29 Aug 2008
NATIONAL: The Clean Energy Council, the national peak body representing several hundred large and local Australian companies, today added its voice to growing criticism of the recent Business Council of Australia/Port Jackson Partners emissions trading paper."The BCA plan for emissions trading is essentially a plan to do nothing," said Clean Energy Council's General Manager-Policy, Rob Jackson, "We have always said that the sooner we introduce these policies the sooner we will see increased local and international investment and competition in Australia," said Mr Jackson, "all we need now is the market". The Clean Energy Council collects information from hundreds of businesses preparing to invest billions into the Australian economy, job creation and infrastructure capacity; as a result of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme and complementary policies including the 20% Renewable Energy Target.
"Our members are ready and the international business community is also telling us they are ready to set up shop in Australia. The longer we stall, the greater the danger of Australia missing the boat on climate change and economic growth," he said. The Council also stressed that the complementary policies the federal government is looking to introduce – particularly the renewable energy target and energy efficiency measures – will cushion the transition to a low carbon economy and provide the investor stimulus to capacity build for the future.
These policies, along with R&D funding, are world's best practice to driving down emissions while keeping an economy strong. They have been successfully introduced in Europe, parts of Asia and the US. "Australia's energy demand is increasing, and with at least $60 billion of new investment already deemed necessary to meet energy infrastructure and transmission growth demand, only a strong signal will ensure this investment will prioritise clean energy and energy efficiency," Mr Jackson said.
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