Independent MP Zali Steggall’s proposed Climate Change Bill will be examined by a Parliamentary Inquiry this week, after being delayed due to COVID-19 last year. Officially called the Climate Change (National Framework for Adaptation and Mitigation) Bill 2020, it sets a net-zero carbon emissions target for 2050 and is now officially supported by the Business Council of Australia. It’s a huge win, considering the Council includes representatives from the mining, manufacturing and energy sectors.
So, what is the Climate Change Bill actually proposing? We’ve summarised the key aims below – read on (and let us know what you think!)
UPDATE: Stegall reintroduced the Bill to Parliament on 18 October 2021 (the same day that Nationals MP David Littleproud said Australia will be exporting coal into the 2050s). The Climate Change (National Framework for Adaptation and Mitigation) (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2021 includes some minor amendments outlined in an update from Stegall’s office.
What’s the main aim of Zali Steggall’s Climate Change Bill?
TL;DR version: The Bill will require Australia to hit net-zero carbon emissions by Dec 31, 2050 or earlier. To achieve this, it will establish an independent advisory commission of experts to complete a Risk Assessment report of the impacts of climate change every five years.
In response to each report, the Environment Minister must create a National Adaption Plan, Emissions Budget and Emissions Reduction Plan to show exactly how it will address the risks and hit net-zero. The independent Commission will advise and evaluate every plan the Minister submits, and provide progress reports.
Who would be on this independent Commission?
The Commission would be led by a Chairperson and Australia’s Chief Scientist (currently Cath Foley AO), with the other members being people who have expertise in any of these areas: business competitiveness, climate change policy, climate science, economic analysis and forecasting, energy production and supply, financial investment, regional development, industrial relations, agriculture, or technology development and diffusion.
Members will be appointed by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Climate Adaptation and Mitigation.
Another example where responsible business is pushing for tougher climate action and irresponsible governments are holding back. Why not follow science and opportunities. Business Council of Australia backs Zali Steggall’s climate change bill https://t.co/ZOkW3Y1bxK
— Paul Polman 😷 (@PaulPolman) January 26, 2021
What is the Commission’s main job?
This Bill proposes two main roles for the Commission. First, they have to prepare a National Climate Risk Assessment every five years – everything operates in continuous five-year periods. The Risk Assessment is a report that examines multiple climate change scenarios and outlines:
- The risks to the economy, workers, society, agriculture, environment and biodiversity in each scenario
- Which risks are the biggest, based on likelihood, cost and severity
- Whether or not we need a plan to tackle each risk in the next 5 years
Each report must be made publicly available, as well as any evidence that the Commission used to make the report – so that we can all read and be informed as well.
Their second job is to advise and evaluate the Government’s work (which we’ll outline below). The Commission needs to make sure all decisions being made take into account seven guiding principles:
- The action is effective, efficient and equitable;
- Use the most up-to-date info from peer reviewed research and expert bodies;
- Factors in the risks for all sectors;
- Is fiscally responsible, and takes into account the “growing burden of debt on future generations”;
- Allows for fair transitions in employment;
- Involves affected communities in the solution;
- Ensures there is cooperation between states and internationally
What does the Government have to do with those reports?
After the Commission releases its report, the Environment Minister will have to create a 5-year National Adaptation Plan. The Bill is very specific about what needs to be in this plan. It must contain:
- Strategies, policies and proposals to address the specific risks that the Commission had identified for the five-year period
- Specific timeframes for executing those strategies
- Explain how they will actually address the problem, and how they will be funded, measured, monitored and reported on
The Commission will also provide a yearly progress report on how the Minister’s plan is travelling.
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What’s the go with the Emissions Reduction Plan and Budget?
On top of the Adaptation Plan, the Environment Minister will have to prepare an Emissions Budget and Emissions Reduction Plan. The Commission also advise on and evaluate these… basically, nothing happens without them checking the work first!
The Emissions Budget is exactly what it sounds like – specifying how much carbon each sector is “allowed” to emit. The total amount will be smaller and smaller each year, until hitting net-zero in 2050!
But the Budget alone isn’t enough. The Minister’s Emissions Reduction Plan will specify how we will ‘hit the budget’, including:
- Sector-specific policies to reduce emissions and increase the removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere
- A strategy to reduce the impact that those policies will have on specific workforces, rural and regional areas, and the First Nations communities
- Policies, strategies and proposals for developing low emissions tech
State and Territory Environment Ministers will also have input in the Emissions Reduction Plan, to make sure the entire country is aligned.
The Emissions Budget and Reduction Plans will relate directly to each five-year Risk Assessment.
When will this all start?
Keep in mind this proposal was not passed the first time around – you can read the reasons why here. It’s highly likely that Coalition MPs will hold up or push back in favour of their own mystery plan which is yet to be made public. Whether or not Steggall’s Bill is passed, without major changes, still remains to be seen.
If the Bill is successful and not changed too drastically, the first action step would be establishing that independent Commission. It would completing a risk assessment for an initial period which is slightly shorter – the original proposal listed this as 1 January 2022-2026. From 2026, it will work in five-year periods until 2050.
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