emission levels by 2020. Demand management to economically influence the nature of demand is at the root of the Greens policies for Climate Change mitigation. The vulnerable in our society will be protected during the transition with subsidies and government support. Funding will be made available for research & development from fossil fuel powering to renewable energy. Further, as 75% of electricity produced is lost in heat at the plant or in delivery, the Greens wish to invest and develop further our systems of distributed generation with renewable energy; electricity produced where it is used e.g. solar, wind, wave energy.

  
  

  A market based transition that has appropriate regulation supporting it is the vision the Greens have for an equitable transformation to a low carbon economy. In developing such a scheme the social impacts of transition including employment, housing, education and health need to be established. Gas reserves need to be established and allocated to produce electricity on demand during the transition. The Greens advocate for Federal control over the shift toward low carbon and the creation of a specific cabinet portfolio to oversee the process. Part of the ethos of a low carbon economy will be a greater reliance on public transport and a culture of renewable energy development. Measures such as removing the GST on public transport, introducing fuel efficiency standards, and regulating housing to ensure access to public transport and discouraging urban sprawl will form part of a suite of implementations to this end. The Fringe Benefits Tax presently provides incentive to increase vehicle use and this will be amended. Diesel fuel subsidies and energy credits will be phased out according to Australia’s obligations under the Kyoto Protocol. The Greens will develop extensive distribution networks for alternative fuels and in particular, recharging facilities to replace the conventional fuel pump station.

  
  

  The Greens will introduce Minimum Energy Performance Standards for products, buildings, and infrastructure, including a specific target for having 30% of our electricity being powered by renewable energy by 2020. This goal will be achieved through feed-in tariffs on the grid to incentivise the target, and regulation supporting renewable energy technology.