[Greens-Media] Greens challenge govt to lead by example and improve energy efficiency

[Willis, Katrina (Sen C. Milne)]

MEDIA RELEASE

Thursday, 18 August 2005

Greens challenge govt to lead by example and improve energy efficiency 

The Australian Greens today challenged the federal government to lead by
example by improving its performance on energy efficiency and buying
more power from renewable energy sources.

Australian Greens energy spokesperson Senator Christine Milne said
energy efficiency was the easiest and quickest way to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions.

"The federal government has said it is committed to addressing the
challenge of climate change but it has failed to lead by example,"
Senator Milne said in Canberra during Science Week.

"The government's latest report on its energy use shows it has made the
easy efficiency gains but more recently it has gone backwards.*

"If the government is serious about reducing greenhouse gas emissions,
it needs to set new targets for energy efficiency. The last targets were
for 2002-03."  

Commonwealth purchase of 'green power' renewable electricity has also
fallen, by 19% since 2002-03 and is only 1.5% of total electricity use,
according to the latest report.

"This is less than the government's mandatory renewable energy target of
a 2% increase in renewable energy," Senator Milne said. 

Senator Milne, speaking on the theme of National Science Week --
"energy: future challenges" - said using energy more efficiently will be
increasingly important as the world grapples with lowering greenhouse
gas emissions and dwindling oil supplies.

"There are many technologies and practices for end-use energy efficiency
in buildings and transport that could provide greenhouse abatement at no
net cost over time."  

* The federal government's latest report on its energy use (for 2003-04)
was released quietly last month. It notes that energy use in 2003-04
actually went up by 0.45% on the previous year, and greenhouse emissions
went up 1.42%. The report can be found at www.greenhouse.gov.au

Contact: Katrina Willis 0437 587 562 or 02 6277 3063
www.greens.org.au