Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Facing up to the Greenhouse Challenge? Australian Climate Politics

  • Chapter
Turning Down the Heat

  • 426 Accesses

Abstract

As a country, Australia is particularly vulnerable to the effects of human-induced climate change, particularly droughts and forest fires (CSIRO 2007). Despite this, Australians currently top the world league table of per capita greenhouse gas emitters. In 2004, annual per capita emissions in Australia stood at 27.2 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, more than double the OECD country average (Turton 2004). Four main activities account for this outcome: (i) a high reliance on fossil fuels in the electricity generation mix; (ii) intensive road-based transportation within Australia’s sprawling cities; (iii) its highly polluting non-ferrous metals sector, especially aluminium, which draws its energy mainly from subsidized and abundant coal reserves; and (iv) Australia’s vast agricultural sector, which comprises 16 per cent of 2005 national emissions, far higher than in most other industrialized nations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • AGO (Australian Greenhouse Office) (2002), Pathways and Policies for the Development of a National Emissions Trading System for Australia, Canberra: AGO.

    Google Scholar 

  • AGO (2007), National Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2005, Canberra: AGO.

    Google Scholar 

  • AIGN (Australian Industry Greenhouse Network) (2002), No Disadvantage, No Discrimination, Canberra: AIGN.

    Google Scholar 

  • APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) (2007), Sydney APEC Leaders’ Declaration on Climate Change, Energy Security and Clean Development, http://www.apecsec.org.sg/apec/leaders declarations/2007/aelm climatechange. html [13 November 2007].

    Google Scholar 

  • APP (Asia-Pacific Partnership) (2006), Charter for the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate, Sydney: APP.

    Google Scholar 

  • Australian Government (2003), Renewable Opportunities: Review of the Operation of the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Act 2000, Canberra: AGO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Australian Government (2004), Securing Australia’s Energy Future, Canberra: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

    Google Scholar 

  • Australian Government (2005), Australia’s Fourth National Communication on Climate Change: Report under the UNFCCC, Canberra: AGO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Australian Government (2006a), Greenhouse Gas Abatement Programme (GGAP), Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Australian Government (2006b), Uranium Mining, Processing and Nuclear Energy: Opportunities for Australia? Report to the Prime Minister by the Uranium Mining, Processing and Nuclear Energy Review Taskforce, Canberra: Department of the Prime Minister.

    Google Scholar 

  • Australian Government (2007a), Report of the Task Group on Emissions Trading, Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Australian Government (2007b), Australian Climate Change Policy: Our Economy, Our Environment, Our Future, Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Australian Government (2007c), Global Initiative on Forests and Climate, Canberra: AGO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Australian Labor Party (2007a), Election 07 Policy Document—Labor’s 2020 Target for a Renewable Energy Future, Canberra: Australian Labor Party.

    Google Scholar 

  • Australian Labor Party (2007b), New Directions for Australia’s Coal Industry, Canberra: Australian Labor Party.

    Google Scholar 

  • Australian Labor Party (2007c), Nuclear Power? No Thanks, http://www.kevin07.com.au/fresh-ideas/climate-change-water/nuclear-power.html[8 November 2007].

    Google Scholar 

  • Christoff, P. (2005), ‘Policy autism or double-edged dismissiveness? Australia’s climate policy under the Howard government’, Global Change, Peace and Security 17, 29–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Commonwealth of Australia (1992), National Greenhouse Response Strategy, Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Commonwealth of Australia (1998), The National Greenhouse Strategy: Strategic Framework for Advancing Australia’s Greenhouse Response, Canberra: AGO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Commonwealth of Australia (2000), National Greenhouse Strategy: 2000 Progress Report, Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crowley, K. (2007), ‘Is Australia faking it? The Kyoto Protocol and the greenhouse policy challenge’, Global Environmental Politics 7, 118–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization) (2007), Climate Change in Australia: Technical Report 2007, Canberra: CSIRO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dennis, C. (2006), ‘Promises to clean up industry fail to convince’, Nature 439, 253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Department of the Environment and Heritage (2003), National Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2003, Canberra: Department of the Environment and Heritage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Department of the Environment and Heritage (2005a), Greenhouse Challenge Plus: Programme Framework 2005, Canberra: AGO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Department of the Environment and Heritage (2005b), Department of the Environment and Heritage Annual Report 2004–05, Canberra: Department of the Environment and Heritage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fenna, A. (2007), ‘The malaise of federalism: comparative reflections on commonwealth-state relations’, Australian Journal of Public Administration 66, 298–306.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geoscience Australia (2005), Australia’s Identified Mineral Resources, Canberra: Australian Government/Geoscience Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grubb, M., C. Vrolijk and D. Brack (1999), The Kyoto Protocol: A Guide and Assessment, London: The Royal Institute of International Affairs.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton, C. (1996), Why Government Won’t Take Greenhouse Seriously, Canberra: The Australia Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton, C. (2002), Running from the Storm: The Development of Climate Change Policy in Australia, Sydney: University of New South Wales Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton, C. and H. Turton (1999), ‘Subsidies to the aluminium industry and climate change’, Background Paper No. 21, Canberra: The Australia Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton, C. and L. Vellen (1999), ‘Land-use change in Australia and the Kyoto Protocol’, Environmental Science and Policy 2, 145–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Howard, J. (2007a), National Clean Energy Target, http://www.pm.gov.au/media/Release/2007/Media Release24577.cfm [7 November 2007].

    Google Scholar 

  • Howard, J. (2007b), Address to the Liberal Party Federal Council 3 June 2007, http://www.pm.gov.au/media/speech/2007/Speech24350.cfm [22 October 2007].

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunt, C. (2004), ‘Australia’s greenhouse policy’, Australian Journal of Environmental Management 11, 156–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jessup, B. and D. Mercer (2001), ‘Energy policy in Australia: a comparison of environmental considerations in New South Wales and Victoria’, Australian Geographer 32, 7–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kent, A. and D. Mercer (2006), ‘Australia’s mandatory renewable energy target (MRET): an assessment’, Energy Policy 34, 1046–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leigh, A. (2005), ‘Economic voting and electoral behaviour: how do individual, local and national factors affect the partisan choice?’ Discussion Paper 489, Centre for Economic Policy Research, Canberra: Australian National University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyster, R. (2004), ‘Common but differentiated? Australia’s response to climate change’, Georgetown International Environmental Law Review 16, 561–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacGill, I. and H. Outhred (2007), ‘Australian climate policy and its implications for AP6 countries’, China Energy Law International Symposium, Beijing.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacGill, I., H. Outhred and K. Nolles (2006), ‘Some design lessons from market-based greenhouse gas regulation in the restructured Australian electricity industry’, Energy Policy 34, 11–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Papadakis, E. and R. Grant (2003), ‘The politics of “light-handed regulation”: “new” environmental policy instruments in Australia’, in Jordan, A., R. Wurzel and A. Zito (eds), ‘New’ Instruments of Environmental Governance: National Experiences and Prospects, London: Frank Cass, pp. 27–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parker, C. (1999), ‘The Greenhouse Challenge: trivial pursuit?’ Environmental and Planning Law Journal 16, 63–74.

    Google Scholar 

  • People’s Republic of China (2007), ‘China and Australia issue joint statement on climate change’, Chinese Embassy, Canberra, 7 September.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pollard, P. (2003), ‘Missing the target: an analysis of Australian government greenhouse spending’, Australia Institute Discussion Paper 51, Canberra: The Australia Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Potter, B., and D. Hughes (2007), ‘Export boost smelting away’, Australian Financial Review, 23 November, Sydney, 25.

    Google Scholar 

  • Queensland Government (2007), ClimateSmart 2050; Queensland Climate Change Strategy 2007: A Low-Carbon Future, Brisbane: Queensland Government.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sbragia, A. (1996), ‘Environmental policy: the push-pull of policy-making’, in Wallace, H. and W. Wallace (eds), Policy-making in the European Union, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 235–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • SECITAC (Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts Committee) (2000), The Heat Is On: Australia’s Greenhouse Future, Canberra: Parliament of Australia Senate.

    Google Scholar 

  • State and Territory Governments (2004), Inter-Jurisdictional Working Group on Emissions Trading, http://www.emissionstrading.nsw.gov.au/data/assets/pdf file/0005/410/terms.pdf [8 November 2007].

    Google Scholar 

  • Sullivan, R. (2005), ‘Code integration: alignment or conflict?’ Journal of Business Ethics 59, 9–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taplin, R. (2002), Independent Verification of the Greenhouse Challenge Program: Final Report, Sydney: Snowy Mountains Electricity Corporation, for Australian Greenhouse Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taplin, R. (2004), ‘Australian experience with greenhouse NEPIs’, in Jacob, K., M. Binder and A. Wieczorek (eds.), Governance for Industrial Transformation: Proceedings of the 2003 Berlin Conference on the Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change, Berlin: Environmental Policy Research Centre, pp. 491–501.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turnbull, M. (2007), High-Level Meeting on Forests and Climate Change, Sydney: Australian Greenhouse Office.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turton, H. (2002), ‘The aluminium smelting industry: structure, market power, subsidies and greenhouse gas emissions’, Australia Institute Discussion Paper 44, Canberra: The Australia Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turton, H. (2004), ‘Greenhouse gas emissions in industrialised countries: where does Australia stand?’ Australia Institute Discussion Paper 66, Canberra: The Australia Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Victorian Essential Services Commission (2007), Victorian Renewable Energy Target (VRET) Scheme, http://www.esc.vic.gov.au/public/VRET[8 November 2007].

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Ian Bailey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sam Maresh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Cardiff, UK

    Hugh Compston (Reader in Politics) (Reader in Politics)

  2. University of Plymouth, UK

    Ian Bailey (Senior Lecturer in Human Geography) (Senior Lecturer in Human Geography)

Copyright information

© 2008 Ian Bailey and Sam Maresh

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Bailey, I., Maresh, S. (2008). Facing up to the Greenhouse Challenge? Australian Climate Politics. In: Compston, H., Bailey, I. (eds) Turning Down the Heat. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230594678_12

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation