2011

LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FOR THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

CLIMATE CHANGE AND GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION REGULATION 2011

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Presented by
Mr Simon Corbell MLA
Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Water

CLIMATE CHANGE AND GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION REGULATION 2011

Overview of Regulation

The regulation promotes progress in addressing climate change through the ACT Government establishing voluntary sector agreements with industry and community.

The regulation sets out requirements for sector agreements between the Government and a particular person, entity, and industry or business group.  Sector agreements will provide the basis for entities to develop, commit, take action and adopt strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or to adapt to climate change.

Sector agreements will enable recognition of entities that reduce energy use, improve energy efficiency, increase use of renewable energy, promote or support research and development, adopt innovation in technologies or practices, and measure success in meeting any targets.  Due to their voluntary nature there will be no sanctions for non-performance.

Detailed Explanation 

Clause 1 provides for the name of the regulation as the Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Regulation 2011 reflecting that the regulation relates to both the cause and impacts of climate change.

Clause 2 provides for the commencement of the regulation to be concurrent with the commencement of the Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act 2010.  

Clause 3 provides for the dictionary to be part of the regulation.  

Clause 4 explains that notes included in the regulation are explanatory and are not in themselves part of the Regulation.

Clause 5 sets out the requirements for sector agreements.  Mandatory requirements for Sector Agreements include arrangements relating to reviewing and reporting on the operation of the agreement.  The aim of the clause is provide flexible requirements for sector agreements in recognition that the sectors are likely to vary significantly in their approaches to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  While flexible, the arrangements will be transparent given that the Act, establishes that the sector agreements are notifiable instruments.  

The Regulation does not introduce any new terms in the Dictionary.