The National Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council (ECMC) met today in Canberra, hosted by Shane Rattenbury, ACT Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction. The gathering of national ministers was a key opportunity to address the nation’s biggest environmental challenge, Mr Rattenbury said.

The ECMC is a forum for the Commonwealth, Australian states and territories, and New Zealand to work together on priority issues of national significance and key reforms in the energy and climate change sectors. It is chaired by the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, the Hon Chris Bowen MP.

ECMC works closely with Energy Consumers Australia, and oversees the energy market institutions responsible for the operation of national energy markets: the Energy Security Board (ESB); the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC); the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO); and the Australian Energy Regulator (AER).

“I was delighted to host my Commonwealth, State and Territory colleagues in Canberra, and to highlight the nation-leading efforts the ACT is making in mitigating climate change,” Mr Rattenbury said.

The ACT aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2045. Its policies, Mr Rattenbury said, include:

• A pathway to full electrification of the ACT, phasing out fossil-fuel gas;
• The highest uptake of electric vehicles in the country, bolstered by extensive support programs. One in five new car sales in the ACT are now an EV. The ACT has 165 electric vehicle charging bays powered by 136 public chargers; by next year, the ACT will have 180 public chargers.
• Schemes and incentives, such as the Sustainable Household Scheme and the Home Energy Support Program, have already helped thousands of households to transition to efficient electric appliances. An online tool, created in partnership with CHOICE, is helping Canberrans to make their own energy transition plans.

Mr Rattenbury said he appreciated the efforts being made by jurisdictions on climate change, but he believes that inconsistent and detrimental actions are undermining the good work.

“There remains an inescapable truth, which this forum needs to address. Governments must stop approving new fossil fuel projects, whether coal or gas. This ongoing contribution to the burning of fossil fuels risks jeopardising our efforts on climate change.

“The International Energy Agency has clearly spelled out the reality that new fossil fuel projects are incompatible with the planetary goal of keeping the global average temperature increase below 1.5° C, yet Australian Governments continue to approve new gas and coal projects.

“The defence that ‘we have to supply the market’ makes no sense in this country, where we are blessed with wind and solar energy potential that could make us a global clean energy powerhouse if we act fast and with high ambition.

“These counter-productive fossil fuel policies are taking us in the wrong direction and are profoundly frustrating for Canberrans, and Australians, who are playing their part in the battle to prevent climate change.”