The Climate Group
Latest News and Comment

SA Government to be carbon neutral by 2020

February 22, 2008

The Premier of °Climate Group member South Australia, Mike Rann, has announced that the government will become carbon neutral in all its operations by 2020.

“This government is one of the largest greenhouse gas emitters in the state,” Premier Rann said. A key initiative to reduce the government’s carbon footprint will be to increase its purchase of renewable energy through the Government-accredited GreenPower scheme.

Rann continued, “By ramping up our purchase of GreenPower, the government will encourage demand for renewable energy which should lead to greater installation of sustainable energy generators. We hope that our determination to reduce our carbon footprint will, in turn, inspire and encourage industries and other governments to follow our lead, thereby increasing demand for green energy. This Government is currently purchasing more accredited GreenPower than any other jurisdiction in Australia – but we want to go much further.”

Established in 1997, GreenPower is a national accreditation program that sets stringent environmental and reporting standards for renewable electricity products offered by energy suppliers to households and businesses across Australia. GreenPower aims to increase Australia’s capacity to produce environmentally friendly renewable electricity by driving demand for alternative energy generation.

“Last month, I announced that SA’s Cabinet Ministers were to become the first in the nation, and possibly the world, to offset the greenhouse gases used in the course of their duties, including all air travel,” said Premier Rann.

The State Government will now work towards becoming carbon neutral for its own operations by accelerated purchases of accredited GreenPower and other carbon offsets with the following timetable:
> By 2010, offsetting 30 percent of greenhouse emissions by purchasing GreenPower and the balance through the purchase of other carbon offsets
> By 2014, offsetting 50 percent of greenhouse gas emissions from its operations, achieved by purchasing of 50 percent of its electricity requirements from GreenPower and the balance by purchasing other carbon offsets
> By 2020, offsetting all of its emissions to achieve carbon neutrality by purchasing an equal amount of GreenPower and other carbon offsets.

The °Climate Group’s Australia Director Rupert Posner welcomed the announcement saying it was another demonstration of the State’s commitment to take a leadership role on climate change. “Premier Rann is to be congratulated for this important decision. Australia’s greenhouse problem is due largely to our heavy reliance on greenhouse-intensive coal-fired electricity. Supporting investment in new renewable energy is important in transitioning Australia to a low carbon economy.”