Pages tagged "Climate"
NCC welcomes establishment of NSW Net Zero Commission
MEDIA RELEASE
10th July 2024
The Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales (NCC), the state’s leading environmental advocacy organisation, has welcomed the establishment of the NSW Net Zero Commission and appointment of inaugural Commissioners.
The independent, expert commission has been established to provide expert advice on the steps we must take to achieve our legislated climate goals.
NSW has legislated targets to reduce emissions by at least 50% by 2030, 70% by 2035 and reach net zero emissions by 2050. Recent government modelling has shown the state is currently tracking to undershoot these targets: -44% by 2030 and -65% by 2035.
“We welcome the establishment of the Net Zero Commission and the independent expertise it will bring to climate policy in NSW,” said Nature Conservation Council NSW chief executive officer Jacqui Mumford.
“This commission is an excellent framework to accelerate climate action and it is an opportunity to address some of the barriers to achieving our emissions reduction targets.
“A sure-fire way to help get the state back on track to achieving our emissions reduction targets is to phase out destructive native forest logging and tackle runaway habitat clearing.”
Quotes attributable to NCC CEO Jacqui Mumford:
“NSW needs to urgently redouble emissions reduction efforts considering recent projections and the catastrophic impacts we continue to witness around the world.
“Phasing out native forest logging and reining in habitat clearing would make immediate and significant contributions to our emissions efforts.
“Land clearing is responsible for approximately 10% of Australia’s emissions, whilst ending native forest logging in NSW would prevent an estimated 2.4 million tons of greenhouse emissions every year.
“Protecting and restoring forests and habitat is a crucial mitigation action if NSW is to meet our targets.
“We will be writing to the commission to encourage their consideration of these nature-based solutions.
“NCC also welcomes the recent parliamentary appointments to the Joint Standing Committee on Net Zero Future, which will have oversight of the Commission.
“We look forward to working with all members to accelerate climate action.”
Statement ends
Sources for emissions data:
Land clearing - Quarterly Update of Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory: June 2022, Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, https://www.dcceew.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/nggi-quarterly-update-june-2022.pdf
Native Forestry - Sanger J, The Carbon Benefit from Protecting Australia’s Public Native Forests, sourced at https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7031078401469800448/
Media contact: Anna Greer
E: [email protected] M: 0493 733 529 PH: (02) 7208 9482
Note: NCC CEO Jacqui Mumford is available for comment on request
Nuclear will mean higher household bills and more climate pollution
MEDIA RELEASE
June 19, 2024
The Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales (NCC), the state’s leading environmental advocacy organisation, has today criticised the Federal Coalition’s “nuclear fantasy” as a commitment to higher energy bills for NSW households and more climate pollution.
Today’s announcement of an uncosted plan from the Federal Coalition to build nuclear reactors at Liddell power station in the Hunter Valley and Mount Piper power station near Lithgow is a dangerous distraction from the renewable energy transition underway in NSW.
International experience shows that it takes up to twenty years to build nuclear reactors, meaning that ageing coal fired power plants would continue to emit dangerous climate pollution for years to come.
Statements attributable to NCC Chief Executive Officer Jacqui Mumford
“The Federal Coalition has not released detailed research relating to sites in NSW nor come clean to the Australian people on the cost of building multi-billion dollar nuclear reactors.
“The announcement is nothing more than the Federal Coalition pandering to its mates in the fossil fuels industry.
“There’s no plan to deal with harmful nuclear waste, and no indication of how the Federal government would get around state-based bans on nuclear.
“We should be replacing our polluting and ageing coal-fired power plants in NSW with renewable energy generation and storage, not with a nuclear fantasy.
“Renewable energy is the cheapest and most affordable form of energy, and NSW needs to get on with the job of scaling it up to deliver a sustainable future and sound economic growth prospects for our state.”
Statement ends
Media contact: Anna Greer
E: [email protected] M: 0493 733 529 PH: (02) 7208 9482
Note: NCC CEO Jacqui Mumford is available for comment on request
NSW budget neglects biodiversity
MEDIA RELEASE
June 18, 2024
The Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales (NCC), the state’s leading environmental advocacy organisation, has today expressed disappointment that the NSW budget has again failed to deliver for nature.
In the middle of an extinction crisis, funding for ecosystem restoration and threatened species is going backwards.
NSW habitat is so degraded it can only support 29% of the plants and animals it once did. 1043 plants and animals in NSW are currently listed as at risk of extinction, a 50% increase in 10 years.
Without significant public investment to grow protected areas and restore degraded ecosystems, many of the ecosystems that make our state so special will simply collapse.
The NSW Labor Government is spending just 1.61%* of the budget on the environment, which is even less than last year.
“Labor came into power promising to turn the tide, and yet this is the second year in a row nature funding, as a percentage, has declined,” NCC Chief Executive Officer Jacqui Mumford said.
“Without a seismic shift in nature investment NSW will see more extinctions and fail to meet our ‘30 by 30’ Global Biodiversity Framework targets.”
Statements attributable to NCC Chief Executive Officer Jacqui Mumford
“The nature deficit needs to be addressed by proper investment in NSW’s biodiversity.
“Whilst Premier Chris Minns loves spruiking the beauty of NSW nature and posting selfies in pretty places, it’s clear biodiversity isn’t a priority for this government.
“There is a substantial investment in renewables, but NSW needs to do a lot more to turn the biodiversity crisis around.
“We need to recognise that we have a dual crisis and that spending on renewable infrastructure will not in itself stop extinction and the tragic loss of biodiversity occurring all around us.
“The number of listed threatened species continues to rise. However not even half (~40%) of these species are being managed under the Saving our Species (SoS) program. Clearly more funding is needed.
“Taxpayers are again footing the bill for the horrific destruction of our native forests, with no plans to follow Qld, Victoria and Western Australia and save the budget millions of dollars a year by ending native forest logging.”
Propping up the industrial logging of our native forests is an ongoing financial burden to NSW taxpayers. In the last 3 years, the native hardwood division of Forestry Corporation has lost $44m. NSW remains the only mainland state without a plan to phase out native forest logging, this must change.
Statement ends
Background
*Budget Paper Number 1, General government sector expenses by function shows Environmental Protection receiving $1,964m in 2024-2025, which represents 1.61% of total expenditure v 1.67% in the 2023-24 Budget v 1.73% in the 2022-23 budget.
Media contact: Anna Greer
E: [email protected] M: 0493 733 529 PH: (02) 7208 9482
Note: NCC CEO Jacqui Mumford is available for comment on request
Peak environment body welcomes support for household batteries
May 24th 2024
The Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales (NCC), the state’s leading environmental advocacy organisation, has today welcomed the announcement of new incentives for household batteries.
Households with solar panels will be able to receive between $1600 to $2400 off the installation costs of household batteries under changes to the Peak Demand Reduction Scheme.
“With NSW leading the way on rooftop solar this is a key piece of the renewable puzzle and will save households money and decrease grid demand in peak times,” said NCC climate campaigner Eve Altman.
“In the wake of the Eraring extension it's important that the government is taking all steps possible to ensure reliability through the accelerated build of renewables.
“Investment in household battery is going to be critical to our future energy mix. It increases reliability for both the household and the grid, and will save households money on up-front installation and energy bills.
“We look forward to an ambitious consumer energy strategy and more incentives to help households enjoy the benefits of clean energy and lower bills.
“Alongside batteries, demand responsive heat pumps are a leading way to reduce greenhouse emissions and household costs.
"We look forward to seeing more announcements in the future to ensure we are getting to 100% reliable renewables as fast as possible."
Statement ends
Media contact: Anna Greer
E: [email protected] M: 0493 733 529 PH: (02) 7208 9482
Peak environment group blasts taxpayer-funded extension of coal plant
May 23rd 2024
NCC welcomes largest renewable energy tender announcement
MEDIA RELEASE
April 22nd 2024
The Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales (NCC), the state’s leading environmental advocacy organisation, has today strongly welcomed the joint announcement by NSW & Federal governments of the largest single renewable energy tender in Australia.
The new tender is part of the Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS), that will target 6 GW of new variable renewable energy projects for the National Electricity Market (NEM).
“It is heartening to see the NSW and Commonwealth Governments working together to push forward the renewable energy transition,” said NCC Climate and Energy Senior Campaigner, Jacqui Mills.
To speed up this transition even further, NSW needs to fix its planning and environmental protection laws. That will give investors and the community the confidence we need to ensure NSW moves from a laggard to leader when it comes to climate action.
Statements attributable to NCC Climate and Energy Senior Campaigner Jacqui Mills
“While the Coalition is stuck on divisive debates about nuclear, the energy transition is not slowing down.
“There is still a lot of work to be done in speeding up consideration of new renewable projects, as well as policies that incentivise solar and storage from businesses and households, however, this is a significant step forward on the path to a clean energy future.
“The momentum for the clean energy transition is growing, and there is no need to hold on to old technology like Eraring coal-fired power plant. Let’s close this ailing, polluting coal plant down and continue to turbocharge investment in renewable infrastructure.
“Tackling climate change is a win for nature because climate change threatens eco-systems and species.
“The government has an opportunity to ensure renewable projects are done in a way that enhances nature, as it tackles the challenges of the energy transition.
“By building infrastructure on already degraded land, partnering energy projects with agriculture, restoring ecosystems on the sites of energy projects and establishing closed-loop product life-cycles, Australia can lead the way towards a nature positive energy system.
“We can have the best of both worlds by making sure that strong planning and nature laws support renewable energy projects that restore nature.”
Statement ends
Media contact: Anna Greer
E: [email protected] M: 0493 733 529 PH: (02) 7208 9482
Note: NCC Climate and Energy Senior Campaigner Jacqui Mills is available for comment on request
After one year in government, peak environment body asks how the Minns government stack up on environment.
MEDIA RELEASE
28th March 2024
The Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales (NCC), the state’s leading environmental advocacy organisation, has today released a scorecard assessing the Minns government's performance on the protection of nature and climate action.
Overall: Positive environmental reform is again underway in NSW, after a decade of weakened environmental protections that led to devastating, widespread ecological destruction. However, in order to address the urgent threats facing nature and the climate, we need to lift our game.
Statements attributable to Jacqui Mumford, NCC CEO:
“The government has made good progress on delivering on many of their election commitments, particularly when it comes to restoring our rivers and legislating ambitious emissions reduction targets.
“There has also been a marked shift in tone, with the Labor government seeking to listen to and work with members of the environmental movement.
"However, habitat clearing, and native forest logging are still occurring at a devastating scale in NSW, and until our broken land clearing laws are fixed we will continue to see the fragmentation and destruction of our ecosystems, and subsequent extinction and ecological collapse."
"Years of delay have left massive challenges and roadblocks for our energy transition that need to be overcome. Meanwhile, John Barilario’s 'let's dig up as much as we can’ views on coal and gas mining have still not been reviewed, risking widespread environmental devastation that dramatically undermines clean energy investment."
"The silence on marine protections is extremely disappointing. We’re eager to see progress and detail on how the commitments to improve First Nations access to water and will be achieved. And more action to enhance Indigenous management and ownership of protected areas."
"We urge the Minns government to recognise that the community cares deeply about the nature that makes this state so special, and is crying out for leadership and ambition in this space."
Ranking System: Good Progress being made / Need to lift our game / Little progress
Taking action on climate change
- Passage of a Climate Change Act with legislated emissions reduction targets.
- Establishment of a powerful and nation-leading Net-Zero Commission.
- Legislated ban on offshore petroleum exploration and production.
- Codified the EPA’s powers to introduce guidelines and regulate greenhouse emissions and climate action.
Transition our energy system to renewables
- Approval of new renewables projects that will power over 1.5m homes and delivery of multiple Capacity Investment Scheme auctions.
- The proposed Consumer Energy Strategy is welcome - it needs to include ambitious targets for household electrification and battery storage.
- Flagged changes to renewables planning approvals are welcomed, but it is not yet clear how this will be delivered, clear actions and accountability mechanisms are needed.
- Energy Security Corporation and offshore wind strategy - we haven’t yet seen any progress to deliver these commitments.
- The discussion about delaying the closure of Eraring is worrying and unnecessary. NSW can and should replace coal with renewables and battery projects.
Protect forests and end native forest logging
- Progress is being made to establish the GKNP, and interim protections for key Koala hubs.
- Development of a new Koala Strategy is underway and new protections for key Koala habitat in South West Sydney are welcome.
- Logging is still continuing in critical habitats for both Koalas and Greater Gliders.
- The government’s commitment to a more sustainable forestry sector through a Forestry Industry Action Plan is welcome. But this will only be genuine with a plan to shift to 100% plantations and end native forest logging.
- No action taken to protect critical habitats from logging on private land.
Nature protection and restoration
- Evidence-based management of invasive species in Kosciuszko National Park is a significant and welcome step forward.
- Landcare funding increased, with a commitment to double funding over four years.
- We are confident that the government will soon address some of the most pressing issues with the biodiversity offset scheme – we look forward to the details
- Progress is being made on a new National Parks establishment plan, but it’s not yet clear if funding will be adequate to achieve our ‘30 by 30’ goals.
- Runaway land remains out of control in NSW, and huge swathes of critical habitat have been lost since the government was elected. They have so far not taken action to remove the self-assessment loophole and deliver their commitment to ‘stop runaway land clearing’.
- Little progress has been made towards expanded joint management of National Parks, Indigenous ranger programs, or to assist Indigenous groups to purchase and manage land for conservation.
Restore rivers and wetlands
- New and strengthened commitments to considering the future impacts of climate change on water flows, including extraction limits and allocations in the MDB and on the coast.
- Canceled destructive dam projects including Dungowan, Wyangala Dam and the Warragamba Dam wall raising.
- Productive work with the Commonwealth to deliver the Murray Darling Basin Plan in full.
- Returned harvestable rights limit in coastal catchments to 10 per cent.
- Established the expert panel on connectivity, tasked the Chief Scientist to report on fish kills.
- NSW should drop its opposition to voluntary water recovery by the Commonwealth, and stop proposing untested, dubious projects as alternatives to voluntary water purchases.
- Substantial progress needs to be made to improve First Nations ownership and control of fresh water.
- All of the legally required Dam Safety Upgrade fishway projects required since 2009 must be completed as agreed.
- Accelerate regulation reform to streamline coastal wetland restoration projects.
Protect our Oceans
- The EPA’s next steps plastics plan is a welcome strategy to extend the ban on single use and problematic plastics, we look forward to its full delivery.
- New protections for the Blue Groper are welcome.
- Protections for marine sanctuary zones that were eroded by the Nationals are yet to be restored.
- There are no clear plans to expand the marine protected network or deliver the long overdue Sydney Marine Park.
- Outdated shark nets continue to snare turtles and dolphins off our beaches.
Fossil Fuels
- The government continues to allow environmentally destructive, poorly regulated and heavily polluting coal and gas mining to occur in NSW.
- The government has recommended approval for one coal mine (Boggabri) and has failed to ensure new coal approvals are “subject to an independent approval process” as expansions continue to be assessed as ‘modifications.
- Despite admitting they are potentially not fit for purpose, they have taken no action to update John Barilaro’s outdated ‘Strategic Statement on Coal’.
- Stronger regulation is needed to protect Sydney’s drinking water catchment and threatened habitats, including upland swamps from mining activities.
- The Vales Point power station should stop receiving nitrous oxide pollution limits exemptions, and pollution standards should be strengthened for remaining coal fired power plants.
Insidious Power Grab by the Gas Industry: Peak Environmental Bodies in Canberra to Oppose Offshore Petroleum Bill.
19th March 2024
Australia’s peak state and territory environmental bodies joined forces today at Parliament House to urge the Albanese government to withdraw an amendment to Australia’s offshore gas legislation that would displace the role of the Environment Minister, dramatically weakening oversight and accountability, and accord broad new powers to the Resources Minister.
Amendments to the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Legislation Amendment (Safety and Other Measures) Bill 2024 would effectively grant the offshore oil and gas industry a free pass from national environmental laws.
Conservation Councils held a press conference with members of the parliamentary crossbench today, calling for the amendment to be scrapped, and for the Environment Minister to retain oversight of offshore oil and gas assessment and regulation.
They warned that the bill could pave the way to diminished rights to consultation for the community, First Nations people, and environment groups, as well as reducing environmental protections and oversight of the hazardous offshore oil and gas industry.
Jess Beckerling, Executive Director of The Conservation Council of Western Australia, said:
“This Bill is an insidious power-grab by the gas industry”
“There is no justification for granting a special carve-out for the climate-wrecking offshore oil and gas industry from national environmental laws.
“It is clear that the oil and gas industry has been pushing hard for special deals, and it is incumbent on the Albanese Government to hold firm and not buckle to industry pressure.
“This change also threatens the rights of people to be consulted on offshore oil and gas projects. It would be deeply shameful if the Albanese government diminishes the rights to consultation, especially for First Nations people.”
Dave Copeman, Director of the Queensland Conservation Council, said:
“We want an Environment Minister and their Department making decisions on the environmental and climate impacts of offshore oil and gas
Kirsty Howey, Executive Director of the Environment Centre NT, said:
“The oil and gas industry is trying to rip up our federal environment laws, and putting at risk the rights of First Nations communities.”
“This is a climate crisis, and it is scandalous that the Australian Government is considering making special rules to suit one of the most polluting industries in the world.”
Jacqui Mumford, Nature Conservation Council of NSW said:
“ The Bill is the result of sustained lobbying from the offshore gas industry to weaken public consultation requirements to speed up the federal assessment process. It should be scrapped.”
Jono La Nauze, CEO of Environment Victoria said:
“The Bill gives preferential treatment to offshore oil and gas projects, enabling the Resources Minister to change offshore Environment Regulations without needing the endorsement of the Environment Minister, as required by the current regulatory framework”.
Statement Ends
Photos and a recording of the press conference are available here.
Attendees
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The Queensland Conservation Council
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Environment Centre Northern Territory
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Environment Victoria
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The Nature Conservation Council of NSW
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The Conservation Council of South Australia
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Independents
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David Pocock
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Zali Steggall
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Zoie Daniels
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Greens
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Sarah Hanson Young
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Dorinda Cox
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Adam Bandt
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Media Contact
Clancy Barnard: 0438 869 332
Doublespeak with a devastating impact – proposal to destroy and burn forest bad for nature and the climate
MEDIA RELEASE
18th March 2024
The proposal to burn native forests to produce electricity has again reared its ugly head, this time seeking to capitalise on NSW’s 'do what you want’ approach to habitat clearing.
Verdant Earth is seeking to secure 850,000 tonnes of wood per year from forests and bush in the Hunter region, in order to restart Redbank Power Station as a biomass generator (the burning of wood and other organic matter for fuel).
The company has been making misleading claims to the media about the proposal, which if approved will lead to large scale habitat loss across the Hunter region.
The Environmental Impact Statement for the project, currently available for public exhibition, also contains a range of deceptive and misleading claims, in particular that the proposal would “help decarbonise the electricity system” and “be ecologically sustainable”.
The Nature Conversation Council of NSW, the state’s leading environmental advocacy organisation, vehemently refutes both claims, and is calling on the NSW Labor Government to deliver on their election commitment and disallow the burning of native vegetation for electricity.
"It's extremely concerning that this polluting project is again rearing its head, and has progressed to the public exhibition stage” NCC CEO Jacqui Mumford said today.
"It took a dedicated community campaign to stop them trying to use native forest timber, despite the clear health, environmental and climate impacts. Now they're back with a new plan to burn native forest by taking advantage of widely criticised land clearing rules.
“They seem to have decided that calling the wood “invasive native species” makes it more appealing to the public. As always with this company, what they are saying simply doesn’t stack up.
“There are barely any “invasive native species" in the greater Sydney, Hunter & Coastal regions, certainty not enough to run a power plant.
“Instead, the substance of this proposal is to burn native forests, bush, grasses and regenerated paddocks that landholders wish to clear and have deemed “invasive” without oversight.
"NSW Labor has had a longstanding commitment to close the National Party’s loophole that allows burning of native vegetation for electricity. So far, they have not acted upon this commitment.
“We urge the government to close this loophole, deliver on their commitment and provide certainty for industry and our forests”.
Statements attributable to Jacqui Mumford, NCC CEO.
On Carbon Emissions.
Verdant incorrectly claims that because trees sequester carbon when they grow, burning them is ‘net zero’, however:
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Burning green wood chips emits 50% more CO2 per megawatt hour of energy produced than burning coal. See further research here
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The proposal is to use biomass from land that has been cleared, not in forests that are going to regrow.
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Even if the forests did regrow, logged forests store far less carbon than old growth forests, and they can take hundreds of years to sequester the carbon the logged trees stored.
"Verdant Earth been trying claim that woodfire power is "green” or "net zero” since they purchased the mothballed Redbank coalfired power station.
"How many times are we going to have to show that Biomass (the burning of wood for fuel) is not a net zero energy source.
“It generates more emissions per megawatt hour of energy than coal, dives habitat clearing and deforestation, and undermines investment in genuinely clear energy technology.
"If Verdant energy really wants to provide clean energy they should invest in proven technologies like wind and solar, rather than trying to burn wood and claim it's carbon negative."
On the ecological impact.
Verdant energy is seeking to exploit a loophole introduced by the former government that allows landholders to self-assess the ecological value of a piece of land, and then clear it with little to no oversight (see below). The NSW government is currently reviewing these laws.
“Since these changes were introduced in 2016, habitat clearing rates on freehold land have tripled, with an area 4x the size of Newcastle lost each year.
“Habitat clearing on freehold land is now the biggest cause of environmental loss in NSW, with 50 million trees and almost 100,000 hectares lost each year.
It has labelled “the main threats to the survival of species" in the most recent NSW State of the Environment Report
“This proposal will incentivise the clearing of even more habitat in the hunter region, further devastating fragmented and at-risk forest ecosystems”.
The amount of biomass needed to power a power plant is massive – 850 000 tonnes is more woodchips that the entire native forest logging industry produced in NSW.
The negative impacts on nature will be massive, with thousands of hectares of native forests and bush being cleared. The proposal acknowledges that logging and chipping will occur across a 300 km radius of the facility.
Statement ends
Media notes and background:
Exemptions under the Protection of the Environment Operations (General) Regulation 2021
*** Clauses in the Protection of the Environment Operations (General) Regulation 2021 prohibit the use of native forest biomaterials in electricity generation, but exempt certain types of native vegetation or woody waste from the definition of native forest biomaterials.
This enables exempt materials to be burned for the purpose of electricity generation. These exempt materials include
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materials from various types of plantation forests
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sawdust or other sawmill waste
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waste arising from certain wood processing or manufacturing activities
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trees cleared in accordance with a land management (native vegetation) code under Division 5 of Part 5A of the Local Land Services Act 2013 and all relevant Codes and Regulations (see Local Land Services).
Part 5A of the Local Land Services Act 2013 contains the self-assessment loopholes that has led habitat clearing triple since 2016.
A 2019 review by the Audit Office of NSW concluded that the new laws may not be responding adequately to environmental risks whilst permitting landholders to improve agricultural activities and identified significant delays in compliance and enforcement activity to address unlawful clearing.
Also in 2019, a review of the Framework by the Natural Resources Commission, but not publicly released until late March 2020, found that:
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Clearing rates have increased almost 13-fold from an annual average rate of 2,703ha a year under the old laws to 37,745ha under the new laws
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Biodiversity in 9 out of 11 regions is now at risk
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Unexplained clearing has increased, with the NRC concluding “compliance frameworks are inadequate and high rates of clearing pose a major risk”
In August 2020, Environmental Defenders Office released its report Restoring the Balance in NSW native vegetation law - Solutions for healthy, resilient and productive landscapes. The report identifies 10 areas of regulatory failure and sets out a law reform pathway with 27 recommendations for reform.
Finally, in 2023 Ken Henry pointed to a lack of regulatory oversight in agricultural land clearing and inconsistent biodiversity outcomes in the statutory review of the Biodiversity Conservation Act (2016), in which he found that NSW nature laws are failing.
The NSW Labor Platform states:
Labor recognises that burning timber and cleared vegetation for electricity is not carbon neutral and is neither clean or renewable energy, and therefore forms no part of a credible strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Labor will introduce legislation prohibiting the burning of any forests and cleared vegetation for electricity.
Data from the Drax power station in the UK shows that biomass burning has increased particulate pollution by 400 percent since switching four of six boilers from coal to forest derived biomass, while power output has remained constant.
Further research on biomass as being bad for community health here.
Previous NCC submissions
210621 SUB 
220414_SUB_POEO REGULATION.pdfGet off the gas: Victoria is quitting gas, NSW should follow suit
Get off the gas: Victoria is quitting gas, NSW should follow suit
28th July 2023
The Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales (NCC), the states leading environmental advocacy organisation, welcomes the Victorian Government’s decision to quit gas in homes and government buildings, and urges NSW to follow their lead.
The Victorian Government announced today that from January 1st 2024, new homes and government buildings won’t be permitted to have gas connections.
This move will save consumers money, replace gas with more efficient alternatives and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“The Victorian Government has signalled with this decision that there is no place for gas in a clean energy future and NSW should follow their lead,” said Nature Conservation Council CEO Jacqui Mumford.
“NSW Labor committed to developing a gas substitution roadmap and associated policy measures at their 2022 Conference, so now is the perfect time to get that underway.”
“Quitting gas will accelerate the clean energy transition in NSW and will be critical in meeting the state’s emissions reduction targets of 70% by 2035.”
“Methane gas is a planet cooking fossil fuel 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide over 20 years. It is also the world’s fastest growing source of greenhouse gas pollution. We have clearly entered a dangerous phase of climate destabilisation and crisis. The earth is sending the message loud and clear: there is no time to waste.
“It’s time for the NSW Government to get serious, step up and take the bold action needed to address the climate crisis and ensure their commitments are met.”
Statements attributable to NCC Chief Executive Officer Jacqui Mumford
“Gas is expensive for the consumer and the planet. Gas prices will likely keep on rising and phasing out gas in homes will save households at least $1000 a year on their energy bills.”
“Gas is harmful to human health, when used in the home, it has been proven to be akin to exposing children to cigarette smoke. Cooking and heating with gas causes up to 12 percent of childhood asthma cases. Electrifying homes is a no brainer.”
Statement ends
Media contact: Anna Greer
E: [email protected] Ph: (02) 7208 9482
Note: NCC CEO Jacqui Mumford is available for comment on request