Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency

The Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency ( German: Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency ) is a Department of the Australian Federal Government, the current (2011) Minister Greg Combet of the Australian Labor Party (ALP ) is performed.

Current climate policy

Australia is one of the largest emitters of CO2 per capita in the world. 80 % of Australia's energy production is based on coal. Furthermore, there are no nuclear power plants in Australia and it is not intended that to build, on the other hand, Australia is among the countries with the largest volumes in uranium mining.

In July 2011, the Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced that the ALP government wants to reduce CO2 emissions by 80 % instead of the previously announced in 2000, 60 % by 2050. To achieve these objectives and energy should be able to be purchased from abroad. Bob Brown, the leader of the Australian Greens expressed that so Australia would become one of the leading nations in climate policy. Was introduced a controversial CO2 tax in Australia from July 2012 to be replaced three years later by an emissions trading. The introduction of the controversial emissions trading had already led to the dismissal of the previous ALP Prime Minister Kevin Rudd by his own party.

Approximately 500 companies that cause 60 % of Australia's CO2 emissions, will be used to this control. The tax Carbon tax shall be increased to about 17 euros per tonne of CO2 emissions. Since these costs are passed on to consumers for the most part, the government has decided tax relief for the middle and low income, and support services that are to receive about 90 % of Australian households.

The social financial compensation here consists of a package of measures:

• Prior to the introduction of the carbon tax from July 2012, from May 2012, compensation was paid to the less high-income segments of the population of Australia ( lump sum bonus (re) payments ). This CASH bonuses (also known as Clean Energy Advance ) are a similar rebate as for the CO2 incentive tax in Switzerland. So per capita lump sums, similar as discussed for the eco-bonus with respect to the environmental taxes in Germany and Europe: AU $ 100 per child, up to AU $ 300 for the needy each year. In Australia, these payments are different than in Switzerland connected to a means test.
• Tax relief of 300 AU $ per year for more than 6 million Australians with incomes less than AU $ 80,000.
• In addition, part-time work, students, not full-time working single parent families, and retirees received benefits because the government from July 2012 to raise the tax-free allowance of 6,000 AU $ 18,000 AU $ decided ( $ 336 per week).

The Government have learned with the bonus payment from the failure of the previous government. Treasurer Wayne Swan said the government understand the concerns regarding the possible cost of living due to the CO2 tax ( "that the Government Understood families ' Concerns about the potential cost-of -living impact of the carbon tax" ). The social policies complement the "Household Assistance Package" and are in a far-reaching plan for the future development of renewable energies involved ("Clean Energy Future Plan").

History

A first Department of Climate Change was adopted on 3 December 2007 by the Australian Government and on March 8, 2008, after the change of government, the so-called end of the Machinery of Government Changes, as a new ministry called the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency established.

Policy approach of the Ministry

The policy of this ALP -led ministry is based on a Corporate Plan 2010/2011 with three columns:

• Energy savings through

• Adaptation by

• International commitment