The ACT Government has released five possible pathways for achieving its carbon reduction goals for public consultation. Comprising of five separate possible plans, the common goal sees the Territory Government reduce its carbon emissions by 40 per cent by 2020, and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.

 

The government's announcement starts a three month consultation for the Weathering the Change - Draft Action Plan 2. covering the five pathway options ranging from a focus on energy efficiency in buildings to development of renewable energy generation and use of carbon offsets.

 

"Draft Action Plan 2 is the result of detailed work over the past 12 months by the Environment and Sustainable Development Directorate including a range of extensive independent economic analysis of the proposals," said Minister for the Environment and Sustainable Development Simon Corbell said.

 

The Five pathways are:

  • Pathway1: involves the use of renewable energy as the main strategy for achieving emissions reductions. The purchase of a small component carbon offsets is also included, as current modelling indicates that switching to renewable energy for the total ACT electricity supply will be insufficient to meet the 2020 reduction target. The cost of this proposal per capita in 2020 is $216.32 and per tonne of CO2-e abatement $39.00;
  • Pathway 2: involves reductions in GHG emissions from building energy efficiency, sustainable transport and waste recovery with the remaining emissions reductions achieved through switching approximately two thirds of the ACT's electricity supply to renewable energy. The cost of this proposal per capita in 2020 is $12.20 and per tonne of CO2-e abatement is $2.26;
  • Pathway 3: is a modification of pathway 2, involving energy produced through installation of gas fired electricity generation rather than renewable energy. Reductions are still achieved from building energy efficiency, sustainable transport and waste recovery under this pathway. Carbon offsets are proposed as gas is a lower emission, not zero emission, technology. The cost of this proposal per capita in 2020 is $(82.99) ( a net benefit) and per tonne of CO2-e abatement -$15.38 ( a net benefit);
  • Pathway 4: Similar to pathways 2 and 3, reduction in GHG emissions are achieved from building energy efficiency, sustainable transport and waste recovery. This pathway proposes the purchase of carbon offsets rather than pursuing changes in electricity generation to achieve the targets. The cost of this proposal per capita in 2020 is ($82.99), (a net benefit), and per tonne of CO2-e abatement -$7.24, also a net benefit; and,
  • Pathway 5: This pathway proposes the purchase of carbon offsets to achieve the 2020 emissions reduction target in its entirety. The cost of this proposal per capita in 2020 is $131.80 and per tonne of CO2-e abatement $25.00.

Mr Corbell said detailed analysis supporting these proposals have also been released for public information. These reports are:

  1. The ACT's Draft Climate Change Action Plan 2: An analysis of pathways, costs and benefits, pitt&sherry July 2011
  2. The ACT's Draft Climate Change Action Plan 2: carbon price impacts and costs of measures pitt&sherry September 2011