Milestones
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Details
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Source
Documents
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Jun 1972
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Stockholm
declaration acknowledges the relationship between humans and their
environment:
Through the Stockholm
Declaration the world acknowledges that ‘In the industrialized countries,
environmental problems are generally related to industrialization and
technological development.’
|
United National Environment
Programme, Declaration
of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, 16 June
1962.
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Whitlam
Government takes Office – December 1972
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Fraser
Government takes Office – November 1975
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Mar 1976
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The
Australian Academy of Science (AAS) reports that human activities are likely
to contribute to warming:
However, the report concludes that ‘there is no evidence
that the world is now on the brink of a major climatic change’.
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AAS, Report of
a committee on climatic change, report no. 1, AAS, Canberra, March 1976.
[Link to internal APH network]
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Feb 1979
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First
international conference on climate change:
At the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) World
Climate Conference in Geneva international experts discuss, for the first
time, the link between human activities and climate.
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UNFCCC, ‘Meeting The First
World Climate Conference, 12–23 February 1979, Geneva, Switzerland’, UNFCC archive.
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Hawke-Keating
Government takes office – March 1983
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Jun 1988
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First
global emissions reduction targets (the ‘Toronto targets’):
At the
Toronto conference on climate change a target of 20% reduction in greenhouse
gas emissions by 2005 on 1988 levels is proposed.
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Canadian Meteorological and
Oceanographic Society, The
changing atmosphere: implications for global security: conference statement,
27–30 June 1988.
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Nov 1988
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First
meeting of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC):
The IPCC is an international working group of
experts tasked with reviewing and synthesising peer-reviewed research
publications on climate change.
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Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC), Report of
the first session of the WMO/UNEP IPCC, 9–11 November 1988.
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1989
|
First
Australian greenhouse gas emissions reduction proposal submitted to Cabinet:
Senator
Graham Richardson (Minister for the Arts, Sport, the Environment, Tourism and
Territories) submits to Cabinet a proposal for a 20% reduction in 1988
Australian greenhouse gas emissions levels by 2005.
|
V Burgmann and HA Baer, Climate
politics and the climate movement in Australia, Melbourne University
Press, Carlton, Vic., 2012, p. 61.
|
Jun-Aug
1990
|
IPCC
releases its First Assessment Report (FAR):
The IPCC
FAR notes with certainty that:
-
a natural greenhouse effect
warms the Earth
-
human activities contribute to
atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases.
Several
predictions are made about the effect of an enhanced greenhouse effect on the
climate.
|
J Houghton, GJ Jenkins and
JJ Ephraums (eds.), Climate
change: the IPCC scientific assessment (First report), IPCC, Cambridge, Cambridge
University Press, 1990.
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Oct 1990
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Australian
Government adopts the ‘Toronto targets’ with provisos:
Senator Richardson’s 20%
target, which had originally been rejected, is accepted and announced on
11 October 1990 as an ‘Interim Planning Target’ with the proviso that
the reduction would not be at the expense of the economy (the ‘no regrets’
strategy).
The Council of Australia
Governments (COAG) endorses the target.
The Senate
Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology is tasked with
investigating the costs and benefits of meeting the target.
|
R Kelly (Minister for the Arts,
Sport, the Environment, Tourism and Territories) and J Kerin (Minister for
Primary Industry and Energy), Government
sets targets for reductions in greenhouse gases, joint statement, 11
October 1990.
COAG, InterGovernmental
Agreement on the Environment, February 1992.
Senate Standing Committee on
Industry, Science and Technology, Rescue the future: reducing the impact
of the greenhouse effect, The Senate, Canberra, January 1991.
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Dec 1990
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First
global treaty on climate change established (UNFCCC):
Prompted
by the IPCC FAR, negotiations begin for a global treaty responding to climate
change. This treaty later becomes known as the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
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UNFCCC, ‘Issues in the
negotiating process: a brief history of the climate change process’,
UNFCCC website.
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Keating
Government takes office – 20 December 1991
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9 May 1992
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The
United Nations General Assembly adopts the UNFCCC:
After 15
months of negotiations the treaty is open for signatures in June 1992.
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UNFCCC, ‘Status
of Ratification of the Convention’, UNFCCC website, 9 May 1992.
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4 Jun 1992
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Australia
signs the UNFCCC at the UN Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil:
Ros Kelly,
MP (Minister for the Arts, Sport, the Environment and Territories), signs the
UNFCCC on behalf of Australia at the United Nations Conference on Environment
and Development (or UNCED, informally known as the “Rio Earth Summit”). The
UNFCCC aims to stabilise atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations in time to
protect ecosystems, food security and economic development from the threat of
climate change. By signing the treaty Australia indicates its acceptance of
the principles of the Convention.
|
R Kelly (Minister for the
Arts, Sport, the Environment and Territories), Australia
signs UNCED climate change convention, media release, 4 June 1992.
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Dec 1992
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The
National Greenhouse Response Strategy (NGRS) released:
The NGRS
is endorsed by the Commonwealth, state and territory Governments at a COAG
meeting. The NGRS is a mechanism to audit and facilitate national approaches
to limit greenhouse gas emissions so that Australia can meet its commitments
to the UNFCCC. The strategy relies on action with no negative impacts on the
national economy or on Australia’s trade competitiveness (‘no regrets’
strategy). The strategy includes the formation of the National Greenhouse Advisory
Panel.
|
Australian Government, National
Greenhouse Response Strategy, Australian Government Publishing Service
(AGPS), Canberra, December 1992.
Council of Australian
Governments (COAG), Communique, ‘Environment
– ESD and greenhouse’, COAG Meeting, Perth, 7 December 1992, COAG website.
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30 Dec
1992
|
Australia
ratifies UNFCCC:
Australia
is the ninth country to ratify the UNFCCC.
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UNFCCC, ‘Status
of ratification of the Convention’,
United Nations (UN) website.
Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade (DFAT), ‘Treaty
making process’, DFAT website.
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21 Mar
1994
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UNFCCC
comes into force:
A minimum
of 50 ratifications is reached in December 1993. This allows the UNFCCC to
come into force ninety days later.
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UNFCCC, ‘Status
of ratification of the Convention’, UN website.
United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change, opened for signature 9 May 1992, ATS
[1994] No. 2 (entered into force 21 March 1994).
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19 Sep
1994
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Australia
meets its first commitment to the UNFCCC:
In
preparation for the first Conference of Parties (COP) in 1995, Australia
lodges its first
national communication to the UNFCCC. This document outlines how
Australia is to meet its obligations to the UNFCCC and includes the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory,
which tracks Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions.
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Department of the
Environment, Sport and Territories, Climate change:
Australia’s national report under the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change, AGPS, Canberra, September 1994.
Department of Industry,
Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education
(DIICCSRTE), National greenhouse
gas inventory – Kyoto Protocol accounting framework, 2011, DIICCSRTE
website.
UNFCCC, Report on the
in-depth review of the national communication of Australia,
FCCC/IDR.1/AUS, 14 December 1995.
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29 Mar
1995
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Government
introduces Greenhouse 21C plan:
The ‘Greenhouse
21C plan’ supplements the NGRS with a number of additional measures to curb
greenhouse gas emissions. One of these is the ‘Greenhouse
Challenge’ program, a voluntary scheme for major companies and industry
sectors to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
|
Department of Primary
Industries and Energy, ‘Greenhouse
Challenge’ webpage.
J Faulkner (Minister for the
Environment, Sport and Territories), Press
conference for the release of Greenhouse 21C, speech, 29 March
1995.
|
Mar/Apr
1995
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First
UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP1) held in Berlin, Germany:
COP1
agrees to the Berlin
Mandate, a process for strengthening developed nations’ greenhouse gas
emissions reduction commitments via the adoption of a protocol or other legal
instrument.
|
United Nations, FCCC, Report
of the Conference of the Parties on its first session, held at Berlin from 28
March to 7 April 1995, Addendum, part 2: action taken by the Conference of
the Parties at its first session, FCCC/CP/1995/7/Add.1, decision 1/CP.1, p.
4, the Berlin
Mandate, 6 June 1995.
UNFCCC, Report on the Conference
of the Parties on its first session, held at Berlin from 28 March to 7 April
1995, FCCC/CP/1995/7, 24 May 1995.
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Dec 1995
|
IPCC
releases its second assessment report (SAR):
The IPCC
SAR states that “there is a discernible human influence on global
climate”.
|
IPCC, IPCC
second assessment: climate change 1995, [Geneva: WMO/UNEP, 1996].
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Howard
Government takes office – March 1996
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Jul 1996
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Second
UNFCCC COP held in Geneva, Switzerland:
COP2
develops the Geneva
Ministerial Declaration. The Declaration recognises the importance of the
IPCC’s SAR and urges member countries to develop legally-binding emissions
targets.
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UNFCCC, Report of the Conference
of the Parties on its second session, held at Geneva from 8 to 19 July 1996,
FCCC/CP/1996/15, 29 October 1996.
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18 Jul
1996
|
Australia
announces involvement in Pilot Phase of UNFCCC’s ‘Activities Implemented
Jointly’:
Senator
Hill (Minister for the Environment) announces that Australia will be part of
the UNFCCC’s trial project known as ‘Activities
Implemented Jointly’. It involves countries undertaking emissions
reduction projects in other countries. The Senator explains that, for
Australia, ‘in the long term we would be seeking credit from the
international community for our efforts’.
|
R Hill (Minister for the
Environment), New
Australian move on greenhouse [emissions], media release, 18 July
1996.
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Late 1996
|
The National
Greenhouse Advisory Panel releases the results of a major review of the NGRS:
The report
indicates that the “NGRS had little if any effect in achieving the necessary
policy coordination and integration within and between jurisdictions; with
few exceptions, greenhouse issues have not been considered”.
|
National Greenhouse Advisory
Panel (NGAP), Report on the national greenhouse response strategy,
Environment Australia, Environment Protection Group, for the NGAP, AGPS, Canberra,
1996.
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28 Feb
1997
|
Public
submissions sought to guide Australia’s response to climate change:
Senator
Robert Hill (Minister for the Environment) announces the release of a
discussion paper by the Intergovernmental Committee on Ecologically
Sustainable Development entitled ‘Future directions for Australia’s National
Greenhouse Strategy’. Submissions are sought to guide the principles and
measures that would feature in the National Greenhouse Strategy 1998.
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R Hill (Minister for the
Environment), Greenhouse:
developing a new strategy, media release, 28 February 1997.
Intergovernmental Committee
on Ecologically Sustainable Development, Future directions for Australia’s
National Greenhouse Strategy, Department of the Environment, Sport and
Territories, Canberra, 1997.
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26 Sep
1997
|
Government
says that adoption of emissions reduction targets would be devastating for
Australia:
Senator
Hill claims that Australia will share the global burden of reducing
greenhouse gas emissions but that ‘The adoption of a uniform reduction target
at the upcoming Kyoto conference would have a devastating impact on
Australian industry and its ability to create jobs’.
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R Hill (Minister for the
Environment), Greenhouse
gas figures reveal uniform target danger, media release, 26 September 1997.
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15 Nov
1997
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Australia
lodges its second national communication to the UNFCCC:
Australia outlines how it
intends to progress its international obligations. The strategies include
establishing a statutory greenhouse body (the future Australian Greenhouse
Office) and investment in renewable energy, energy reform, revegetation, and
energy efficiency standards and labelling.
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Department of the
Environment, Climate
change. Australia’s second national report under the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change, November 1997.
UNFCCC, Report on the
in-depth review of the second national communication of Australia,
FCCC/IDR.2/AUS, 18 October 1999.
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20 Nov
1997
|
Prime
Minister Howard introduces the ‘Prime Minister’s package’:
Funding is
provided for strategies outlined in Australia’s second national communication
to the UNFCCC. A target of an additional 2% of electricity to be sourced from
renewable sources by 2010 is made.
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J Howard, ‘Safeguarding
the future: Australia’s response to climate change’, House of
Representatives, ministerial statement, Debates, 20 November 1997.
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Dec 1997
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Third
UNFCCC COP held in Kyoto, Japan – Kyoto Protocol adopted:
The Kyoto
Protocol is adopted after two years of negotiations. Australia secures a
controversial concession to include land-use change and forestry as part of
the net emissions in the 1990 baseline (later known as the ‘Australia
clause’). To come into effect the Protocol must be ratified by:
- at least 55 Parties to the Convention and
- countries responsible for a combined total
of 55% of carbon dioxide emissions (at 1990 levels) from developed countries.
|
UNFCCC, Report of the Conference
of the Parties on its third session, held at Kyoto, from 1 to 11 December
1997, FCCC/CP/1997/7, 24 March 1998.
R Hill (Minister for the
Environment), Kyoto
agreement a win for the environment, media release, 11 December 1997.
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Apr 1998
|
The
Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO) is established:
Australia
is the first country to establish a government agency dedicated to reducing
greenhouse gas emissions The AGO is responsible for managing the ‘Prime
Minister’s package’.
|
J Howard, ‘Safeguarding
the future: Australia’s response to climate change’, ministerial
statement, House of Representatives, Debates, 20 November 1997, p.
10921.
R Hill (Minister for the
Environment), Hill
announces new Greenhouse chief [Gwen Andrews], media release,
4 March 1998.
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29 Apr
1998
|
Australia
signs the Kyoto Protocol:
Australia
signs the Kyoto Protocol, along with 20 other countries. However, Australia
does not ratify the Kyoto protocol and therefore the targets are not legally
binding.
|
R Hill (Minister for the
Environment), Hill
signs historic agreement to fight global warming, media release, 29
April, 1998.
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Nov 1998
|
Fourth
UNFCCC COP held in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The Buenos
Aires Plan of Action is developed to strengthen the financial and
technological side of emissions trading to help bring the Kyoto Protocol into
force.
|
UNFCCC, Report of the Conference
of the Parties on its fourth session, held at Buenos Aires from 2 to 14
November 1998, FCCC/CP/1998/16, 20 January 1999.
|
Nov 1998
|
NGRS
is replaced by the National Greenhouse Strategy (NGS):
The AGO
launches the NGS,
which extends and supersedes the NGRS.
|
R Hill (Minister for the
Environment), Launch
of national greenhouse strategy, speech, 26 November 1998.
The Australian Greenhouse
Office (AGO), ‘Greenhouse
Policy’, AGO website.
|
Mar 1999
|
The
AGO releases the first of four discussion papers on emissions trading:
The first
discussion paper, ‘Establishing the Boundaries’ of the National Emissions
Trading series, details the principles and framework for how an
emissions trading system (ETS) might operate.
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AGO, National
emissions trading: discussing the boundaries, Discussion paper 1, AGO,
Canberra, 1999. [Link to internal APH network]
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May 1999
|
‘Measures
for a Better Environment’ package is announced:
New
funding is announced in the 2000-01 Budget for reductions in greenhouse gas
emissions and to encourage the uptake of renewable energy. More than half of
this funding is dedicated to the Greenhouse Gas Abatement Programme to
‘support activities that are likely to result in substantial reductions in
greenhouse emissions or substantial enhancement of carbon sinks, and are
consistent with ecologically sustainable development’.
|
Australian Government, The
Commonwealth's environmental expenditure, Budget 2000-2001, 'Chapter 2:
strategic directions and budget overview’, Commonwealth of Australia,
Canberra, 2000, p. 12.
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Jun 1999
|
The
AGO releases second discussion paper on emissions trading:
This discussion
paper discusses the allocation of permits, permit duration
and how to progress towards emissions trading in Australia.
|
AGO, National
emissions trading: issuing the permits, Discussion paper 2, AGO,
Canberra, June 1999. [Link to internal APH network]
|
Oct 1999
|
The
AGO releases third discussion paper on emissions trading:
This discussion paper explores the framework for
a national ETS and how carbon sinks might be included.
|
AGO, National
Emissions Trading: crediting the carbon, Discussion Paper 3, AGO,
Canberra, October 1999. [Link to internal APH network]
|
Oct-Nov
1999
|
Fifth
UNFCCC COP held in Bonn, Germany:
COP5 is a
technical meeting. Annex I (industrialised) countries are asked to adopt the UNFCCC
guidelines for reporting emissions.
|
UNFCCC, Report of the Conference
of the Parties on its fifth session, Held at Bonn from 25 October to
5 November 1999, FCCC/CP/1999/6, 21 December 1999.
|
Dec 1999
|
The
AGO releases the fourth and final discussion paper on emissions trading:
This discussion
paper covers the design of carbon permits, how emissions would be
monitored and reported, and how the market could operate.
|
AGO, National
emissions trading: designing the market, Discussion paper 4, AGO,
Canberra, December 1999. [Link to internal APH network]
|
7 Nov 2000
|
‘The
heat is on: Australia’s Greenhouse Future’ Senate Committee report released:
The report
criticises the Government for a lack of commitment to climate change policy.
More than 100 recommendations are made.
|
Senate Standing Committees
on Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, The
heat is on: Australia's greenhouse future, 7 November 2000.
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Nov 2000
|
Part
one of the Sixth UNFCCC COP held in The Hague, Netherlands:
Heated
debate over the role of developed countries is heard. Discussions falter and
the conference is suspended without agreement.
|
UNFCCC, Report of the Conference
of the Parties on the first part of its sixth session, held at The Hague from
13 to 25 November 2000, FCCC/CP/2000/5, 4 April 2001.
|
Jan-Mar
2001
|
IPCC
releases its third assessment report (TAR):
The IPCC
TAR details the growing scientific evidence that global temperatures have
increased over the 20th century. Temperatures are predicted to increase by 1.4–5.8°C over the next century.
|
Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC), IPCC Third Assessment
Report - climate change 2001, GRID-Arendal, 2003.
|
1 Apr 2001
|
Mandatory
Renewable Energy Target scheme (MRET) starts:
The MRET
commences under the Renewable
Energy (Electricity) Act 2000. It mandates, as initially proposed in
the Prime Minister’s Package, that by 2010 electricity retailers and other
large electricity buyers source an additional 2% (above 2001
levels of about 8%) of their electricity from renewable or specified
waste-product energy sources. Annual targets are defined.
|
R Hill (Minister for the
Environment and Heritage), $2
billion investment boom set to cut Australia's greenhouse emissions,
media release, 4 April 2001.
|
June 2001
|
Government
rejects Senate Committee recommendations:
The
Government response to The
Heat is On: Australia’s Greenhouse Future rejects the report’s criticisms
of existing Government climate change policy and programs.
|
Australian Government, Government
response to the Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology
and the Arts References Committee report: The heat Is on: Australia's greenhouse
future, June 2001.
|
July 2001
|
Part
two of COP 6 held in Bonn, Germany:
Talks
resume after breaking down in 2000. The Bonn Agreements
are made, which include implementing the Buenos Aires Plan of Action
developed at COP4.
|
UNFCCC, Draft report of
the Conference of the Parties on the second part of its sixth session, held
at Bonn from 16 to [sic] July 2001, FCCC/CP/2001/L.1, 26 July 2001.
|
Oct/ Nov
2001
|
Seventh
UNFCCC COP held in Marrakesh, Morocco:
Marrakesh Accords
are developed, detailing how to meet the Kyoto Protocol targets. The
Marrakesh Ministerial Declaration is also announced, to be used at the
upcoming Earth Summit in Johannesburg.
|
UNFCCC, Report of the Conference
of the Parties on its seventh session, held at Marrakesh from 29 October to
10 November 2001. Part one: proceedings, FCCC/CP/2001/13, 21 January 2002.
|
May 2002
|
European
Union (EU) and Japan ratify the Kyoto Protocol:
55 Parties
of the Convention have now signed the Protocol. This is one of the conditions
to bring the Protocol into force.
Japanese
Prime Minister Koizumi urges
Prime Minister Howard to sign the Protocol.
|
Kelvin Thomson (Shadow
Minister for Environment and Heritage), Japan
ratifies Kyoto Protocol while Howard hedges, media release, 5 June
2002.
|
5 Jun 2002
|
Australia
refuses to ratify the Kyoto Protocol:
The Howard
Government outlines to the Australian Parliament that ratifying the Kyoto
Protocol is not in the nation’s interest.
|
J Howard, ‘Answer
to Question without notice: Environment: Kyoto Protocol’, [Questioner: K
Thomson], House of Representatives, Debates, 5 June 2002, p.
3163.
|
Jun 2002
|
‘Independent
review of the AGO’ released:
The report
suggests the AGO’s status as an Executive Agency be revoked. It also
recommends a review of the NGS.
|
WL Smith, Independent
review of the Australian Greenhouse Office, June, 2002.
|
Aug 2002
|
New
climate change strategy announced:
David Kemp
and Alexander Downer announce the ‘Global
greenhouse challenge: the way ahead for Australia’. The Challenge is a
four-pronged policy response designed to meet Australia’s Kyoto target and
anticipate adaptation needs. However, the Government still claims the target
“does not... provide an effective framework”.
|
D Kemp (Minister for the
Environment and Heritage) and A Downer (Minister for Foreign Affairs), Global
greenhouse challenge: the way ahead for Australia, media release, 15
August 2002.
|
Aug/ Sep
2002
|
The
World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg (Earth Summit
2002/Rio +10):
The Johannesburg
Declaration is made, urging sustainable development
globally. However, this document has only one reference to climate change.
|
United Nations, Report
of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, 26 August–4 September,
2002.
|
Oct/ Nov
2002
|
Eighth
UNFCCC COP held in New Delhi, India:
COP8
produces the Delhi
Ministerial Declaration on Climate Change and Sustainable Development,
which reinforces the need for sustainable development.
|
UNFCCC, Report of the Conference
of the Parties on its eighth session, held at New Delhi from 23 October to 1
November 2002. Part one: proceedings, FCCC/CP/2002/7, 28 March 2003.
|
1 Jan 2003
|
Greenhouse
Gas Reduction Scheme implemented by the NSW Government:
The
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Scheme (GGAS) is the world’s
first mandatory emission trading scheme. The GGAS employs a
baseline and credit system (rather than a cap-and-trade system).
|
Greenhouse Gas Reduction
Scheme (GGAS), Introduction
to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Scheme (GGAS), GGAS website (now closed),
30 June 2011.
|
Jul 2003
|
New
strategy for emissions trading proposed:
Reports
surface that an ETS plan is presented to Cabinet by federal Treasury,
Industry and Environment departments, backed by at least six government
portfolios. Following a meeting with industry, the ETS plan is set aside by
Prime Minister, John Howard.
|
L Minchin, ‘Howard
blows hot and cold on emissions’, The Age, 15 November 2006, p. 4.
M Bachelard, ‘PM
cans carbon trading scheme’, Weekend Australian, 30 August 2008, p.
4.
|
Dec 2003
|
Ninth
UNFCCC COP held in Milan, Italy:
COP9
establishes a fund to help developing countries adapt to climate change.
|
FCCC, Report of the Conference
of the Parties on its ninth session, held at Milan from 1 to 12 December
2003. Part one: proceedings, FCCC/CP/2003/6, 30 March 2004.
|
Jun 2004
|
Securing
Australia’s Energy Future White paper released:
The paper
proposes renewable energy initiatives, including an overhaul of the fuel
excise program and funding for research and development. It reaffirms that
ratifying the Kyoto Protocol is not in the national interest, but that
Australia is on track to meet its target anyway.
|
Australian Government, Securing
Australia’s Energy Future, Canberra, Department of the Prime Minister and
Cabinet, 2004.
|
Oct 2004
|
Announcement
that the AGO will become part of the Department of Environment and Heritage:
This
change is promoted as a cost-saving measure.
|
Australian Government, Part 2:
Expense measures: Environment and Heritage, Budget measures: budget
paper no. 2: 2005-06.
|
Nov 2004
|
Russia
ratifies the Kyoto Protocol:
Developed countries with a combined total of 55% of global carbon
dioxide emissions (at 1990 levels) have now approved the Protocol. All
conditions for the Kyoto Protocol to come into force have been met.
Australia still refuses to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, stating that it is flawed.
|
UN Secretary-General, UN
Secretary-General receives Russia’s Kyoto Protocol ratification, media
release, 18 November 2004.
Kyoto
Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,
opened for signature 11 December 1997, [2008] ATS 2, (entered into force for
Australia 11 March 2008).
|
Dec 2004
|
Tenth
UNFCCC COP held in Buenos Aires, Argentina:
The Buenos Aires
Plan of Action is adopted and discussions of post-Kyoto (post-2012) targets
begin.
|
UNFCCC, Report of the Conference
of the Parties on its tenth session, held at Buenos Aires from 6 to 18
December 2004. Part one: Proceedings, FCCC/CP/2004/10, 18 April 2005.
|
16 Feb 2005
|
Kyoto
Protocol comes into force:
Ninety
days after both conditions are met the Kyoto Protocol’s 2012 targets become
enforceable.
|
UNFCCC, Status
of Ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, UNFCCC website.
|
9 Aug 2005
|
The
International Energy Agency (IEA) urges Australia to consider an ETS:
The IEA
releases Energy
policies of IEA countries - Australia 2005 review, which notes that
Australia’s emission intensity is one of the highest in the world. It urges
Australia to consider an ETS.
|
International Energy Agency
(IEA), Energy
policies of IEA countries - Australia 2005 review, 2005, IEA website.
|
Nov/ Dec
2005
|
Eleventh
UNFCCC COP held in Montreal, Canada:
More than
10,000 delegates discuss climate action after the Kyoto Protocol ends in
2012.
|
UNFCCC, Report of the
Conference of the Parties on its eleventh session, held at Montreal from 28
November to 10 December 2005. Part one: proceedings, FCCC/CP/2005/5, 30
March 2006.
|
Nov 2006
|
Twelfth
UNFCCC COP held in Nairobi, Kenya:
Compliance
rules for the Kyoto Protocol are determined. An Adaptation
Fund is created to help developing countries adapt to climate change.
|
UNFCCC, Report of the
Conference of the Parties on its twelfth session, held at Nairobi from 6 to
17 November 2006. Part one: proceedings, FCCC/CP/2006/5, 25 January 2007.
|
10 Dec
2006
|
Prime
Ministerial Task Group on Emissions Trading is established:
Prime Minister John Howard announces the creation of a
task group to provide advice on designing an ETS for Australia.
|
J Howard (Prime Minister), Prime
Ministerial Task Group On Emissions Trading, media release, 10
December 2006.
|
Feb-May
2007
|
IPCC
releases its fourth assessment report (AR4):
The IPCC AR4 affirms with 90% certainty that increases in
global temperatures since the mid-20th century are driven by
anthropogenic greenhouse gasses.
|
RK Pachauri and A Reisinger
(eds.), Contribution
of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fourth Assessment Report of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Geneva, 2007.
|
31 May
2007
|
‘Shergold
Report’ released:
The Prime
Ministerial Task Group on Emissions Trading releases the ‘Shergold Report’ which recommends Australia develop an emissions
trading scheme.
|
Prime Ministerial Task Group
on Emissions Trading, Report of
the Task Group on Emissions Trading, Department of the Prime Minister and
Cabinet (PM&C), Canberra, 31 May 2007.
|
28 Sep
2007
|
National
Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Bill 2007 receives royal assent:
The National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Bill 2007 requires industry to report its greenhouse gas emissions, abatement
actions, energy consumption and production.
|
Parliament of Australia, ‘National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Bill 2007 homepage’, Australian
Parliament website.
|
21 Oct
2007
|
Prime
Minister John Howard promises an ETS if re-elected:
The
Government promises
to establish a national ETS, starting no later than 2012. The Climate
Change Fund is announced as an election promise. Through this fund revenue
from emissions trading is to be reinvested into climate change initiatives.
|
J Howard (Prime Minister), Transcript
of the Prime Minister the Hon John Howard MP address to the Liberal Party
Federal Council, the Westin Hotel, Sydney, transcript, 21 October 2007.
|
27 Oct
2007
|
Cabinet
rejects proposal to ratify the Kyoto Protocol:
Reports
emerge that Malcolm Turnbull, Minister for the Environment and Water
Resources, urges Cabinet to ratify the Kyoto Protocol but is unsuccessful.
|
L Taylor, ‘Cabinet
blocks Turnbull on Kyoto’, Australian Financial Review, 27 October
2007, p. 3.
|
13 Nov
2007
|
National
Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility announced:
A new facility
will be created to research the impacts and mitigation of climate change on
Australian industry and communities.
|
M Turnbull (Minister for the
Environment and Water Resources), New
world-first research facility to equip Australia for a changing climate,
media release, 13 November 2007.
|
Rudd
Government takes Office - November 2007
|
Dec 2007
|
Thirteenth
UNFCCC COP held in Bali, Indonesia – Bali Action Plan adopted:
The Bali Action
Plan is adopted. This is a workplan to guide the implementing of the
UNFCCC and its Kyoto Protocol over the 2008–2012 period. It emphasises the
importance of a shared vision, climate change mitigation, adaption,
technology development and transfer and financial assistance to poorer
nations.
|
UNFCCC, Report of the
Conference of the Parties on its thirteenth session, held in Bali from 3 to
15 December 2007. Part one: proceedings, FCCC/CP/2007/6, 14 March 2008
|
3 Dec 2007
|
The
Department of Climate Change and Water is established:
The
Department of Climate Change is established within the Prime Minister and
Cabinet portfolio.
|
DIICCSRTE, ‘Corporate’,
DIICCSRTE website.
|
12 Dec
2007
|
Australia
ratifies the Kyoto Protocol:
Prime
Minister Kevin Rudd ratifies
the Kyoto Protocol, as promised
during the 2007 election campaign.
|
K Rudd (Prime Minister), Ratifying
the Kyoto Protocol, media release, 3 December 2007.
|
Feb 2008
|
Garnaut
Review interim report released:
Ross
Garnaut, Professor of Economics at the Australian National University was
commissioned by Australia's Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments to
undertake an independent review of the impacts of climate change on the
Australian economy. The interim
report for the Garnaut Climate Change Review submits that Australia is
particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. It also proposes
that Australia should establish effective climate policies, the centrepiece
of which should be an ETS.
|
Garnaut Review, Garnaut
climate change review: interim report to the Commonwealth, state and
territory governments of Australia, February 2008.
|
11 Mar
2008
|
Australia’s
ratification of the Kyoto Protocol comes into effect:
The
Government issues the Initial
Report under the Kyoto Protocol detailing how Australia aims to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions.
|
P Wong (Minister for Climate
Change and Water), Australia
is now a part of the Kyoto Protocol, media release, 11 March
2008.
|
16 Jul
2008
|
Green
paper on the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) released:
The green
paper outlines how the Government will implement its proposed ETS.
|
Australian Government, Carbon
Pollution Reduction Scheme, Green paper, July 2008.
|
31 Jul
2008
|
‘Strategic
Review of Australian Government Climate Change Programs’ released:
The Wilkins
Review analyses current climate change programs to determine whether they
are complementary to the CPRS.
|
R Wilkins, Strategic
review of Australian government climate change programs, commissioned by
the Australian Government, 31 July 2008.
|
30 Sep
2008
|
Final
2008 Garnaut climate change report released:
The Garnaut Review provides
a detailed analysis of the impacts of climate change on Australia and the
costs of adaptation and mitigation.
|
Garnaut Review, The Garnaut climate
change review, commissioned by the Australian Government,
30 September 2008.
|
30 Oct
2008
|
Australia's
Low Pollution Future: The Economics of Climate Change Mitigation released:
Treasury
modelling establishes that there are benefits to Australia acting early if
other countries also adopt carbon pricing but that delaying action may lead
to higher long-term costs.
|
Australian Government, Australia’s
low pollution future: the economics of climate change mitigation, 30
October 2008.
|
Dec 2008
|
Fourteenth
UNFCCC COP held in Poznan, Poland:
An Adaptation
Fund is launched to help developing countries meet the Bali Action Plan.
Negotiations on a post-Kyoto plan continue.
|
UNFCCC, Report of the
Conference of the Parties on its fourteenth session, held in Poznan from 1 to
12 December 2008. Part one: proceedings, FCCC/CP/2008/7, 14 March
2008.
|
15 Dec
2008
|
‘Carbon
Pollution Reduction Scheme: Australia’s Low Pollution Future’ released:
The White
paper outlines the final design of an Australian ETS. It also outlines
new 2020 emissions reduction targets:
-
5% below 2000 levels without any
conditions, but
-
15% below 2000 levels if there
is a ‘global agreement where all major economies commit to substantially
restrain emissions and all developed countries take on comparable reductions
to that of Australia.’
|
Australian Government, Carbon
Pollution Reduction Scheme: Australia’s low pollution future, White paper,
15 December 2008.
|
May 2009
|
2009–10
Budget includes major changes to climate change policies:
-
A new target to reduce emissions
by 25% by 2020 on 2000 levels if ‘the
world agrees to an ambitious global deal to stabilise levels of CO2
equivalent at 450 parts per million or lower by mid-century’.
-
The CPRS will be delayed by one
year to 2011–12 when it will begin with a 12-month $10 fixed price.
-
The establishment of an Australian Carbon Trust to help household
improve energy efficiency
-
The launch of a Clean
Energy Initiative to support the development of low carbon energy.
|
K Rudd (Prime Minister), A
new target for reducing Australia’s carbon pollution and New
measures for the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, media
releases, 4 May 2009.
M Ferguson (Minister for
Resources and Energy), $4.5
billion Clean Energy Initiative, media release, 12 May 2009.
|
12 May
2009
|
Government
responds to the Wilkins Review:
The
Government agrees to close 13 programs that were deemed not complementary to
an ETS.
|
L Tanner (Minister for
Finance and Deregulation), Streamlining
the Australian government’s climate change programs and making energy
efficient choices even easier, media release, 12 May 2009.
|
14 May
2009
|
First
Australian ETS legislation introduced into Parliament:
The Carbon
Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009 is introduced into the House of
Representatives.
|
Parliament of Australia
|
9 Aug 2009
|
Australian
2020 emissions projections released:
The
Department of Climate Change publishes Tracking to
Kyoto and 2020. It shows that Australia is on its way to meeting its
Kyoto Protocol target.
|
P Wong (Minister for Climate
Change and Water), New
report shows carbon pollution continues to rise without action, media
release, 9 August 2009.
|
13 Aug
2009
|
CPRS
legislation rejected by the Senate
|
Parliament of Australia, ‘Carbon
Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009 homepage’, Australian Parliament
website.
|
7 Sept
2009
|
Renewable
energy target increased to 20%:
The Renewable
Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill 2009 received royal assent. It
amends existing legislation, replacing the MRET with the Renewable Energy
Target (RET). The RET has a more ambitious renewable energy target of 20%
(45,000 GWh) by 2020. The Solar
Credits scheme is also introduced it provides multiple credits for the
installation of household rooftop solar.
|
Parliament of Australia, ‘Renewable
Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill 2009’, Australian Parliament website.
|
22 Oct
2009
|
Australian
ETS legislation introduced a second time:
The Carbon
Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009 is re-introduced into the House of
Representatives.
|
Parliament of Australia,‘Carbon
Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009 homepage’, [No. 2], Australian
Parliament website.
|
1 Dec 2009
|
Change
of Opposition leadership voids ETS deal:
Malcolm
Turnbull is defeated by Tony Abbott in a Liberal Party of Australia
leadership spill. Media reports suggest that Turnbull had reached a deal with
the government on CPRS amendments to secure Senate support from the Liberal
Party. The change of leadership rescinds any such negotiations and
agreements.
|
S Stone, Sharman
Stone welcomes new leader, media release, 1 December 2009.
M Cormann, [Resignation
from the Shadow Ministry over ETS] media release, 1 December 2009.
L Knight, The
ETS deal’s done, The Land, 26 November 2009, p. 5.
|
2 Dec 2009
|
CPRS
legislation again rejected by the Senate:
This
creates a trigger for a double dissolution election. The trigger is not used.
|
Parliament of Australia, ‘Carbon
Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2009 homepage’, [No. 2], Australian
Parliament website.
|
Dec 2009
|
Fifteenth
UNFCCC COP held in Copenhagen, Denmark:
Despite
continued discussion no agreement on binding post-Kyoto commitments can be
reached. The resulting Copenhagen
Accord, which calls for countries to populate a list of national 2020
emissions reduction targets, is noted by the COP but is not officially
accepted or legally-binding.
|
UNFCCC, Report of the
Conference of the Parties on its fifteenth session, held in Copenhagen from 7
to 19 December 2009. Part one: Proceedings, FCCC/CP/2009/11, 30 March
2010.
|
2 Feb 2010
|
Australian
ETS legislation introduced a third time:
According
to the Second
Reading speech, this version of the CPRS bill includes amendments agreed
to by the Coalition.
|
Australian Parliament, ‘Carbon
Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2010’, Australian Parliament website.
|
2 Feb 2010
|
Coalition
opposition party releases its climate policy:
The Direct
Action Policy aims to meet the 5% emissions reduction target by offering
incentives for households and industry to do so. The centrepiece of the
policy is an Emissions Reduction Fund designed to reward businesses that emit
below a baseline and penalise those that exceed it.
|
T Abbott, Direct
action on the environment and climate change, media release,
2 February 2010.
|
Feb 2010
|
‘Adapting
to Climate Change in Australia – An Australian Government Position Paper’
released:
This Position
paper sets out the Government’s role in and strategies for adapting to
climate change.
|
Australian Government, Adapting
to climate change in Australia: an Australian Government Position Paper, DCC,
19 February 2010.
|
8 Mar 2010
|
Department
of Climate Change becomes Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency:
Through a
machinery of government change on 8 March 2010 the Department of Climate
Change and Energy Efficiency is established as a separate portfolio agency. Programs
from the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts are
transferred across.
|
DIICCSRTE, ‘Corporate’,
DIICCSRTE webpage.
|
27 Apr
2010
|
CPRS
delayed until the end of 2012:
Prime
Minister Kevin Rudd announces
that the CPRS will be delayed until the end of the Kyoto commitment period at
the end of 2012.
|
K Rudd (Prime Minister), Transcript
of doorstop interview: Nepean Hospital, Penrith: health and hospital reform;
Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme; Home Insulation Program, media
release, 27 April 2010.
|
Deputy Prime
Minister Julia Gillard becomes Prime Minister after internal party challenge
– 24 June 2010
|
1 Sep 2010
|
The
Australian Labor Party agrees to a politically inclusive committee on climate
change:
In order
to form a minority government after the 2010 election, Prime Minister Julia
Gillard signs agreements with the Australian Greens and three independent
Members. The Labor-Greens agreement stipulates that the Government must
establish a committee of ‘parliamentarians who are committed to tackling
climate change and who acknowledge that reducing carbon pollution by 2020
will require a carbon price’.
|
‘The
Australian Greens & The Australian Labor Party (ʹThe Partiesʹ)
– Agreement’, 1 September 2010.
|
27 Sep
2010
|
Multi-Party
Climate Change Committee (MPCCC) created:
As
required by the Labor-Greens agreement, the MPCCC
is formed.
|
J Gillard (Prime Minister),
Prime
Minister establishes Climate Change Committee [and] Terms of Reference,
media release, 27 September 2010.
|
28 Sep
2010
|
Third
CPRS legislation lapses:
The Carbon
Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2010 lapses, seven months after it was
introduced, due to the start of a new parliament.
|
Parliament of Australia, ‘Carbon
Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill 2010’, Australian Parliament website.
|
Nov/ Dec
2010
|
Sixteenth
UNFCCC COP held in Cancun, Mexico:
The COP
produces the Cancun
Agreements, which reinforces the main points of the Copenhagen Accord.
The six building blocks of the agreements are mitigation, transparency,
finance, technology, forestry and adaptation. A decision is made to establish
a Green
Climate Fund to finance climate action in developing countries.
|
UNFCCC, Report of the
Conference of the Parties on its sixteenth session, held in Cancun from 29
November to 10 December 2010. Part one: proceedings, FCCC/CP/2010/7, 15
March 2011.
|
1 Jan 2011
|
The
RET scheme is split into two parts:
The Renewable
Energy (Electricity) Amendment Act 2010 comes into force. It separates
the RET scheme into the Large-scale Renewable Energy Target and the Small-scale
Renewable Energy Scheme.
|
Parliament of Australia, ‘Renewable
Energy (Electricity) Amendment Bill 2010 homepage’, Australian Parliament
website.
|
10 Feb
2011
|
Government
launches Climate Commission:
This
independent commission is designed to provide expert advice and information
on climate change to the Australian public.
|
G Combet (Minister
for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency), Launch of the Climate Commission,
media release, 10 February 2011.
|
31 May
2011
|
Update
of Garnaut Review released:
The
government-commissioned ‘The
Garnaut Review 2011: Australia in the global response to climate change’
is released.
|
Department of Climate Change, Final
report: our fair share of climate action much more expensive without
carbon pricing, media release, 31 May 2011.
|
24 Mar
2011
|
Legislation
is introduced for a carbon offset to create incentives for carbon avoidance
projects in land sector:
The Carbon
Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Bill 2011 creates the Carbon Farming
Initiative which is the first scheme of its kind globally.
|
A Talberg, J
Gardiner-Garden, J Tomaras, Carbon
Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Bill 2011, Bills digest, 5, 2011–12,
1 July 2011, Parliamentary Library, Canberra, 2011.
|
9 Jun 2011
|
Productivity
Commission report concludes that Australia’s implicit cost of abatement is
not high:
The report
related the difficulties in the exercise of measuring and comparing implicit
country abatement costs in relation to electricity generation. However, the
findings suggest that market-based approaches are the most cost-effective.
|
Productivity Commission
(PC), Carbon
emission reduction policies in key economies, May 2011, PC website.
|
10 Jul
2011
|
Framework
for a new ETS released:
Government
releases ‘Securing
a clean energy future: the Australian Government’s climate change plan’.
It outlines the Government’s plan to cut 159 million tonnes a year of
greenhouse gases by 2020. The plan includes putting a price on carbon,
investing in renewable energy, improving energy efficiency and creating
opportunities in the land sector.
|
J Gillard (Prime Minister), Securing
a clean energy future for Australia, media release, 10 July 2011.
|
15 Sep
2011
|
The
Carbon Farming Initiative legislation receives Royal Assent
|
Parliament of Australia, ‘Carbon
Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Bill 2011 homepage’, Australian Parliament
website.
|
8 Nov 2011
|
ETS
legislation is passed by Parliament:
The Clean Energy Act 2011
is a package of 18 Bills that provides the framework for an ETS starting with
a three-year fixed-price phase.
|
Parliament of Australia, ‘Clean
Energy Bill 2011 homepage’, Australian Parliament website.
|
Dec 2011
|
Discussion
paper on implementing carbon price floor released:
This discussion
paper seeks feedback for options to keep the carbon price above a set
minimum. This is to provide investment certainty.
|
Australian Government, Price
floor for Australia’s carbon pricing mechanism: Implementing a surrender
charge for international units, December 2011.
|
Nov/Dec
2011
|
Seventeenth
UNFCCC COP held in Durban, South Africa:
The Ad Hoc Working Group on the
Durban Platform for Enhanced Action is formed. It is a UNFCCC working group
to negotiate a universal binding climate agreement for post-2020. A second
phase to the Kyoto Protocol is agreed upon.
|
UNFCCC, Report of the
Conference of the Parties on its seventeenth session, held in Durban from 28
November to 11 December 2011. Part one: proceedings, FCCC/CP/2011/9, 15
March 2012.
|
20-22 Jun
2012
|
United
Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20):
The third international
Conference on Sustainable Development develops the non-binding document ‘The
Future We Want’. This document, agreed to by all 192 member states
(including Australia), stresses the urgent need to take action on climate
change.
|
United Nations (UN), Report
of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil 20–22 June 2012, UN, 2012.
|
25 Jun
2012
|
$10
billion Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) legislated:
Legislation
is passed for the CEFC,
a $10 billion fund dedicated to investing in clean energy.
|
Parliament of Australia, ‘Clean
Energy Finance Corporation Bill 2012 homepage’, Australian Parliament website.
|
1 Jul 2012
|
Price
on carbon comes into effect:
An
unlimited number of carbon units become available for purchase at a fixed
price of $23.
|
J Gillard (Prime Minister),
Australia’s
clean energy future, media release, 1 July 2012.
|
1 Jul 2012
|
Climate
Change Authority (CCA) formed:
The
Government establishes an independent
advisory body on climate change. Its duties include advising on pollution caps within an ETS.
|
J Gillard (Prime Minister),
Australia’s
clean energy future, media release, 1 July 2012.
|
28 Aug
2012
|
Australia
and the EU agree to link ETSs:
Australia
will link its ETS with the EU’s ETS, sharing a portion of permits. Initially
the link is unilateral allowing the purchase of EU permits within Australia
but not the inverse. The link is intended to become bilateral by mid-2018.
This deal removes Australia’s carbon price floor. The deal also foreshadows
Australia joining a second period under the Kyoto Protocol.
|
G Combet (Minister for
Climate Change and Energy Efficiency), Australia
and European Commission agree on pathway towards fully linking emissions
trading systems, media release, 28 August 2012.
|
26 Nov – 8
Dec 2012
|
Eighteenth
UNFCCC COP held in Doha, Qatar – Bali Action Plan completed and Australia
signs on for a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol:
The Doha
Amendment is passed, launching the second commitment period of the Kyoto
Protocol. Australia agrees to join a second period of the Kyoto Protocol.
|
UNFCCC, Report of the
Conference of the Parties on its eighteenth session, held in Doha from 26
November to 8 December 2012. Part one: proceedings, FCCC/CP/2012/8, 28
February 2013.
G Combet (Minister for Climate Change and Energy
Efficiency),
Australia joins Kyoto Protocol Second Commitment as world on track to 2015
climate change agreement, joint media
release, 9 December 2012.
|
19 Dec
2012
|
‘Renewable
energy target review’ released:
The CCA reviews
the RET target recommending that the overall target remain unchanged and that
reviews be undertaken only every four years.
|
Climate Change Authority, Release of
the final report on the Renewable Energy Target Press Conference 19 December
2012, 19 December 2013.
|
14 March
2013
|
‘Barriers
to Effective Climate Change Adaptation’ report released:
The
Productivity Commission (PC) report
identifies policy and regulatory barriers to Australia’s ability to respond
or adapt to climate change. The report provides recommendations for building
adaptive capacity.
|
PC, Barriers
to effective climate change adaptation, Inquiry report, no. 59, 19
September 2012.
|
Mar 2013
|
Government
responds to PC report on adaptation:
The
Government agrees
to the majority of recommendations in the report.
|
Australian Government, Australian
Government response to the Productivity Commission report: Barriers to
effective climate change adaptation, March 2013.
|
21 Mar
2013
|
Government
responds to CCA’s RET review:
The
Government agreed to all but three of the 34 recommendations made in the
CCA’s report.
|
DIICCSRTE, ‘Australian Government
response to the Climate Change Authority’s Renewable Energy Target Review
Final Report’, Climate Change Authority website.
|
25 Mar
2013
|
Department
of Climate Change is disbanded:
The
Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency is abolished. Most of its
functions are moved to the Department of Industry,
Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education, with responsibility
for energy efficiency transferred to the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism.
|
DIICCSRTE, ‘Corporate’,
DIICCSRTE webpage.
|
Rudd
Government takes Office – June 2013
|
16 Jul
2013
|
Government
announces intention to move to a full ETS in 2014:
The Government
cites the high cost of living as a reason to bring forward by one year the
transition from a fixed price to an ETS.
|
K Rudd (Prime Minister), Transcript
of joint press conference: Townsville, Qld: climate change policy; visit to
North Queensland; asylum seeker policy; election campaign, media
release, 16 July 2013.
|
Jul 2013
|
‘How
Australia’s carbon price is working: One year on’ released:
Report
notes an increase in renewable energy generation and a reduction in
greenhouse gas emissions since the start of the carbon price mechanism.
|
Australian Government, How
Australia’s carbon price is working: One year on, July 2013.
|
Abbott
Government takes office – September 2013
|
18 Sep 2013
|
Dismantling
of four climate change programs begins and climate change functions moved
into Department of Environment:
-
The government begins drafting
legislation to repeal the Clean Energy Act 2011
-
The government abolishes the
Climate Commission
-
Treasurer orders the CEFC to cease
investments
-
Environment Minister announces
plans to abolish the CCA
-
A new Department of the Environment
deals with matters that include renewable energy target policy, regulation
and co-ordination; greenhouse emissions and energy consumption reporting;
climate change adaptation strategy and co-ordination; co-ordination of
climate change science activities; renewable energy; greenhouse gas abatement
programmes; and community and household climate action.
|
S Maher and D Crowe, ‘Abbott
takes charge, axes mandarins’, The Australian, 19 September 2013,
p. 1.
‘Hunt gives orders to close
the Climate Change Authority’, Australian Financial Review, (online
edition), 19 September 2013, subscriber access only.
T Arup, ‘Abbott
shuts down Climate Commission’, Sydney Morning Herald (online
edition), 19 September 2013.
Administrative Arrangements
Order, Commonwealth of Australia, 18 September 2013.
|
Oct 2013
|
Climate
Council replaces Climate Commission:
Funded by
$900,000 in private donations, the Climate
Council is launched to continue the work of the disbanded Climate
Commission.
|
B Schneiders, ‘Climate
Council campaign pulls in nearly $1m’, Sydney Morning Herald, 1
October 2013, p. 11.
|
16 Oct
2013
|
Government
begins consultation on its Direct Action Plan:
Stakeholders
are asked to comment on an Emissions Reduction Fund, the centrepiece of the
Government’s Direct Action Plan, designed to replace the ETS.
|
Department of the
Environment, ‘Emissions
Reduction Fund’, Department of the Environment website.
|
13 Nov
2013
|
Government
introduces legislation to repeal ETS, CCA and CEFC:
The Clean
Energy Legislation (Carbon Tax Repeal) Bill 2013 is one of a package of
11 Bills repealing the ETS and some related bodies and instruments.
|
K Loynes, Carbon
Price Repeal Bills: quick guide, Quick Guide, Parliamentary Library,
Canberra, 20 November 2013.
|