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Climate Change Authority

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Climate Change Authority
Authority overview
Formed1 July 2012; 12 years ago (2012-07-01)
JurisdictionAustralia
HeadquartersCanberra, Australian Capital Territory[1]
Employees65[2]
Annual budgetA$2.6 million[2]
Minister responsible
Authority executives
Parent departmentDepartment of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
Key document
  • Climate Change Authority Act 2011
Websiteclimatechangeauthority.gov.au

The Climate Change Authority (CCA) is an Australian Government statutory agency responsible for providing independent advice to government on climate change policy. It was established by and operates under the Climate Change Authority Act 2011, and commenced operations on 1 July 2012. It was set up by the government of Julia Gillard and has withstood concerted efforts to disestablish it.[5] The Abbott government campaigned for the CCA's abolition, having dissolved the Climate Commission.

The Authority is a non-corporate entity without legislative or executive powers, which remain with the Government and Parliament of the day. The Authority's responsibilities include conducting periodic legislative reviews of the Emissions Reduction Fund and the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting scheme, as well as carrying out special reviews as requested by the Minister responsible for climate change or the Australian Parliament. It may also undertake self-initiated research on matters related to climate change.

Prior to amendments made by the Australian Parliament in 2014 and 2015, the Authority was required to review Australia's greenhouse gas emission caps, the indicative national emissions trajectory and national carbon budget, progress in achieving Australia's emissions reduction targets and national carbon budget, the Renewable Energy Target and the emissions trading scheme, the last of which has been discontinued.[6] Members of the Authority are entitled to write dissenting minority reports, and often do so.

Membership

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The Authority has a board comprising a chair and up to eight other permanent members. The original chair of the Authority, former Reserve Bank of Australia Governor and former Federal Treasury Secretary, Bernie Fraser, resigned from the position in 2015.[7] Current members are Matt Kean (chair), Susie Smith, Mark Lewis, John McGee and Russell Reichelt. Australia's Chief Scientist, Cathy Foley serves as an ex officio Authority member.[3] Wendy Craik, a former commissioner of the Productivity Commission and Chief Executive of the Murray-Darling Basin Commission among other executive roles, was appointed Chair of the Authority on 1 May 2016 and served until 19 April 2021.

Former members have included Clive Hamilton, Heather Ridout, Ian Chubb, Kate Carnell and John Quiggin.[8] In June 2024, the Albanese government announced that former New South Wales treasurer and energy minister, Matt Kean, would be the new chair of the Authority, effective from 1 August.[9]

Publications

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The Authority has published a total of 23 reports since it was established in 2012. This includes reviews of:

  • the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting legislation
  • the National Windfarm Commissioner
  • the Emissions Reduction Fund
  • the power sector (with the Australian Energy Market Commission)
  • policies to meet Australia's emissions reduction targets under the Paris Agreement.

In 2013 a report investigating emissions targets concluded Australia's target was inadequate and not credible.[10] The CCA produced a key review in 2014.[11][better source needed] It set out the targets Australia needed to follow to help limit global warming to less than 2°C. In 2016, the body released a report calling for the government of Australia to introduce an emissions trading scheme.[8]

The Authority published three reports in 2020. The first report, Prospering in a low emissions world, sets out recommendations for how Australia can reduce its greenhouse gas emissions in order to meet its 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement as well as subsequent, more ambitious targets, and prosper in a world transitioning to net zero emissions.[12] The second report, Economic recovery, resilience and prosperity after the coronavirus, identifies measures previously proposed by the Authority that could contribute to a "triple-win" stimulus package in response to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.[13] The third report, a statutory review of the Emissions Reduction Fund, examines its performance and makes 23 recommendations aimed at increasing the Emissions Reduction Fund's contribution to reducing Australia's emissions, improving the operation of the scheme and enhancing governance arrangements and proactively managing risk, including climate risk.[14]

In 2024 the Authority released a report examining emissions reduction in certain sectors of the economy such as agriculture.[15]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Contact us". Climate Change Authority. Allara Street, Canberra City ACT. Archived from the original on 9 August 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b The Hon Chris Bowen MP; The Hon Tanya Plibersek MP (14 May 2024). "Portfolio Budget Statements 2024–25 Budget Related Paper No. 1.3 Climate Change, Energy, The Environment And Water Portfolio" (PDF). The Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. p. 234. ISSN 2653-6293. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 May 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Who we are". Climate Change Authority. Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  4. ^ Archer, Brad (25 September 2023). "Chief Executive Officer's Review". Climate Change Authority. Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  5. ^ Martin, Peter (3 November 2021). "Australia is about to be hit by a carbon tax whether the Prime Minister likes it or not. But the proceeds will go overseas". ABC News. Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2021. In 2011, prime minister Julia Gillard set up an independent, Reserve Bank-like Climate Change Authority to advise on the carbon price and emissions targets, initially chaired by a former governor of the Reserve Bank. Astoundingly, despite attempts to abolish it, it still exists. It might yet have work to do.
  6. ^ Talberg, Anita; Hui, Simeon; Loynes, Kate (5 May 2016). "Australian climate change policy to 2015: a chronology". Australian Parliament. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  7. ^ Arup, Tom (9 December 2013). "Bernie Fraser criticises axing of Climate Change Authority". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 26 January 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  8. ^ a b Dziedzic, Stephen; Henderson, Anna (5 September 2016). "Climate Change Authority splits as members release minority report calling for Australia to 'do more'". ABC News. Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  9. ^ Basford Canales, Sarah; Middleton, Karen (24 June 2024). "Matt Kean criticised by Coalition MPs after Labor appoints him new chair of Climate Change Authority". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  10. ^ Metherell, Lexi (30 October 2013). "Australia's emissions reduction target inadequate: Climate Change Authority report". ABC News. Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  11. ^ Hewson, John; Steffen, Will; Hughes, Lesley; Meinshausen, Malte. "Australia's Paris Agreement Pathways". www.climatecollege.unimelb.edu.au. The University of Melbourne. Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  12. ^ "Prospering in a low-emissions world: An updated climate policy toolkit for Australia". Climate Change Authority. 19 March 2020. Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  13. ^ "Economic Recovery, Resilience and Prosperity After the Coronavirus". Climate Change Authority. 17 July 2020. Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  14. ^ "2020 Review of the Emissions Reduction Fund". Climate Change Authority. 9 October 2020. Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  15. ^ Southam, Patrick (5 September 2024). "Sector Pathways Review – media release". Climate Change Authority (Press release). Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
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