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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-10-15 Daily Xml
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CLIMATE CHANGE REVIEW

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (14:25): I seek leave to make a further ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Last week, Adelaide hosted the CSIRO's Greenhouse 2013 conference where the latest in climate change science, communication and policy was shared by leading researchers from Australia and around the world. The Premier opened this conference on Tuesday and announced that the Premier's Climate Change Council would lead a major strategic review of our state's climate change policy. This review will ultimately lead to a new strategic plan on climate change action in our state and has been triggered by two key issues.

First, the federal Coalition government is determined to replace the carbon pricing mechanism with its own Direct Action policy. The federal government's commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 5 per cent by 2020 based on 1990 levels under this plan is highly conditional. The Prime Minister has already stated that no further funding will be allocated to achieve this target, even if the Direct Action plan fails to meet it. Their policy is largely beyond our government's control but can still have a significant impact on greenhouse emissions. Action taken at the subnational level can and should not be underestimated.

Secondly, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has released its latest report and the messages are urgent and significant. The report shows that warming of the climate system is unequivocal and that human influence on the climate system is clear. Following the release of this report, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has stated that, 'The heat is on,' and, 'Now we must act.' Many other key scientists and leaders have concurred publicly with this statement. What we need now is cooperation and collaboration, recognition of this science and a clear plan that reviews our past action and positions our state for the future. I want us to take the opportunity to revisit all our previous achievements, celebrate our successes to date and forge the best and most effective pathway forward.

The Premier's Climate Change Council agrees that a compelling vision has to be developed, and the council is intent on developing this vision. South Australia has much to be proud of through its leadership on climate change over the past decade. We have led in renewable energy. In 2012-13, 27 per cent of electricity generated in this state was sourced from wind and 4 per cent from solar. If South Australia were a nation state, it would rank second to Denmark as the world leader in terms of installed wind power on a per capita basis.

Since 2003, there has been $5.5 billion in investment in renewable energy, with some $2 billion, or 40 per cent, of this investment occurring in regional areas. Building on the success in this sector, the Premier took the opportunity at the Greenhouse conference to announce a new target for low carbon investment of $10 billion by 2025. We have also taken steps to develop a legislative framework for action through the Climate Change and Greenhouse Emissions Reduction Act 2007. We have signed sector agreements with key industries, local governments and regions. We have also improved our built form through the 30-year Plan for Greater Adelaide and demonstrated its application at Lochiel Park, Bowden and Tonsley.

Last, but not least, we are addressing the impacts of climate change through the multi-award winning South Australian adaptation framework. Whilst undertaking these reforms, we have engaged the community and businesses along the way in looking at these achievements and planning our strategy for the future. We will continue to ensure that we engage with our stakeholders.

I do not want to pre-empt this strategic climate change review. I want to emphasise that we are looking to the Premier's Climate Change Council for advice on these matters and they will rely on government, community and business input to formulate this advice. I know this council-led review will be an important first step in refreshing our climate change approach. It is imperative that we take this step now, for all of our futures.

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