Australian Government Review of Australia’s Climate Change Policies

Drawing upon previous ATSE submissions and publications, ATSE’s submission to the Review of Australia’s Climate Change Policies considered Low Emissions Fuels, Energy Productivity, Emissions Targets, Australia’s Electricity Grid, Wastewater, Agriculture and Sustainable Urban Mobility.

Recognising that Australia has ratified the Paris 2030 Agreement, action must be taken in Australia to reach the agreed targets. ATSE considers it important to make the necessary investments in accelerated deployment of existing technologies and commercialisation of new low emissions technologies to achieve this.

Methods to encourage this span from the Emissions Reduction Fund to potential regulation. Decarbonisation of Australian energy systems through uptake of renewables, will require an independent expert body to develop a long term strategic plan for “the optimal transition of the electricity sector, and address whole-of-system integration challenges at a national level”.

The Australian transport system has a heavy reliance on road transport. Improving efficiency in Australia’s transport sector including working to expand mass transit programs will greatly improve energy productivity, subsequently reducing emissions. A strategic response for upgrading Australia’s infrastructure should be developed. Electrification of Australia’s transport systems would be reliant on decarbonisation of electricity supply. This could be accelerated by reforms to Australia’s electricity supply systems and markets in order to deliver reliable, competitive, low emissions electricity, and manage load variability.

There are many emissions reduction options available to the resources, manufacturing, and waste sectors, however, to date there is little uptake of these technologies in Australia, partially due to lack of policy drivers. The agriculture industry recognises the need to transition to lower-emissions operations and many in this sector are already acting on this, while small operations do not have access to the capital and new technologies necessary.

ATSE believes that the cost of not transitioning to a lower carbon economy will be higher in the long run. Research, development, innovation and technology have a significant role to play in reducing emissions across all sectors of the Australian economy.

Key Recommendations:

• Investments must be made in accelerated deployment of existing technologies and commercialisation of new low emissions technologies.
• Have an independent expert body develop a long term strategic plan for the optimal transition of the electricity sector, and address whole-of-system integration challenges at a national level
• Develop a strategic response for upgrading Australia’s infrastructure
• Reform Australia’s electricity supply systems and markets to electrify transport systems and deliver reliable, competitive, low emissions electricity, and manage load variability
• Agricultural research should seek to reduce emissions from animal methane and soil nitrous oxide, as well as redirecting edible food loss back into the food supply system.