Page 1356 - Week 05 - Thursday, 26 April 1990
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Energy conservation, in its broadest sense, is therefore a particularly important part of the strategy and perhaps the most direct way that we can all contribute to the slowing down of the greenhouse effect, particularly in the short term. The strategy proposes a number of initiatives that will promote energy conservation in transport, building and construction, the way that we use energy at home and in our industrial sector.
We are also looking at means of introducing energy efficiency ratings for buildings and energy efficiency labelling for products in the ACT. We recognise that this latter aim, of course, depends on cooperation with other jurisdictions and I cannot see, at this stage, how we can introduce it unilaterally. Promoting recycling measures, developing reafforestation and sensitive agricultural and land management practices are also part of the strategy to reduce deleterious emissions. For example, an effective reafforestation strategy can promote the use of timber from plantation forests as a building material, encourage the growth of new forests and act as an efficient means of carbon dioxide fixation.
We will be carefully considering the recommendations on waste management in the report of the Standing Committee on Conservation, Heritage and Environment on that subject. Obviously, waste management and minimisation are important elements of both an effective greenhouse strategy and overall protection of the environment.
In terms of reducing methane emissions - the other major greenhouse gas - at this stage there appears to be little that can be done to absorb or limit methane emissions in the ACT, apart from reducing waste generation. The ACT will be monitoring developments in other States in the collection and utilisation of methane gas generated in landfill, sewage treatment and other industrial processes to see whether there will be scope for further action as technologies evolve. (Quorum formed)
Community education and participation are vital elements in making a greenhouse strategy work. It is only through community education and participation that the ACT Government can develop community awareness of the causes and implications of the greenhouse effect and encourage innovative responses to address those issues at all levels of the community.
It is important that members of the community have the opportunity to respond to the issues raised and the initiatives proposed in the greenhouse strategy and that they understand fully the urgency and importance of the issue.
The inquiry by the Standing Committee on Conservation, Heritage and Environment on an integrated energy resources and environmental policy for the ACT is providing an opportunity for the community to have input into
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