The Implementation of climate change and greenhouse emission policy - Essay Example

THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND GREENHOUSE EMISSION POLICY IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA by s of School
City, State
October 25, 2012
Over the years, the climate has been rapidly changing, hence creating a change in the weather patterns. This predicament has entirely been caused by humankind. Let’s look at a state like South Australia; it is a state in Australia that covers the most arid parts in the continent. The climate change in South Australia was as a result of various reasons such as emission of greenhouse gases; these are the gases produced after thermal radiation is absorbed into the atmosphere, and redirected in all directions. Most of South Australian energy is produced through the burning of fuel fossils, henceforth emitting a poisonous gas in the air. South Australia`s population is relatively high, hence the need for more land and this results to the cutting and burning down of trees. It also brought about an increase in the transport sector where nearly 25% of energy resource is consumed.
Poor disposal of waste matter from the industries and homesteads has resulted to the production, of carbon dioxide and methane gases produced by decaying waste product. Agriculture is a main economic activity in Australia and it has its side effects such as the production of methane from sheep and nitrous acid from fertilizer, which are harmful to the environment. This climate change sent an alarm to the government to come up with laws, and ways that will reduce the effects of climate change and the greenhouse effect. Spoehr states that, “In July 2007, the South Australian Parliament passed The Climate Change and Greenhouse Emission reduction Act, 2007……….targets are to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within Australia by at least 60 % by the end of 2050” (2009,p.177). By the end of 2014, the amount of renewable energy used and consumed will comprise of twenty percent the total.
The Australian Government has come up with ways to curb the climate change, by the introduction of solar rebate. This is a system that provides homesteads with energy from sunlight to provide electricity for homes. The government came up with this incentive, so as to reduce the amount of electricity consumption in South Australia to about 33%. With the introduction of this incentive, a programme called solar hot water rebate was started in February 2010; the government replaced this programme with renewable Energy Bonus Scheme.
As time lapsed by, the government commenced to use different approaches to stop the climate change, these approaches include:
Sustainable housing: The Australian government adopted and insists on the use of environmental friendly items and processes for the entire lifecycle of buildings.
The use of more wind power and more rooftops solar electricity, and taking up the country`s geothermal exploration: There was reduction of energy consumption, and it reduced the environmental impact.
The reduction of gas emission targets and green jobs: The Australian government aims to encourage people to volunteer in the degradation of gas emissions, and the reduction of gas emission, with a national target put into consideration. Education and information targeted towards encouraging behavioural change should also be undertaken. The government also needs to work co-operatively to expand energy performance standards scheme to lighting, and all electrical appliances, and re-establish the Energy Information Centre.
Greening of Government Operations: The Australian government has re-activated its programs to report regular intervals and generate Green Power demand in industries.
Vehicles: They are hazardous, so the government aims to purchase fuel-efficient vehicles; it also plans to set national fuel consumption and greenhouse emission standards on all new vehicles. Automotive industries should be available for low or zero emission of vehicle development, the registration and stamp duty cost should be lower for the fuel-efficiency vehicles.
Renewable energy: The Australian government is considering renewing the state`s energy generation and consumption. This is because use of coal has affected the climate and the government should replace the coal with an environmental friendly source of electricity.
Phase-out use of nuclear power and uranium processing: Adoption of laws that monitor the use of uranium and introduction of other legislative reforms will help in the improvement of the factors that bring about climate change.
In conclusion, the South Australian Government should not only focus on the present, but also the future. There are consequences that befall after climate change, and these effects can be very harmful to the people, animals and the flora and fauna. If these recommendations are put in place, the South Australian climate can change and hence creating a friendlier environment.
References
Conversation council of South Australia, 2012. “A blueprint for a sustainable future.” Available at: [Accessed 25October 2012].
Lancaster, S 2012, Green Australia: a Snapshot. Kent town: Wakefield Press.
Spoehr, J Ed 2009, State of South Australia: from crisis to prosperity. Kent town: Wakefield Press. Read More