The NSW Minerals Council acknowledges that sustained global action is required to reduce the risks of human-induced climate change.
The NSW Minerals Council supports a measured transition to a low emissions global economy. This includes participation in global agreements such as the Paris Agreement, which would hold an increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.
This will require a policy framework encompassing:
Access to reliable and affordable energy is central to the long term sustainable success of our economy. Policy measures must deliver reliable and affordable energy at the least cost while putting Australia on a pathway to meeting its emissions reduction targets. A nationally coordinated approach to climate and energy policy needs to recognise the energy and resource-intensive nature of the Australian economy.
All sectors of the economy have a role to play in meeting the challenge of Australia’s emissions reductions targets, including the resources sector. A least-cost approach to abatement should include access to international offsets.
The National Electricity Market in Australia is facing serious challenges including the erosion of baseload generation capacity which is already adversely impacting Australia’s industrial sector and households through higher prices and reduced reliability.
The NSW Minerals Council believes a technology-neutral approach should be adopted for all low emissions energy technologies where no one technology is favoured to the exclusion of others. Any policy approach should aim to reduce energy costs in Australia and focus on securing reliable lowest cost dispatchable energy supply that is available 24/7 while meeting emissions reduction targets.
The NSW Minerals Council will continue to play a constructive and positive role in the public policy debate, acknowledging the following:
Our members continue to demonstrate their commitment to managing the risks of climate change at their operations through: