Hi <<First Name>>,
In this February edition:
|
|
The outcome from COP21 in Paris last December firmly established the agenda to keep global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius, aiming for 1.5 degrees. ClimateWorks’ Pathways to Deep Decarbonisation in 2050 shows that achieving this goal is consistent with continued economic growth in Australia.
COP21 brought together 150 world leaders including Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, and secured pledges from over 180 countries covering about 95% of the world’s emissions. In total, 10,825 commitments have now been registered by companies, cities, sub-national regions and investors, largely focusing on emissions reductions. Importantly, Paris also paved the way for stronger action going forward. As we move into 2016, policy and commitments are consolidating and clean technology is quickly advancing, signalling that now is the time for strong progress. Further analysis of Paris COP21 can be found in a recent article by Howard Bamsey AM, Adjunct Professor at the Climate Change Institute, Australian National University and a ClimateWorks Board member.
Next steps
In 2016 ClimateWorks will work with governments, business and investors to develop pathways and approaches to rapidly reduce emissions. This will include key projects around deep decarbonisation, improving energy productivity, moving to low emission vehicles in the light vehicle fleet, roadmapping energy efficiency in the built environment and new work to accelerate further action in targeted sectors.
|
|
As part of the Network Transformation Roadmap, the Energy Network Association and CSIRO have refreshed the Future Grid Forum, originally convened in 2012 to develop plausible scenarios for Australia’s electricity systems out to 2050. The Future Grid Forum Refresh report draws on key findings from ClimateWorks’ Pathways to Deep Decarbonisation in 2050 report, around implications of the four pillars of decarbonisation to the energy sector and finds the news is far from negative: The average electricity demand growth rate under the Australian Deep Decarbonisation Pathway is 2.4 percent per annum to 2050, driven primarily by electrification of buildings, transport and industrial processes. The report also highlights the importance of considering the economy wide efforts to meet our 2 degree target when considering the rate at which we need to decarbonise our electricity supply.
Next steps
The Future Grid Forum Refresh has shown that economy wide efforts are needed to meet our emission reduction targets, and that the electricity sector plays a central role. ClimateWorks will continue our work on facilitating tangible action across the entire economy, and is investigating further work in the energy sector.
|
|
A new Ministerial Forum established by the Federal Government to examine vehicle emissions is a welcome step to what many hope will be the introduction of light vehicle CO2 emission standards in Australia. ClimateWorks' analysis found the introduction of best practice vehicle emissions standards would lead to a 50 per cent improvement on fuel economy for new light vehicles over 10 years. It also showed the introduction of light vehicle emissions standards cannot happen in isolation, rather a suite of complementary measures is needed to help Australians make the shift to more fuel efficient and low emission vehicles. ClimateWorks also recently published an article about the recent inaugural National Air Quality and Health Meeting which considered vehicle emissions in the context of air quality and impacts on human health.
Next steps
ClimateWorks, in collaboration with Future Climate Australia and the Global Fuel Economy Initiative, has published the Towards Fuel Efficient, Lower Emission Light Vehicles Issues Paper, to help identify complementary measures that would support the introduction of light vehicle CO2 emission standards. Consultation has been undertaken with industry, government and consumers and will feed into the Ministerial Forum to help identify tangible actions to improve the fuel efficiency of Australia’s light vehicle fleet, and drive uptake of technologies such as electric vehicles needed to achieve decarbonisation.
|
|
ClimateWorks, in partnership with the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, the Institute of Technology Bandung, the Green Building Council of Indonesia and the Jakarta Property Institute have now successfully completed a project to share knowledge on commercial buildings energy efficiency. Funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and involving experts and academics, property sector stakeholders, government and NGOs from both Australia and Indonesia, the project included an exchange trip with key Indonesian experts visiting Australia, and a workshop around common challenges and opportunities, from which six project ideas emerged.
Next steps
Working with our Indonesian, global and Australian partners, ClimateWorks is seeking funding for the six identified projects, including developing an energy efficiency benchmark for commercial buildings and establishing an international forum to share best practice on building codes development and enforcement.
|
|
|
A key theme at the World Economic Forum in January, held in Davos, Switzerland, was 'Business played an encouraging role in the strong outcome at COP21, but the hard work is still to come'. This was perhaps best summed up by top UN authority on Global Climate Change, Christiana Figueres, when she said, “We have re-set the GPS for global growth; now we need the tools to get there and we have literally three seconds (in the context of human time) to develop them.”
|
|
You're invite to an Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ) event on March 9, to explore the response and outcomes from the recent United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Paris. ClimateWorks' CEO Anna Skarbek will join a panel of leaders in climate action to discuss challenges and opportunities for environmental practitioners in Victoria.
Back in the early 2000s, a small group of Monash students established a sustainability program to teach the skills needed to create change from within organisations. On March 1 of this year, Green Steps celebrates 15 years of achievement with a thought leadership panel discussing how sustainability is in transition. For details and to book click here.
|
|
With thanks,
The team at ClimateWorks Australia
|
|
|
|
