saveeumundi.org

Things have changed significantly in the past 18 months. A snapshot of the key changes:

• Recognition across the political spectrum that an emissions trading scheme must be adopted. The Federal Government is due to deliver by June 2008 a report on the economic impacts of climate change policies and interim emission reduction targets to reach the stated aim of reducing emissions by 60% of 2000 levels by 2050.
• Emissions trading to be introduced by 2010.
• Mandatory renewable energy target of 20% adopted by 2020, meaning that 20% of all electricity sold must come from renewable sources by 2020 – this is not cleaner sources such as nuclear, clean coal or gas, but real renewable sources such as wind, solar, geo-thermal etc.
• Australia’s commitment to the Kyoto Protocol and start of negotiations for the post-Kyoto period from 2012, in which Australia now participates.
• The Queensland Government has set up the Climate Change Council to advise on climate change matters in the state.
• Many local government entities in our state aim to reduce greenhouse gases as part of their development objectives and pursue multiple initiatives; e.g. Brisbane City Council will only purchase green energy within three years, of the former councils making up the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, Maroochy Council were investigating energy efficient street lighting and Noosa Council’s infrastructure development plans noted that “water and energy are used efficiently in an attempt to minimise greenhouse gas emissions and ensure the sustained supply of resources.” [note 4] We will be lobbying council to continue with these initiatives.

These significant policy changes which impact the electricity generation and distribution industries have not been factored into the plans of Energex or Powerlink and have been given little weight in the publicly available information.