Page 268 - Week 01 - Thursday, 27 February 2014
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
It is no secret that climate change has become a contested political space. Those that advocate recognition of the strong and compelling scientific evidence on climate change are pitted, in the media, against counterclaims by interest groups using pseudo-scientific analysis, often funded by vested commercial interests. Those that advocate action on climate change have to face down opportunistic do-nothing opponents that are focused on the short-term costs while playing down the long-term strong economic, scientific and moral basis for action. Regrettably, in Australia, this has been made manifest in policies such as winding back of carbon pricing and threats to the once bipartisan support for a national renewable energy target.
But if the challenge of climate change is too pressing to ignore, the opportunity for our city is all the greater. Cities that lead in growth areas such as renewables will be rewarded by history, as were those that led the information technology revolution over the second half of the last century. Canberra can be one of these cities. Our vibrant knowledge economy is already engaged globally in renewable energy research and development with local businesses and research institutions delivering world-leading innovation.
The commitment of the Canberra community to action on climate change is reflected in recent survey results undertaken by the government that show over three-quarters of residents surveyed believe the ACT government must take urgent action on climate change. Over 80 per cent want the ACT government to take a strong leadership role. Ninety-three per cent supported the government’s plans to demonstrate and promote new energy technologies such as renewables.
This is the same positive response that was expressed by our community through consultations on draft action plan 2. Through that process our community overwhelmingly supported the territory becoming a national leader in renewable energy investment. This is because the community understands that with around 62 per cent of the territory’s emissions coming from the burning of fossil fuels for electricity generation, renewable energy provides a clean, viable and essential alternative.
Our leading businesses and world-class research institutions recognise that if we can position ourselves as an innovator in renewable energy development and investment the rewards can be enormous. Global investment in renewables is estimated at around $7 trillion over the next 20 years. With smart policy design, Canberra can secure its slice of this renewable energy revolution, diversifying and strengthening our economy and creating clean growth and clean new jobs.
Madam Deputy Speaker, you will be aware that the first release of capacity under the Electricity Feed-in (Large-Scale Renewable Energy Generation) Amendment Act resulted in the solar auction process which ran from early 2012 to mid-2013. As a result of this process the territory is providing feed-in tariff support to three solar farm projects totalling 40 megawatts of generating capacity.
The Royalla solar farm is already well into construction in Canberra’s south and it will be, when completed in the coming months, Australia’s largest operational
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video