Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources) Share this | Hansard source

On the Greenhouse Challenge, the 15 million tonne abatement figure is based on action plans submitted by the nearly 800 members of the Greenhouse Challenge program. Similar to the approach taken by the tax office, and recognising this is a voluntary program, we have deliberately chosen to undertake comprehensive independent verification of a representative group of companies, which is about five per cent of the total numbers. This verification process has demonstrated that companies are undertaking actions and reporting accurately.

Turning to the AP6, Australia led the way in committing $100 million to get these practical projects underway. It was another example of Australia taking a leading role in addressing climate change. The United States has indicated it will provide $US52 million. That is still being confirmed through the US congress. My most recent discussions with the US government indicated that that money would be forthcoming; they obviously have their process to go through. The honourable member might have regard to this development: in President Bush’s recent speech about climate change, he proposed in effect a larger version of AP6.

It is the same concept but having the 15 largest emitters—the EU being one and the United States being another, so it would be the AP6 countries plus the EU and another number of large emitters who represent 85 per cent of global emissions—with a view to reaching an early agreement on an emission reduction strategy as part of and supporting the Kyoto process and the UNFCCC process. This AP6 is likely to become the template for what will probably be the most effective global response. In terms of renewable energy, almost all of the $25 million for renewable projects has been committed, and the total amount will probably be committed before the end of this year.

Finally, on AP6, it was never our expectation that all countries would directly contribute funds to AP6. Many countries, including China, India and Korea, are contributing expertise and other in kind resources in situ in projects in their own countries, where they are making their own contributions to the project as opposed to doing so through AP6. That is happening in respect of the almost 100 projects under AP6. Returning to the theme I started with, I cannot stress too much the scale of the technological challenge that the world faces. The member for Batman understands this very well.

We are to achieve the emission reductions—science tells us we need to—as a planet by mid-century. We will need to have all or almost all of our stationary energy and most of our transport energy coming from zero emission sources. There is a very good table in the emissions trading task group report which comes from the International Energy Agency. It shows the mix of the sources of emissions. It is perfectly plain. It is as at the year 2000 and, of course, when you extrapolate it out to 2050, the volume is greater and the contribution from stationary energy and transport is that much greater. So, to achieve these big reductions, we need to move to our electricity and most of our transport coming from zero or near-zero emission sources.

We have nuclear energy. The Labor Party are opposed to that, of course. They say that should not be an option. We have renewables. They have their own challenges because of their intermittency. We have hydro. The scope for increasing hydroelectricity is pretty limited almost everywhere in the world. So clean coal is going to play an enormous part in this mix. Every energy agency, every energy consultant, says the same thing. That is why the collaboration between Australia and the other AP6 countries on clean coal, particularly with China, is of such enormous importance. Ultimately, the solution to our global warming challenge will come through technology. Australia is seeking to have all of the technology options on the table. And, in respect of those technologies that need development, we are leading the charge.

Proposed expenditure agreed to.

Department of Transport and Regional Services

Proposed expenditure, $846,521,000.

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