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ADELAIDE, Australia, July 5, 2006 (Refocus
Weekly)
The government in South Australia will require
20% of electricity to come from renewables by 2014.
Premier Mike Rann has unveiled legislation to enforce reduction
targets for GHG emissions, and the state will become the first in
Australia (“and one of only a few places in the world”) to enshrine
a cut in GHG emissions in legislation, he says. The ‘Climate Change
& Greenhouse Emissions Reduction Bill’ has been released for public
consultation and will commit the state to reducing emissions by 60%
over 1990 levels by 2050.
“Global warming poses a greater threat to humans and our planet than
terrorism, with emissions of carbon dioxide, continuing to be the
biggest cause of climate change,” says Rann. “Although our state is
aiming to achieve the Kyoto Protocol greenhouse emissions target in
the first commitment period (between 2008 and 2012) as part of South
Australia’s Strategic Plan, most international research suggests
that we need to cut emissions more significantly.”
The bill will commit South Australia to increasing the use of green
power to 20% by 2014, which “goes much further than the target set
down in South Australia’s Strategic Plan, which was originally a
voluntary target of 15%,” he adds. “No other mainland state in
Australia will come close.”
Victoria has set a non-legislated target of 10% by 2010.
The premier’s announcement was made at City Central, the first
building in Adelaide to obtain a top rating. The state government
rents seven floors in line with its policy to give preference to
leasing energy-rated buildings for government operations.
The facility achieves the rating through the use of passive chilled
beam air conditioning, double-glazing and louvers, efficient
lighting, and waterless urinals.
“Australia has an obligation and ability to lead, and South
Australia is well placed to lead the nation,” he says. “South
Australia now has 51% of the nation’s wind power, and more than 45%
of the nation’s grid-connected solar power.”
Solar panels have been installed on its North Terrace institutions,
including Parliament House, and will be placed on 250 schools and on
Adelaide’s new airport. New laws have also come into force to
require new buildings and major renovations to install solar or
high-efficiency gas hot water systems, and a requirement for new
homes to have plumbed rainwater tanks.
“It’s true that many of the environmental issues we confront,
including climate change, require a national response and national
action,” says Rann. “But rather than passing the buck, we as a state
government, have decided to show local leadership.”
Australia’s first Climate Change & Greenhouse Emissions Reduction
Bill commits the government to develop plans, policy initiatives and
interim targets to reach the 60% emissions target, and the draft
bill has been released for three months of public consultation
before introducing it to Parliament.
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