New government report illustrates how little Coalition's Direct Action will cut emissions, and importance of incentives for electric vehicles and energy efficiency.
At the start of this month, the latest report from industry analysts Reputex indicated Australia's greenhouse gas emissions were headed for a record high after 2020, and may not reach a peak before 2030 – despite the government's claim it has been reducing emissions and its support for the Paris climate deal.
This week, a new report released by the federal government – a discussion paper on vehicle emissions, issued as part of a Ministerial Forum into reducing the environmental and health impacts of transport pollution – adds to the gloom.
It illustrates, via the graph below, just how tough Australia's comparatively modest emissions abatement task will be; and how little the Coalition's Emissions Reduction Fund will contribute to the overall effort.
On a more positive note, the paper strives to acknowledge the importance introducing tougher vehicle emissions standards in Australia – perhaps even policy support for the roll-out of electric vehicles – and driving a general clean-up of the transport sector as a whole which, as the next graph from Climate Works shows, could be the cheapest and most cost-effective abatement opportunity of all major emitting sectors.
A few years maybe. 2020? How soon do you want to replace your car?
Why not start now? Even a Hybrid is a good start.
All? Not sure. The majority? I give it Fifteen years.
5% of new cars by 2018 if not before.
Momentum and neccesity will do the rest.
do you have a link to the new report Sophie?
I've added it to the text of the story, too.
Making public submissions to this report is important to get the Federal Government to act to protect the health of all Australians. Lax emission standards reflect the vested interests of the fossil fuel industry.