Climate Change

The Hon. M.C. PARNELL (15:16): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation about climate change.

Leave granted.

The Hon. M.C. PARNELL: I was pleased today to welcome into state parliament a delegation from the AYCC, the Australian Youth Climate Coalition. They presented me with a petition signed by 10,000 young Australians concerned about climate change and calling for action by state and federal governments and, in particular, a commitment to the AYCC's Safe Climate Roadmap. I note, Mr President, the petition is not in a form that can be tabled in state parliament, which I think is a problem for our parliament given that young people tend to engage now more online rather than on paper and they tend not to humbly pray or showeth, but rather click buttons on computers, but I digress. The postcard that has been signed by these 10,000 young Australians basically says:

Will you commit to the Safe Climate Roadmap? As voters and community groups in your electorate, we are calling on you to commit to taking the ambitious actions outlined in the Safe Climate Roadmap and these actions are:

reducing our pollution in line with the science;

committing to funding a transition to 100 per cent renewable energy in 10 years; and

move Australia beyond coal and gas.

Our community has already started taking action to make this roadmap a reality. Will you join us?

My questions of the minister are:

1. Has he had an opportunity to meet with the Australian Youth Climate Coalition and to see their Safe Climate Roadmap? If he has not, would he like an introduction?

2. Has the government, in light of the latest science, taken any steps to review its targets for renewable energy so that they are more ambitious and more in line with the AYCC's call to head towards 100 per cent renewable energy?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:19): I thank the honourable member for his most important questions and I will say again in this place that this is not a government that is in denial about climate change, unlike the federal Liberal government. It is beyond reasonable doubt that human activities—the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation—are contributing to the changes we are witnessing in the global climate.

This government does not fear the hard but critical actions that are going to be required into the future and, indeed, that is why we have our Premier's Climate Change Council to give us and other local government instrumentalities and industry advice about that future change.

In 2007, we established the frameworks for rising to the challenge by enacting Australia's first dedicated climate change legislation, releasing a strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in South Australia and beginning a climate change awareness raising campaign. It has enabled the government to support those desiring a better and cleaner future for South Australia and the world.

Entering into agreements with willing members of industry and the community promoted climate change awareness, prepared the community for a potential carbon price and prepared for a changing climate. South Australia then moved to policies such as legislation for energy efficient roofing and establishing a framework for low emission vehicles in the community and the government vehicle fleet.

In 2010-11, South Australian emissions were almost 9 per cent lower than 1990 levels, despite growth in our economy and our population. The 2013 State of Environment Report has shown that South Australian emissions per person and per unit of gross state product have decreased. There has actually been a 42 per cent reduction in the greenhouse gas intensity of the South Australian economy, I am advised. In addition, over 25 per cent of South Australia's electricity generation now comes from over $2 billion worth of privately funded wind farms; an additional 2 per cent comes from solar panels is my advice.

South Australia has and will continue to encourage renewable energies, building on our status as a national leader in the uptake of wind energy and rooftop solar. We are committed to assisting communities to adapt to the changing climate. The challenge continues but South Australia shows commitment and innovative policy can go an awfully long way. We are also working on a new approach for a way to continue to build on our past successes and ensure that we not only lead in this space as a state but that we will position ourselves for the betterment of all South Australians and ultimately, given the nature of climate change politics at a national level, we will probably be the only state jurisdiction that leads in this area for some few months until there is a change of government in Victoria.