May 23, 2003—The second Government-Business Climate Change Dialogue successfully concluded in Canberra recently with business presenting their views to Government on how Australia should respond over the coming decades to the challenge of climate change.
Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Dr David Kemp, and Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, Mr. Ian Macfarlane, announced that industry views would be considered alongside the views of States and Territories and the wider community.
The Government will be looking to make a decision in coming months about broad policy directions on climate change that takes into account this consultative process.
Five working groups, comprised of key business representatives, presented their reports which covered business perspectives on how to achieve further abatement, especially those related to technology solutions and foundations for longer term response; cost-effective abatement opportunities; economic adjustment and avoidance of long term emissions lock-in and balancing policy flexibility and investment certainty.
The working groups were formed following the first Roundtable held in August 2002 to advise the Government on long-term strategies and approaches for greenhouse. The groups have examined the areas of energy and resources, energy-intensive manufacturing, transport and infrastructure, agriculture and land management, and cross-sectoral issues.
As announced last August by the Government, four elements will underpin the development of Australia’s forward climate change strategy:
- Australia will strive for a more comprehensive global response to climate change;
- Australia will position itself to maintain a strong and internationally competitive economy with a lower greenhouse signature;
- Domestic policy settings will balance flexibility with sufficient certainty to allow key decisions on investment and technology development, and also emphasise cost effectiveness; and
- Australia will implement policies and programs that assist adaptation to the consequences of the climate change that is already unavoidable.
For more information, contact the Government-Business Dialogue.
