Algeria
Being a desert country, climate change is affecting Algeria through desertification. Much of Algeria
is covered by the Sahara Desert, and climate change is making the Sahara Desert grow. Currently,
very little of Algeria is not desert and the growth of the Sahara Desert threatens to turn any livable
land in Algeria into desert. Climate change also threatens the limited water supply in Algeria, a
nation that already suffers from a lack of drinkable water for its people. Algeria’s major concerns
with climate change are the threat of desertification and losing necessary water sources.
But, Algeria has not been on the forefront of the international effort to combat climate change due
to its oil industry. Algeria is the 14th largest producer of oil in the world and their economy is
heavily dependent on exporting oil. Algeria is not willing to cut back on their oil production and oil
usage in order to stop the effects of climate change, even if climate change is affecting Algeria
negatively.
Algeria is looking for help from other nations who are also dealing with desertification, but it is not
willing to change any aspect of their oil production, even if that will help combat the effects of
climate change.
What the government is doing?
A Clean Energy Future
is part of the long-term
plan to reshape the Australian economy, provide
greater certainty to drive innovation, and help
avoid the increased costs associated with delayed
action on climate change. The comprehensive
plan aims to dramatically cut pollution, introduce
a carbon price, and invest billions of dollars in
renewable energy. The plan also includes
transforming the energy sector away from high
polluting sources such as brown coal and storing
carbon in the land through better land management strategies.
Through its commitment under the Kyoto Protocol, Australia is on target to slow growth of its
carbon pollution emissions. Progress against this target is tracked in Australia's National
Greenhouse Accounts.
The plan to move to a Clean Energy Future will cut pollution by at least five per cent compared
with 2000 levels by 2020—which will require cutting net expected pollution by at least 23 per cent
in 2020 and 80 per cent below 2000 levels by 2050.
The Government recognizes its responsibility to act on behalf of future generations. We will
strengthen our effort to prepare Australia for a low carbon pollution future through the Renewable
Energy Target, research and development of clean energy, and measures to help households,
businesses, communities and regions transition to a low carbon future.
We are also preparing Australia for the impacts of climate change that are already ‘locked in’ due
to the carbon pollution already released into the atmosphere. We are investing in the science,
research, information and skills needed to help communities, industries and governments adapt to
a changing climate. Under Clean Energy Future 460 million tonnes of carbon pollution will be
reduced or stored instead of entering our atmosphere under the Carbon Farming Initiative,
between 2011 and 2050.
We are also continuing to work with other countries to develop a global solution to this global
problem. An investment of more than $15 billion in climate change initiatives is putting Australia on
track to a low carbon future where our society is prosperous, our economy is strong and our
environment is protected.
Australia can create jobs and protect the environment at the same time – and the Government’s
plan for cutting carbon pollution will deliver this while preparing Australia for a better future.
Reducing Australia's emissions
The Australian Government is strongly committed to reducing Australia's carbon pollution.
If Australia takes no action by 2020 our carbon pollution could be 20 per cent higher than in 2000,
not 5 to 25 per cent lower as the Australian Government intends. The Government’s targets are
equivalent to a reduction in every Australian’s carbon footprint of nearly one third to one half. To
help achieve our ambitious targets of lowering these emissions, the Australian Government is
developing and putting in place the policies we need through Clean Energy Future
to support
Australian businesses and households reduce their carbon pollution, to create the new green-collar
jobs of the future and to transform our economy.
Investing in clean energy
The Australian Government is investing more than $5 billion in developing and commercialising
clean energy technologies because we know these technologies will be crucial for Australia’s efforts
to reduce its carbon pollution emissions. These technologies will also be important to the rest of
the world as they also need to reduce their carbon pollution.
The plan to move to a Clean Energy Future will cut pollution by at least five per cent compared
with 2000 levels by 2020—which will require cutting net expected pollution by at least 23 per cent
in 2020—and 80 per cent below 2000 levels by 2050.
The comprehensive plan also aims to introduce a carbon price and invest billions of dollars in
renewable energy. It includes transforming the energy sector away from high polluting sources
such as brown coal and storing carbon in the land through better land management strategies.
Supporting business to take action
The Australian Government is helping Australian businesses take action to reduce their emissions.
For example, through Clean Energy Future . Opportunities will open up in existing businesses as
they move to operating in a clean energy future. Many businesses will invest in new technology to
generate less pollution and become more efficient. Jobs will also be created in new clean industries
such as renewable energy generation, carbon farming and sustainable design, to name just a few.
To help businesses pay for energy efficiency improvements that will save time and money the
Government is establishing the Australian Carbon Trust. The trust will bring together public and
private funding, innovative business approaches and technical knowledge to help business and
community groups invest in energy efficiency and reduce emissions.
The Australian Government also recognises the importance of training Australians so they are
ready to join the new clean industries and take up the new green-collar jobs of the future. Skills for
the Carbon Challenge
will help develop and trial training resources and qualifications that teach
green skills and sustainability principles across a number of industries.
Supporting households to take action
Australian households are directly responsible for about one fifth of Australia’s carbon pollution.
Households and individuals have an important role to play in combating climate change. The
Government is investing in helping Australians change the way we act to help reduce carbon
pollution.
Through Clean Energy Future, over half the money raised from the carbon price will be used to
assist households. Nine in 10 households will receive a combination of tax cuts and payments to
help with the costs of the carbon price.
For example, the Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme (REBS) offers eligible Australian households:
A $1,000 rebate for a solar hot water system; or
A $600 rebate for a heat pump system.
The National Strategy on Energy Efficiency will also help Australians choose energy efficient
appliances, homes and buildings, and make residential and commercial buildings more energy
efficient.
Factsheet: Australia's emissions reduction targets
2020
Australia will reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 25 per cent compared with 2000 levels
by 2020 if the world agrees to an ambitious global deal capable of stabilising levels of GHGs in the
atmosphere at 450 ppm carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-eq) or lower.
Australia will unconditionally reduce its emissions by 5 per cent compared with 2000 levels by 2020
and by up to 15 per cent by 2020 if there is a global agreement which falls short of securing
atmospheric stabilisation at 450 ppm CO2-eq under which major developing economies commit to
substantially restraining their emissions and advanced economies take on commitments
comparable to Australia's.
These targets have been anchored under the Cancun Agreements. A detailed statement of
Australia's target conditions can be found below.
2050
Australia will reduce GHG emissions by 80 per cent compared with 2000 levels by 2050.
Coverage
Australia's emissions reduction targets are based on net national emissions; that is, any imported
units will be counted as contributing to meeting the national target, and any exported units will not
be counted. The 2020 targets refer to Australia's net emissions from the sector/source categories
included in Annex A of the Kyoto Protocol as well as from afforestation, reforestation and
deforestation (AR&D). The same sectoral coverage applies to both the base year (the year 2000)
and 2020 emissions.
Projections
Australia remains on track to meet its Kyoto Protocol target of limiting average annual emissions
over the Kyoto Protocol's first commitment period (2008-12) to 108 per cent of 1990 levels.
Australia's emissions are projected to average around 580 Mt CO2-e per year over 2008–12, which
is 106 per cent of 1990 levels. Without further policy action, Australia's emissions are projected to
continue to increase. In 2020, emissions are projected to reach 686 Mt CO2-e, or 24 per cent above
2000 levels. Australia's unconditional target of 5 per cent represents a 23 per cent decline below
business as usual.
Australia's emissions trends, 1990 – 2020
Clean energy legislation: the way ahead
Australia is introducing a price on carbon, which will start on 1 July 2012.
New clean energy laws
The Clean Energy Legislative Package, passed by the Senate on 8 November 2011, sets out the way
that Australia will introduce a carbon price to reduce Australia’s carbon pollution and move to a
clean energy future.
Next steps
These pages provide information about how the Government is implementing the reforms
contained in the Clean Energy Legislative Package.
As part of the implementation of the Package, the Government will consult on key issues in the
coming months, including the continued development of regulations on the Jobs and
Competitiveness Program and the design of specific elements of the carbon pricing mechanism.
Shaping a global solution
All countries will experience climate change in coming decades. In Australia, climate change poses
a major threat to our economic prosperity, unique environment and way of life. Failure to reduce
global emissions could result in a 90 per cent loss of irrigated agriculture in the Murray Darling
Basin and threaten Australia's World Heritage Properties, including the Great Barrier Reef and
Kakadu National Park.
Australia generates about 1.5 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, so our actions alone
cannot avert the worst consequences of climate change. However, Australia is one of the world's
biggest polluters on a per capita basis, so it is essential we do all we can as part of the global effort.
Climate change is a global problem that requires a global solution.
Helping to shape a global climate change solution is one of the Australian Government's highest
priorities. Along with efforts to reduce domestic emissions and adapt to climate change impacts, it
constitutes one of the three pillars on which Australia's comprehensive climate change response is
built.
The Kyoto Protocol
The very first act of the former Prime Minister, the Hon Kevin Rudd, in December 2007 was to ratify
the Kyoto Protocol . The Kyoto Protocol is an international and legally binding agreement that
commits industrialised countries to reduce or limit their greenhouse gas emissions. For further
information see: Overview of the Kyoto Protocol.
International climate change negotiations
Through the United Nations climate change negotiations , the international community is working
to develop a new long-term approach for global cooperation on climate change. Australia is
committed to playing its full and fair part. For more information on the negotiations,
see: International climate change negotiations.
The Government has committed to reduce Australia's emissions by five to 15 per cent or 25 per
cent below 2000 levels by 2020. The five per cent target represents Australia's unconditional
commitment. Our targets of up to 15 per cent and 25 per cent are both conditional on the extent
of action by others. Australia has formally pledged these 2020 targets under the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change. They are a constructive and responsible contribution
to global action, and demonstrate Australia's commitment to playing its full and fair part in global
mitigation action.
What Australia is doing
Australia also takes part in multilateral, bilateral and regional activities that contribute to the global
effort to respond to climate change.
Australia participates in high level meetings on climate change that complement and help progress
the UNFCCC agenda, including the Group of Twenty and the Major Economies Forum on Energy
and Climate (MEF).
Australia also works with international partners on practical actions that enable countries to
respond to climate change. For further information on Australia's bilateral partnerships, please see
the Bilateral Climate Change Partnership Program.
Australia is working with our Pacific island neighbours to ensure that climate change does not
undermine sustainable development gains. In 2009 the Australian Government released a
publication to guide our work in the region: Engaging our Pacific Neighbours on Climate Change:
Australia's approach.
Australia is taking action through the International Forest Carbon Initiative to help reduce
emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries.
Through this initiative, Australia is working closely with countries to find practical ways to reduce
emissions from the forest sector. This includes collaborative Forest Carbon Partnerships with
Indonesia and Papua New Guinea to build each country's capacity to reduce emissions from forests.
Australia is also assisting vulnerable countries in our region adapt to the impacts of climate change
through the International Climate Change Adaptation Initiative.
The Australian Government also works through Australia AID to assist vulnerable countries in our
region to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
Australia is actively involved in a range of initiatives on technology and policy to mitigate
greenhouse gas emissions.
Citations