Chapter 1
Introduction
Background
1.1 On 11 August 1999, the Senate referred the global warming inquiry
to the Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts
References Committee for inquiry and report by the first sitting week
in August 2000. The full terms of reference may be found at page v.
1.2 On 22 September 1999, the Senate also agreed to a motion moved by
Senator Bob Brown referring the Convention on Climate Change (Implementation)
Bill 1999 to the Committee for inquiry and report in conjunction with
its inquiry into the progress and adequacy of Australia's policies to
reduce global warming.
1.3 The inquiry was an extensive one and the reporting date was subsequently
extended to 8 November 2000.
Conduct of Inquiry
Advertising the inquiry
1.4 The Committee advertised its inquiry in each State capital city newspaper
as well as in The Australian on 21 August 1999. Details
of the inquiry were also placed on the Committee's homepage on the Internet.
In addition, the Committee wrote to organisations with an interest in
the inquiry.
Evidence to the inquiry
1.5 The Committee received 227 submissions which were published (except
for the 4 whose authors made a request for confidentiality) and are publicly
available through the Committee Secretariat. A list of the submissions
is at appendix 1.
Course of the inquiry
1.6 The Committee conducted 13 public hearings as part of the inquiry:
in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Perth and Hobart. A round table
discussion was also held in Canberra, with the Australian Bureau of Agricultural
and Resource Economics, the Australia Institute and Sustainable Solutions.
1.7 During the course of the hearings, the Committee took evidence from
65 organisations, 19 State and Commonwealth Government Departments and
heard evidence from 161 individual witnesses. They are listed at appendix
2.
1.8 The Committee also conducted site inspections to the CSIRO Energy
Technology Centre at Lucas Heights and the CSIRO Climate Change Laboratory
at Aspendale in March 2000.
1.9 Hansard recorded 933 pages of evidence. The transcripts of
evidence are available at: https://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/senate/commttee/comsen.htm.
1.10 The Committee thanks all those who have organised the various tours
and presentations to which the Committee was invited and which proved
to be invaluable as part of the information gathering process necessary
for an inquiry into such a broad and complex subject. The Committee also
thanks all the witnesses, and the many individuals and organisations who
have made submissions to its inquiry.
Structure of the Report
The Committee has structured the report into two main parts. The first
part (chapters 2-4) provides an overview of the global warming issue and
Australia's role. The second part (chapters 5-10) details the adequacy
of Australia's current and anticipated policies and programs.
Chapter 1 Introduction
This chapter provides an overview of the conduct of the inquiry and the
structure of the report.
Chapter 2 The Potential Impacts of Global Warming
This chapter sets out the current state of knowledge about climate change,
and scientific predictions of future climate change, including potential
climate change in Australasia. The chapter discusses scientific opinion
on the potential for stabilising the global climate system, including
the level of emissions reductions that may be required to do so; the current
areas of uncertainty in relation to the operations of the global climate
system; and the predictive ability of climate change models. The chapter
concludes with a discussion of the need for further research, particularly
in relation to climate change in Australasia and its potential impact
on Australia's environment, biodiversity and economy.
Chapter 3 The Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol
This chapter discusses the early developments in the negotiation processes
for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the
Kyoto Protocol. It details Australia's role in the negotiations for the
Kyoto Protocol and analyses the `special case' argument put forward by
the Australian Government; and the outcome of negotiations. The chapter
continues with discussion of the role of developing countries and the
Kyoto Protocol, the importance of the Clean Development Mechanism and
concludes with a discussion on the ratification of the Protocol.
Chapter 4 Australia's Greenhouse Performance and Strategy
This chapter assesses Australia's emissions profile, highlighting the
key challenges that Australia faces in meeting its Kyoto target and in
developing sustainable solutions for managing the long term implications
of climate change. The chapter draws on the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory
of emissions to evaluate emerging trends in key areas of emissions production.
This chapter also develops a picture of the contemporary Australian response
to global warming. It:
- provides an overview of the current national greenhouse policy framework;
- examines the role of the Commonwealth, state and territory governments,
local governments and the broader community within that framework;
- examines current progress in the implementation of the National Greenhouse
Strategy, and the barriers and issues hindering its effectiveness; and
- provides recommendations for future directions.
Chapter 5 Energy Use and Supply
The National Greenhouse Gas Inventory divides energy into two broad areas:
`transport' and `stationary' energy. This chapter analyses the structure
and market characteristics of Australia's stationary energy sector, and
the debate over its transition to lower emissions sources and technologies.
Chapter 6 Transport Emissions and Solutions
This chapter analyses the structure of Australia's transport energy sector
and the debate over its transition to lower emissions. It highlights the
need for a national policy approach that integrates the diverse source
of emissions with a framework that gives weight to the combined environmental
impact of Australia's transport choices.
Chapter 7 Carbon and the Land
This chapter examines:
- the contribution of the land use change and forestry, and agricultural
sectors to Australia's greenhouse gas emissions;
- the impact of current land management practices and policies on current
and projected greenhouse emissions;
- action currently being undertaken to reduce emissions in these sectors
and the potential for these sectors to contribute to greenhouse gas
abatement; and
- the use of carbon sequestration through land based sinks as a greenhouse
response measure and the issues and uncertainties associated with accounting
for their use.
Chapter 8 The Greenhouse Challenge
This chapter critically evaluates the effectiveness of the Greenhouse
Challenge Program as a major Government policy for meeting Australia's
Kyoto target. It also assesses a number of concerns raised with the Committee
about the current administrative framework of the Greenhouse Challenge
Program, in particular, the extent to which the Government's relations
with industry under the Program are accountable and transparent.
Chapter 9 Emissions Trading
This chapter discusses the potential introduction of national system
of emissions trading within Australia. It assesses its potential as a
market-based mechanism for reducing emissions and ensuring that the carbon
emissions are priced within existing markets for energy, transport, agriculture
and manufactures. The chapter also discusses the optimal timing for its
introduction, the breadth of its coverage, the best way of allocating
permits among emitters, credit for early action to reduce emissions, and
other policies that may be needed to complement an emissions trading system.
Chapter 10 Convention on Climate Change (Implementation) Bill 1999
This chapter addresses the Convention on Climate Change (Implementation)
Bill 1999. It is a Private Senator's Bill introduced into the Senate by
Senator Bob Brown (Australian Greens) on 2 September 1999. The Bill proposes
to implement Australia's obligations under the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change and the 1997 Kyoto Protocol by: establishing
the Greenhouse Office; and providing for Greenhouse Impact Assessments
and Industry Greenhouse Plans.
Top
|