Climate Change

New EDO project on climate change and energy law

“There is no bigger threat to Western Australia’s environment, economy and unique lifestyle than climate change.” This quote from the Premier’s Climate Change Action Statement in May 2007 would suggest that big initiatives are needed at federal, state and local levels to combat impact of climate change. The Premier’s Statement outlines State Government programs aimed at reducing greenhouse gases - but it does not go far enough.  WA has no mandatory greenhouse reductions in any sector, no mandatory renewable energy target and no firm target for greenhouse gas reductions by 2050. The WA Government has stated a commitment to establishing Renewable Energy Target of 15% by 2020, and 20% by 2025 for a portion of WA – the South West Interconnected System. This target is not yet mandatory.

In comparison, other Australian States and many countries around the world have set mandatory targets for increasing renewable energy and also mandatory targets to decrease greenhouse gas emissions.

In NSW the Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme which commenced in 2003 sets mandatory benchmarks for electricity retailers and other parties who sell or buy electricity and establishes annual state-wide reduction targets. It also has an established Authority for monitoring the emissions. There are also numerous other Acts which deal specifically with Climate Change within NSW.

The South Australian Climate Change and Greenhouse Emissions Reduction Act 2007 contains a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within the State by at least 60 % by 2050, and a target to increase the use of renewable electricity to 20% of total electricity consumption within the State by 2014. The Victorian Renewable Energy Act 2006 set a renewable target energy of 10% (274 Giga Watt hours) by 2016.

Internationally California has implemented the California Global Warming Solutions Act. It requires a 25% cut in the State's greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 to reduce them to 1990 levels. In March 2007, European Union leaders endorsed a climate change and energy plan to limit EU greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20 % by 2020 (from 1990 levels) and achieve, by 2020, a target of 20 % of total EU primary energy use through renewable energy.

Legal reform is required in Western Australia to ensure we play our part in Australia’s the global response required to implement greenhouse reductions. As the Premier’s Statement notes: "If we do not act now, the cost of adapting to a warmer global climate will escalate in Western Australia and around the globe."

EDO’s climate change and energy law project

Energy, Climate Change and the Law

The Law Society’s Public Purposes Trust has granted the Environmental Defender’s Office (WA) funding to review current and proposed climate change and energy laws in Western Australia during the 2007/2008 financial year. The aim of the project is to review gaps and weaknesses in the current law in order to suggest reforms to improve WA’s response to climate change.  The project will review a broad range of issues including tools for reducing our emissions on a State-wide scale such as a national carbon trading scheme or participation in an international trading scheme, a carbon tax and legislated mandatory reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

The EDO will also provide legal education to the community and increase public awareness on the topic. The EDO will be contributing to law reform in this area by providing submissions to decision-making bodies.

The EDO will be seeking feedback from regional and metropolitan areas to feed into our law reform program.  If you have any queries about climate change law in WA or would like the EDO to speak about climate change to your group or community please contact us.

In the meantime, take action by implementing energy efficiency measures and purchasing Accredited GreenPower in your home, office, school.

Contact: EDO (WA) on 92213030 or www.edowa.org.au