Indicator: A-09 Greenhouse - implementation of measures under the National Greenhouse Gas Strategy
Data
The Australian government has implemented various programs and policies to address the level of net greenhouse emissions produced by Australia. Readers should refer to state and territory state of the environment reports on measures undertaken by state and territory governments.
The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty under the United National Framework Convention on Climate Change designed to limit global greenhouse gas emissions. The protocol came into force on 16 February 2005 following Russian ratification. The Australian government has decided not to ratify the Kyoto Protocol although it has agreed to limit its greenhouse gas emissions to 108 percent of the level of 1990 emissions by 2008-12.
In 2004 the Australian government announced a new Climate Change strategy providing funding of $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. Future state of the environment reports will report on the effectiveness of these measures.
The funded programmes include:
- Greenhouse Challenge Plus is an industry partnerships programme which will provide $31.3 million over four years. It aims to encourage abatement of greenhouse gases, improve management of these gases, improve emissions measurement and monitoring, and strengthen information sharing between government and industry.
- New programmes for low emission technologies including the Low Emissions Technology Demonstration Fund and the Low Emissions Technology and Abatement Programme.
- The Greenhouse Gas Abatement Programme for large-scale projects that use low emissions technologies
- Solar Cities Programme will provide $75 million from 2004 to 2013 to demonstrate the benefits of solar power and smart electricity technologies on a large scale.
- Renewable Energy Development Initiative which will support the commercialisation of important renewable energy projects. It will provide $100 million to industry from 2004-2011.
The Australian Greenhouse Office prepares projections of Australia’s future greenhouse gas emissions.
Australia's Greenhouse Gas Emissions
What does the data mean?
The projections show that Australia is on track to meet its Kyoto target of limiting greenhouse gas emissions in the period 2008-2012 to 108 percent of their 1990 level.
Of the 18 projects approved under the Greenhouse Gas Abatement Programme, 12 are on track to deliver cost-effective reductions in emissions in 2008-12. Three projects were withdrawn because of technical issues, and three are still under negotiation.
Greenhouse Challenge Plus has more than 770 participants, representing almost 50 percent of greenhouse gas emissions from industry and includes companies in key sectors, including electricity supply, oil and gas, aluminium, cement, mining and manufacturing.
Future state of the environment reports will report on the effectiveness of the full range of greenhouse gas measures.
Data Limitations
Nil known
Issues that relate to this indicator
Atmosphere — Climate variability and change - Greenhouse
None
- A-07 Greenhouse - carbon dioxide concentrations and growth rates
- A-38 Greenhouse - methane concentrations and growth rates
- A-39 Greenhouse - nitrous oxide concentrations and growth rates
- A-08 Greenhouse - change in total carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by gas
- A-40 Greenhouse - change in total carbon dioxide equivalent emissions per capita and gross domestic product
- A-41 Greenhouse - climate change projections
- A-42 Greenhouse - carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by sector
- A-43 Greenhouse - carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by primary fuel type
- A-44 Greenhouse - carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by mode of travel and road transport emissions by vehicle type
- A-45 Greenhouse - agricultural sector carbon dioxide equivalent emissions
- A-46 Greenhouse - carbon dioxide equivalent emissions from land use, land use change and forestry
- LD-05 Terrestrial carbon loss rate and rate of land carbon sequestration
- CO-03 Sea level
- CO-04 Sea surface temperature variability
- CO-60 Sea salinity
- LD-39 Change in biomass stock
- CO-44 Marine chlorophyll concentration
- AAT-12 Changes in colonies of plants on Heard Island
- AAT-14 Ice sheet mass balance and sea ice extent
- AAT-15 Glacier movement
- Greenhouse - climate change projections
Key
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