Australia’s opposition party Labor has released its ‘Climate Change Action Plan’ to the approval of solar advocates in the country.
A Labor government, led by Bill Shorten, would target 50% renewables by 2030 and a 45% reduction in emissions in the same period, along with the establishment of an electricity emissions trading scheme, according to newly released proposals. Last August the incumbent government announced plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by just 26-28% by 2030, from 2005 levels.
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Labor also plans to provide AU$206.6 million (US$157 million) to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to support a specific Concentrated Solar Thermal funding round. meanwhile, the National Electricity Market (NEM) and the National Electricity Objective (NEO) would also be reviewed.
The party also proposes an expansion of the the investment mandate of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), the body responsible for promoting financing of renewable energy projects in Australia, which has come under persistent attacks from the incumbent Abbott/Turnbull governments in recent times.
Labor’s policy noted: “The Liberal government has done everything in its power to try and destroy Australia’s share in one of the world’s fastest growing industries with devastating consequences for our country. In the last two years more than two million renewable energy jobs were added to the global economy, but over the same period 2,900 jobs were lost in Australia.
“In 2014 investment in large-scale renewables dropped by 88% in Australia, from over AU$2 billion to around AU$240 million.”
Australian Solar Council chief executive John Grimes said Labor’s plan involves a “strong suite of policies” and he welcomed the proposals, but also called on Labor to rule out the current government’s plans to strip AU$1.3 billion funding from ARENA and to restore grants for renewable energy research and development.
He added: “The Solar Council welcomes Labor’s commitment to a review of the NEM. This needs to be followed promptly by action to make climate change mitigation a priority for the NEM.”
Claire O’Rourke, national director of campaign group Solar Citizens, also welcomed the Labor plan, but claimed that Australia could be powered by 100% renewables by 2030.
She said: “We are relieved that at last we have some comprehensive focus at the national level on the many issues facing the Australian public in respect to the NEM and the NEO.
“We know from our first-hand experience with many thousands of solar citizens that voters will pay attention to parties that can articulate clear ideas and policies on how we will manage the inevitable transition of the way we produce and consume electricity.”