Page 1632 - Week 06 - Thursday, 3 May 1990
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ensure that our public transport system minimises the use of private vehicles. Let me suggest also that the ACT should initiate a review through the appropriate national forums of motor vehicle emission standards, and I would like to suggest that that review include the possibility of reviewing standards for older vehicles.
We should also be conscious that most domestic, industrial and commercial energy use depends upon fossil fuels which produce carbon dioxide. Just as housing and other buildings must meet various design and construction standards, I believe that we must now move to control their energy efficiency. The heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems of buildings could be subject to efficiency standards and the design of new buildings, both domestic and commercial, could also be subject to design standards.
In addition to the several areas of energy conservation mentioned in Mr Kaine's paper, I would like to propose that the Government consider some other suggestions. First, I believe that we should move through the appropriate national body to introduce standards for the maximum acceptable consumption of energy by domestic appliances. I believe that we should regulate the use of lighting, whether in office buildings or commercial premises. Nothing is more wasteful than night-time lighting which far exceeds security requirements when there is nobody around. We should also be looking at energy consumption standards in industry, and we should not forget levels of natural gas consumption in the Territory.
The other significant greenhouse gas is methane. The organic matter in household waste creates significant quantities of methane when it decomposes in landfill sites. Given that the ACT has only two major landfill sites, I believe that we should take a lead in exploring the control and use of methane produced by domestic wastes. With proper planning, methane can be recovered from landfill sites and used as a fuel which will replace some fossil fuels. Similar scope also exists for methane production and capturing from sewage treatment plants, although the economics may not be as encouraging there as they are on landfill sites.
The second part to Mr Kaine's strategy was planning and research to adapt to future climate change. Several areas where I believe we will need to plan are not mentioned in the Government's document. For example, one climate change impact is likely to be a reduction in the winter rainfalls and droughts of increased frequency and severity. These factors, together with the expected overall increase in average temperatures will have profound implications for the ACT's water supply requirements. While Mr Kaine has mentioned the need for water conservation measures - and I support that - I believe that the Government must also produce a plan which tackles water supply questions.
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