New report highlights climate change challenge

The greenhouse gas inventory, undertaken for the ACT government by energy services company Pitt&Sherry, gives a clear idea of both the aggregate amount of emissions and the ‘greenhouse intensity' for the ACT by using the most up-to-date methodology.

“Carbon accounting methodology is a science that is constantly being improved,” said the ACT Minister for Energy, Simon Corbell. “For this inventory report, Pitt&Sherry recalculated the 1990 figures, using more accurate methodology than was available when the ACT government's Climate Change Strategy Weathering the Change was developed.

“This is a factual and eye-opening report that demonstrates clearly the many challenges we face in regard to climate change. This inventory shows how important it is that the government, community and commercial sector all work towards reducing emissions,” Corbell said.

Key findings included:

• ACT emissions during 2005–2006 increased 2.4% over the previous year to 4.02 Mt CO2e (0.7% of national net greenhouse gas emissions);
• Growth in ACT emissions of 25.2% on 1990 levels and 10.4% above 2000 levels is significantly higher than the national average;
• The increase in ACT electricity consumption has largely been in the commercial sector; and
• Electricity consumption per residential customer has decreased, due largely to fuel-switching to natural gas. Per capita emissions were 12.0 t.

“This report is evidence the ACT has to act urgently,” Corbell said. “The government is investing heavily in fighting climate change with the Tune Up Canberra program which provides $2m over the next two years to improve energy efficiency in existing buildings. It is also focused on establishing the ACT as Australia’s solar capital.

“The establishment of a feed-in tariff has seen a dramatic increase in the amount of people installing solar panels on homes. Possible expansion is currently being considered under stage two of the tariff program.

“The government is also working on developing a landmark energy policy which sets out an informed way to approach increasing demand on energy infrastructure and the grid,” Corbell said.

The report found that the ACT’s emissions were predominantly due to burning fossil fuels in the stationary energy sector. Emissions from electricity accounted for 64% of the total inventory.