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Department of the Environment and Heritage annual report 2004-05

Volume one
Department of the Environment and Heritage, 2005
ISSN 1441 9335

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Outcome 1 - Environment (continued)

In this section

Climate change

The Department of the Environment and Heritage, through its Australian Greenhouse Office, contributes to the global effort to respond to climate change and implements the Australian Government's climate change strategy. The department works closely with other departments, including the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources, to progress this strategy.

Main responsibilities relevant to this output

Australian Greenhouse Office, comprising the Industry, Communities and Energy Division, and the International, Land and Analysis Division

Objectives

Main results

Australia’s Climate Change Strategy

The concentration of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere is rising, changing the Earth’s climate. Over the past century the world has warmed by an average 0.6 degrees Celsius, with the most rapid increase occurring over the last 30 years. Much of this change is linked to human activity.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a body established by the World Meteorological Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme, has predicted that without intervention average global surface temperatures could increase by 1.4 to 5.8 degrees Celsius by the end of this century. Temperature changes of this magnitude are likely to have major effects on the environment, human health and economies.

Stabilising the concentration of carbon dioxide (and the other greenhouse gases) in the atmosphere to prevent the worst of these impacts will require a strong and effective global response. All greenhouse gas emitting nations will need to commit to reducing their emissions.

In 2004 the Australian Government announced a new Climate Change Strategy to:

The strategy was articulated through measures announced in the May 2004 federal Budget and the June 2004 energy white paper, Securing Australia’s Energy Future. These measures increased the Australian Government’s commitment to climate change activities that directly involve the Australian Greenhouse Office to around $1.8 billion until 2012–13. This included $802.1 million for ongoing programmes, $275.2 million for new Budget measures and $732.6 million for energy white paper measures (provided through the Budget additional estimates).

Implementing the full range of measures that make up the climate change strategy was a key focus of the work of the Australian Greenhouse Office during 2004–05.

International engagement on climate change

Australia is pursuing an international climate change strategy that includes both multilateral and bilateral actions. Australia is a party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which lays the basis for global action ‘to protect the climate system for present and future generations.’ Bilateral relationships provide a framework for high-level engagement on policy issues and cooperative projects that benefit both countries involved.

The Australian Greenhouse Office contributes to Australia’s efforts to progress action on climate change through international forums. The office provides briefings to ministers and departmental officials who participate in negotiations at these meetings.

Kyoto Protocol

The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change designed to limit global greenhouse gas emissions. It includes emissions target commitments for developed countries. The Kyoto Protocol came into force on 16 February 2005 following Russian ratification.

In the 1997 Kyoto negotiations Australia agreed to limit its greenhouse gas emissions to 108 per cent of the level of 1990 emissions by 2008–2012. The Australian Government is committed to meeting this target. The most recent projections show that Australia is on track to do so.

While strongly investing in domestic greenhouse action, the Australian Government has decided not to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. The government believes the protocol is not a sufficient global response to climate change because it does not provide a pathway for all major emitting countries to commit to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. The majority of the world’s top 12 greenhouse gas emitters, including the world’s largest emitter the United States, and large developing countries such as China and India, have not accepted or are not covered by the protocol’s binding emissions caps.

During 2004–05 Australia continued to work for the development of an international climate change response that is environmentally effective, economically efficient and includes all major emitters. The need for a response ‘beyond Kyoto’ is being increasingly recognised worldwide.

Buenos Aires climate change conference

The 10th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was held from 6–17 December 2004 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Australia supported the development of the Buenos Aires Programme of Work on Adaptation and Response Measures, a long-term work programme to assist the most vulnerable developing countries adapt to the unavoidable adverse consequences of climate change.

The Minister for the Environment and Heritage was one of six ministers invited to speak at the high-level segment on the impacts of climate change, adaptation measures and sustainable development. He highlighted two key priorities for international adaptation efforts:

Other key international forums

Other international forums in which Australia played a strong role included the United Kingdom Ministerial Roundtable on Energy and the Environment (15–16 March 2005, London) and the Australia–New Zealand climate change forum (7–8 April, Sydney).

The London ministerial roundtable brought together ministers from key developing and developed countries to discuss ways to respond to climate change, ensure energy security and end energy poverty. The Minister for the Environment and Heritage chaired the session on developing lower carbon energy systems at this meeting.

The climate change forum brought together senior Australian and New Zealand industry and government leaders to discuss possible approaches to respond to climate change internationally. The forum was facilitated by the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, a leading US-based think-tank that is conducting a high level international dialogue on future global action on climate change.

The minister and the department also participated in formative discussions with the United States and other countries in the Asia–Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate.

Multilateral projects

In November 2004 Australia joined with 13 other nations as a founding member of the Methane to Markets Partnership. The partnership focuses on cost-effective, short-term methane recovery and its use as a clean energy source. This will enhance economic growth, improve energy security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from coal mines, landfills, and the oil and gas sector. The partnership promotes collaboration between developed and developing country partners, with strong participation from the private sector.

Australia also participates in three other technology focused partnerships—the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership, the International Partnership on the Hydrogen Economy and the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum. In June 2005 funding of $381 000 was provided to the Australian Business Council for Sustainable Energy to establish and operate an Oceania Secretariat of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership for three years. A further $90 000 contribution was provided for the renewable energy partnership’s Renewable Energy International Law Project.

Bilateral relationships

Australia continued to work with its five bilateral climate change partners—the United States, China, New Zealand, Japan and the European Union—on practical actions to contribute to the global climate change response. More than 40 projects are now under way through these partnerships.

United States: The Australia–United States Climate Action Partnership continued to deliver concrete outcomes across a broad range of areas, including work with Australia’s Pacific neighbours on climate change science, research and monitoring; and constructive work on geosequestration and hydrogen through the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum and International Partnership on the Hydrogen Economy. There was also significant progress on renewable energy with the US Department of Energy and the Australian Greenhouse Office establishing a future programme of work on renewables under the partnership.

China: The Australia–China Climate Change Partnership was strengthened with the signing on 16 August 2004 of a Memorandum of Understanding on Climate Change Activities, followed by a workshop in Beijing from 13–15 September 2004. This workshop enabled Australian and Chinese industry representatives to identify opportunities for collaboration on climate change projects.

New Zealand: From 4–5 November 2004 the Australian and New Zealand Governments co-sponsored Climate Change and Business: The Australia–New Zealand Conference and Trade Expo, which was attended by more than 200 representatives. The event enabled an exchange of ideas and information on activities and opportunities to respond to climate change.

Japan: Australia and Japan co-hosted the Asia–Pacific Seminar on Climate Change held in Sydney, Australia from 21–24 September 2004. Experts from 19 countries and representatives from eight United Nations agencies and other international agencies participated. The seminar included updates on efforts to address climate change in the Asia–Pacific region, capacity building, adaptation, science and technology, and lessons learnt for future action.

European Union: Work continued with the European Union to develop an agreed plan of action on energy efficiency including reducing standby power consumption of consumer electronics, benchmarking of minimum energy performance standards for residential air conditioners, examining standby power losses in non-residential buildings, and developing efficiency standards and labels for residential appliances.

Greenhouse gas emissions management

While Australia only contributes about 1.4 per cent to global greenhouse gas emissions, our economy is relatively energy intensive. Fossil fuels dominate our energy production. As Australia is a major exporter of emission-intensive goods our economy is potentially vulnerable to domestic and international measures to address climate change, which could affect the global competitiveness of Australian industries.

Australia’s challenge is to continue to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining and growing a strong economy that provides for the well-being of all Australians.

The Australian Greenhouse Office contributes by building partnerships with industry, developing energy technologies that have low emissions, and investing in local and regional actions that reduce overall emissions.

Current measures undertaken across all levels of government are helping to reduce Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions by 94 million tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2010. This has Australia on track to meet its Kyoto Protocol emissions target (see projections).

During the year the Australian Greenhouse Office began implementing new programmes announced in 2004 as part of the Australian Government’s $1.8 billion Climate Change Strategy. This strategy will help Australia to meet its Kyoto target in the short term, while positioning us for future greenhouse gas reduction action in the long term.

Building industry partnerships—new programmes

During the year the Minister for the Environment and Heritage launched the reinvigorated Greenhouse Challenge Plus programme. The programme builds on the success of Greenhouse Challenge and incorporates two existing initiatives—Greenhouse Friendly and Generator Efficiency Standards—into a single industry partnerships programme. Greenhouse Challenge Plus helps participants integrate greenhouse issues into business decision-making, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate the uptake of energy efficiency. Greenhouse Challenge Plus has more than 770 participants, representing almost 50 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions from industry. It has excellent coverage of companies in key sectors, including the electricity supply, oil and gas, aluminium, cement, mining and manufacturing sectors. The new programme will provide $31.3 million over four years.

Most Greenhouse Challenge Plus member companies participate in the programme voluntarily but from July 2006, companies that receive more than $3 million per year of business fuel credits will be required to join the programme in order to receive these credits. In addition, a new requirement for proponents of major energy resource developments to join the programme is being developed.

New programmes for low emission technologies were developed, requiring extensive consultation with industry organisations, technical experts and the public. The government’s $500 million Low Emissions Technology Demonstration Fund will operate from 2005–2020 to support the demonstration of new low-emission technologies with significant long-term greenhouse abatement potential. The fund aims to leverage at least $1 billion in contributions from the corporate sector. On 3 June 2005 the Australian Greenhouse Office
invited public comment on draft guidelines for the first round of funding, and on a statement of challenges and opportunities, which reflects the energy sector’s operating environment and the Australian Government’s current priorities. During the year the office also progressed the $26.8 million Low Emissions Technology and Abatement programme, including preparations for a monitoring regime for a geosequestration pilot project, and undertaking consultancies to develop other programme themes (including fossil fuels, and local and regional action).

Building industry partnerships—ongoing programmes

The Greenhouse Gas Abatement Programme provides funding for mainly large-scale projects that use low-emissions technologies and practices. Twelve projects are on track to deliver emissions reductions from 2008–2012.

Under the Alternative Fuels Conversion Programme the Australian Greenhouse Office worked with the United States engine manufacturer Clean Air Power to develop the Caterpillar C15 engine for long-haul truck rigs, tailor it to Australian conditions and test its operation in Australian fleet conditions. The new engine uses liquefied natural gas and diesel, with tests showing an 8 per cent reduction in greenhouse emissions and improved air quality outcomes.

Action on energy efficiency

The Australian Greenhouse Office supported the Australian Government’s input to the development of the National Framework for Energy Efficiency, which was adopted by the Ministerial Council on Energy on 27 August 2004. The framework will improve the energy efficiency of residential and commercial buildings, appliances and equipment, as well as energy use in the industrial and commercial sectors. It also covers training and accreditation, the finance sector, and increasing consumer awareness. During the year Minimum Energy Performance Standards for air-conditioners came into effect, and standards for refrigerators were upgraded. The Your Building project was announced as a collaborative effort between industry and government to produce a guide to sustainable commercial office building. This will complement the successful Your Home guide to sustainable housing.

Renewable energy—new programmes

The government’s flagship Solar Cities programme will provide $75 million over nine years (2004–2013) to demonstrate the costs and benefits of solar power and smart electricity technologies on a large scale. The programme is on track for the announcement of the location of Solar Cities during 2006. Programme development during the year included stakeholder consultation, finalising of programme guidelines and a call for expressions of interest.

The Australian Greenhouse Office contributed to the development of the Renewable Energy Development Initiative, which will support the commercialisation of important renewable energy projects. The initiative will provide $100 million in funding to industry over seven years (2004–2011). It is being administered jointly with the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources. Applications were invited under the first round of funding on 8 June 2005.

A programme framework was developed for the Advanced Electricity Storage Technologies Programme and a study of Australian capabilities was commissioned. This programme will provide $20.5 million over five years (2004–2009) to help develop advanced technologies for storing electricity generated through renewable sources.

The Australian Greenhouse Office completed planning for the delivery of the government’s wind forecasting capability in consultation with stakeholders. This programme will help increase the value of wind energy in the electricity grid by more accurately predicting wind energy generation. Negotiations were advanced with the National Electricity Market Management Company on design and implementation of the forecasting system. In addition, agreements were finalised with the CSIRO Wind Energy Research Unit, the Bureau of Meteorology, and the Centre for Energy and Environmental Markets.

Solar power station

Providing power to remote communities

A 220 kilowatt solar power station for the Anangu Pitjantjatjara lands in north-east South Australia was built with the help of $1 million in Australian Government funding.
Photo: Solar Systems Pty Ltd

Renewable energy—ongoing programmes

The Renewable Remote Power Generation Programme provided 638 grants totalling $22.4 million to increase the use of renewable energy generation in remote parts of Australia and to reduce the amount of diesel used to generate electricity. These grants brought the total number of projects funded to 3 608.

The $55.6 million Renewable Energy Commercialisation Programme is fully committed. During the year, nine recipients of programme funding completed their projects. For example a concentrating dish solar photovoltaic project in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara lands in the north west of South Australia is now providing electricity to the local Indigenous community. This has led to the construction of a further three similar power stations at remote communities at Hermannsburg, Yuendumu and Lajamanu in the Northern Territory.

The Renewable Energy Equity Fund continued to provide venture capital to small, innovative renewable energy companies to help commercialise their technologies. During 2004–05 an additional $2.2 million was invested in five companies, leveraging an additional $1.1 million in private sector investment.

The Photovoltaic Rebate Programme provides cash rebates for consumers who install grid-connected or stand-alone photovoltaic systems. In 2004–05 the programme provided 808 rebates, representing more than $3.2 million invested. This brought the total number of photovoltaic systems installed over the life of the programme to 6 176. As part of the May 2005 Budget the government announced that it would extend the programme for two years, providing $5.7 million in each of 2005–06 and 2006–07.

The Mandatory Renewable Energy Target scheme sets up a national renewable energy market based on a system of tradeable certificates. The Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator administers the scheme, although policy responsibility remains with the Australian Greenhouse Office.

Following the 2003 review of the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target, the government confirmed its commitment to the current renewable energy target of 9 500 gigawatt hours by 2010 in the energy white paper Securing Australia’s Energy Future. The government also agreed to a number of legislative and regulatory amendments to improve the administrative efficiency and operational effectiveness of the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000.

Local and regional action

The Australian Government helps local governments to reduce their net greenhouse gas emissions through the Local Greenhouse Action programme. This programme includes Cities for Climate Protection™ Australia, where Australia has the largest and most advanced programme of activities in the world, involving 203 local governments and representing 78 per cent of the Australian population. Grants totalling $0.8 million in 2004–05 supported home energy audits and retrofits, community workshops, transport initiatives and energy efficient retrofits of community facilities such as child care centres, aquatic centres and libraries.

Greenhouse Action to Enhance Sustainability in Regional Australia addresses challenges and knowledge gaps about climate change in regional Australia. During the year work started on a range of partnership projects addressing emissions management and adaptation issues across the agriculture, forestry and natural resource management sectors. Expenditure on these projects was $6.2 million in 2004–05, leveraging an additional $16.5 million from industry and the states.

See also: native vegetation management framework.

Foundation: understanding of climate change

The Australian Government’s response to climate change is built on the quality of underpinning knowledge about the issues, the capacity to accurately measure greenhouse gas emissions at a national and sectoral level, and the ability to identify and respond to emerging issues.

For example research is revealing more about the influence ocean circulation has on the regional and global climate and on transporting heat and absorbing carbon. The discovery this year that the deep waters of the Southern Ocean are cooler and less salty than they were 10 years ago demonstrated the benefits of future investment in scientific research into the connections between climate change and the Southern Ocean.

Australian Climate Change Science Programme

The $30.7 million Australian Climate Change Science Programme will support research over four years into the nature, causes, timing and implications of climate change for Australia. The programme helps to maintain Australia’s world-class climate modelling capacity. Partly as a result of the programme’s investments, Australia is recognised internationally for the quality of its climate change science.

The Australian Government increased funding for the programme in the May 2004 Budget. New elements introduced into the programme following stakeholder consultation include work on the detection and attribution of climate change in Australia; research into the implications of climate change for climate variability and extreme events; and a new generation of climate change projections based on probabilities of change.

National Climate Change Adaptation Programme

Some degree of climate change is inevitable due to the level of greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere. The National Climate Change Adaptation Programme, announced in the May 2004 Budget, will help Australians manage the consequences of climate change. The $14.2 million programme will operate over four years (2004–2008).

A report commissioned during the year—the National Risk and Vulnerability Assessment—identified the sectors and regions where Australians would benefit most from giving early attention to planning how to adapt to the consequences of climate change (see www.greenhouse.gov.au/impacts). The Australian Greenhouse Office also began developing guidance for this type of planning.

Other key areas of work during 2004–05 included:

National Greenhouse Gas Inventory

Sources of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions

Total greenhouse gas emissions in 2003 = 550 carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e) megatonnes

Sources of greenhouse gas emissions in 2003

Data current in 2003.

Each year the Australian Greenhouse Office prepares an inventory of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions, as required under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. These inventories, which are available at www.greenhouse.gov.au/ inventory, are prepared in accordance with international guidelines under the guidance of a national committee made up of federal, state and territory government representatives (the methods used are also available online).

The inventory includes emission estimates for different industry sectors with estimates for the land-use change and forestry sector produced by the National Carbon Accounting System.

The 2003 National Greenhouse Gas Inventory was released on 24 May 2005, showing that national greenhouse gas emissions were 101.1 per cent of their 1990 level. This small increase in emissions is consistent with the updated projections released in December 2004 (see Greenhouse gas projections).

Also during the year an interactive Australian Greenhouse Emissions Information System was published online at www.greenhouse.gov.au/inventory. The new system allows anyone to check how Australia is tracking against its Kyoto target and to identify sources of greenhouse gas emissions. Its development keeps Australia among the world’s leading nations in providing access to greenhouse gas emissions data.

The Australian Greenhouse Office also prepared state and territory inventories to complement the national inventory and to inform state and territory policy-making. The new Australian Greenhouse Emissions Information System provides the capability to issue state and territory inventories on an annual basis.

Greenhouse gas projections

The Australian Greenhouse Office prepares projections of Australia’s future greenhouse gas emissions (see chart below). The projections help the government to determine whether its policies and programmes will help Australia meet its international emissions target.

Updated projections which follow accounting rules developed under the Kyoto Protocol were released on 6 December 2004 in a report called Tracking to the Kyoto Target 2004. The projections showed that Australia is on track to meet its Kyoto target of limiting greenhouse gas emissions in the period 2008–2012 to 108 per cent of their 1990 level. Australia’s greenhouse policies and programmes are projected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 94 million tonnes by 2010— more than the equivalent of eliminating all emissions from the transport sector.

See www.greenhouse.gov.au/projections.

Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions (1990–2020)

australia's greenhouse gas emissions 1990-2020

The dashed horizontal line shows Australia’s Kyoto Protocol target.

David Borthwick with Dr Gary Richards and Howard Bamsey

David Borthwick (secretary) with Dr Gary Richards and Howard Bamsey (deputy secretary)

Dr Gary Richards, principal scientist of the National Carbon Accounting System, received a CSIRO Chairman’s Medal as part of the CSIRO Mathematical and Information Sciences Mapping and Monitoring Team. The award recognised Dr Richards’ contribution to applying remote sensing to environmental management on a continental scale. Dr Richards was part of a team that used satellite images to map vegetation change in Australia over a 30-year period. This work is being used to assess Australia’s carbon budget and also to develop policies for land management issues such as land clearing and salinity.
Photo: L Cotton

National Carbon Accounting System

Australia’s capability to account for greenhouse gas emissions from our land systems is provided through the world-leading National Carbon Accounting System, which uses computer-based land systems modelling and observations to provide a national map of emissions at a sub-hectare scale.

Over the last year many of the fundamental datasets, such as climate and remotely sensed vegetation cover change, were updated to current time. Research and development activities, largely jointly conducted with various state and territory agencies, CSIRO, universities and private sector interests, also helped to improve the system and expand its capability. In recognition of his contribution to the application of remote sensing to environmental management on a continental scale, the principal scientist of the National Carbon Accounting System received a CSIRO Chairman’s Medal on 9 November 2004.

A National Carbon Accounting Toolbox was released in March 2005 to enable landholders to examine the history of their properties through a time-series archive of remotely sensed images, and to model the greenhouse gas implications of agricultural and forestry activities.

Review of Australia’s Third National Communication

Parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change are required to report their progress to the convention’s secretariat every three to four years through what is referred to as a national communication. The secretariat then carries out an in-depth review of each national communication.

The secretariat carried out the in-depth review of Australia’s Third National Communication in 2004. The Australian Greenhouse Office received a draft report of the review in February 2005 and has worked closely with the secretariat to ensure the report is complete and accurate. The review of the Third National Communication was released in August 2005.

See also: Antarctica’s influence on the climate.

Results for performance indicators
Performance indicator 2004-05 results
International

Effectiveness in key international, regional and bilateral climate change processes on issues for which the Australian Greenhouse Office has lead responsibility

Worked effectively through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to achieve key outcomes, including reaching agreement to develop a 5-year programme on adapting to climate change

Played a key role in several international forums on post-2012 action on climate change

Further developed both bilateral and plurilateral climate change partnerships

The number of initiatives delivered through key international, regional and bilateral processes

More than 50, including implementing more than 30 practical bilateral climate change projects and agreement to 12 additional projects; co-hosting with Japan a major Asia-Pacific Seminar on Climate Change in Australia; and gaining international support for an Australian initiative on a land use, land use change and forestry dialogue
Emissions management

Reporting systems are appropriately targeted and high quality

National Greenhouse Gas Inventory reviewed independently for United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and found to comply with requirements

Joint Ministerial Council on Energy-Environment Protection and Heritage Council streamlining and standardising emissions and energy reporting mechanisms for business

Implementation of consistent measurement of abatement across programmes

Ongoing programme of continuous improvement as part of projections process, supported by close involvement of programme managers in specifying abatement measurements

Risks to programme delivery identified and managed

Comprehensive risk management plans in place for each programme

Effectiveness of support for greenhouse response within sectors

Series of Australian Greenhouse Office programmes providing high level of engagement with sectors (for example, Greenhouse Challenge Plus includes approximately 770 member companies, Cities for Climate Protection™ Australia has over 200 participating local governments covering approximately 78% of the population)

Measurable behaviour change within sectors

Analysis of Recent Trends and Greenhouse Indicators 1990 to 2002 released in May 2004 with update due by the end of 2005

Effectiveness in relevant inter-jurisdictional processes on issues for which the Australian Greenhouse Office has lead responsibility

Climate Change in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management Working Group established under Natural Resources Management Ministerial Council with Australian Greenhouse Office secretariat, to coordinate inter-jurisdictional efforts on emission management

Australian Greenhouse Office closely involved in a productive joint Ministerial Council on Energy—Environment Protection and Heritage Council working group to streamline reporting requirements for business

Effectiveness of financial administration

Moved from independent agency financial management system to departmental system

Reported abatement activity including emissions reductions or energy savings

Reported in Tracking to the Kyoto Target 2004 released 6 December 2004

National measures delivering 94 million tonnes of emissions abatement

Estimated cost (government funds) of greenhouse abatement (dollars per tonne)

Based on the 2003 projections of abatement from 2008-2012 and Australian Government expenditure on programmes to end of June 2003, the cost per tonne of abatement averaged $4.00 per tonne (including all measures) or $3.40 per tonne looking only at those programmes where the primary objective was to deliver abatement. This estimate will be updated as new programmes are implemented.

Investment dollars (or contributory funding) leveraged from other parties by projects and programmes

Several-fold increase in investment by private sector through initiatives such as the Greenhouse Gas Abatement Programme, the Greenhouse Action in Regional Australia programme and the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target

Extent of engagement of key stakeholders

Series of Australian Greenhouse Office programmes providing high level of engagement with sectors (see examples given for 'Effectiveness of support for greenhouse response within sectors'; also Greenhouse Action in Regional Australia is delivering 8 regional workshops on forest sinks)

Extent of support for long-term low emission technology uptake

COAL21 action plan reflects private sector and inter-jurisdictional support for low emissions technologies

Public consultation on the Low Emissions Technology Development Fund was well attended and the 33 written submissions were all supportive
Foundation

Effectiveness in relevant and inter-jurisdictional processes on issues for which the Australian Greenhouse Office has the lead responsibility

See results under 'Emissions management' for 'Effectiveness in relevant inter-jurisdictional processes on issues for which the Australian Greenhouse Office has lead responsibility'

Extent to which climate change policy is integrated in national policies and programmes across key sectors

Energy white paper integrated climate change into national energy policy

Trends in community responses to key policy issues

Market research to track community attitudes to climate change will be undertaken in 2005—06

Suitability of climate change publications to meet targeted stakeholder needs

Audit of effectiveness of current communications vehicles is being undertaken during development of broader climate change communications strategy

Comprehensiveness, timeliness and quality of monitoring and public reporting on the implementation of the programmes

Milestones in programme development and implementation have been announced publicly in a timely fashion

Delivery of a credible, high quality, annual projection of Australia's greenhouse emissions trends

Tracking to the Kyoto Target 2004 released on 6 December 2004

Development of consistent measurement of abatement across programmes

Ongoing programme of continuous improvement as part of projections process, supported by close involvement of programme managers in agreeing abatement measurements

Number of gaps in climate change policy and emerging policy issues identified and managed

Energy white paper and Climate Change Strategy identified a range of gaps in Australian Government policy and addressed these gaps

Investment dollars (or in-kind contribution) leveraged from other parties for Australian Greenhouse Office climate change science priorities

$5.8 million in 2004—05

Number of reports and submissions made in accordance with national and international commitments and level of user interest

9 submissions to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Number of partnership initiatives developed to address impacts or adaptation

11 established in 2004—05, involving a total Australian Greenhouse Office contribution of $5.4 million and a total value of $17.8 million
Resources
Element of pricing (1) Budget prices (2) $’000 Actual expenses $’000
Departmental outputs

Sub-output: International Engagement

Sub-output: Emissions Management

Sub-output: Foundation

2 842

24 540

16 415

1 380

26 473

12 023

Total (=Output 1.10: Climate change)

43 797

39 876
Administered items

Renewable Remote Power Generation Programme

Photovoltaic Rebate Programme

Renewable Energy Commercialisation Programme

Alternative Fuels Conversion Programme

Greenhouse Gas Abatement Programme

Renewable Energy Equity Fund

Action on energy efficiency

Low emissions technology and abatement

Local greenhouse action

Greenhouse action to enhance sustainability in regional Australia

Influencing international climate change policy

Climate Change Science Programme

Advanced Electricity Storage Technologies (3)

Solar Cities (3)

25 259

4 338

3 721

2 796

15 137

3 165

750

1 400

392

3 165

1 414

6 000

500

600

15 781

3 537

1 713

2 770

12 685

300

750

0

390

3 078

1 164

1 477

0

0

Total (Administered)

68 637

43 645
¹ The budget price estimates and actual expenses shown in the table do not include the resources of the Australian Greenhouse Office from 1 July 2004 to 3 November 2004, when the office was a separate financial entity from the department. The financial statements beginning on page 338 show the resources of the Australian Greenhouse Office for the period 1 July 2004 to 3 November 2004. There is also an overview of Australian Greenhouse Office resources covering the entire financial year.
² Prices are the estimated full-year revenues for departmental outputs and full-year expenses for administered items that are shown in the 2004–05 portfolio additional estimates statements.
³ Funds were moved to 2005–06 and out years at the 2005–06 Budget.

See also: summary resource tables.

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