National Energy and Climate Policy Centre

To help illustrate a pathway for the Government to achieve the 2030 national emissions reduction target, the Department of the Environment engaged Energetics to analyse and model abatement opportunities across all sectors of the Australian economy. Energetics’ analysis shows there is potentially significant low-cost abatement available to meet the 2030 target.

Energetics’ submission considers the convergence of a number of issues. We have examined the impact of climate policy on energy generation and security of supply; energy productivity and the rate of decarbonisation; and the opportunities for our land sector into the future as Australia participates in a growing international carbon offsets market. We also argue strongly in favour of bringing forward action on climate change as both a fiscally responsible approach and to reverse the current upward trend in national emissions.

The 2017 Review of Climate Change Policies is a timely opportunity for the Government to ensure a policy framework that delivers a smooth transition for the nation from coal fired power to low carbon energy sources. We need this focus not only because of the widespread concerns around energy supply security but, as Energetics’ modelling shows, the bulk of the emissions reductions opportunities through to 2030 are to be found within Australia’s energy sector.