The Federal Government is set to launch Australia’s first Low Emissions Technology Statement later this year.
It will guide the government’s technology investment portfolio to reduce emissions and be the cornerstone of a Long-Term Emissions Reduction Strategy.
Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, Angus Taylor, said as part of the final statement the government is developing a national Technology Investment Roadmap and has released a discussion paper for feedback.
Written submissions responding to the discussion paper are open until Sunday, June 21, 2020.
Taylor said the Australian Government is now seeking input from businesses, the community and Commonwealth, state and territory agencies.
“This is an opportunity to help shape Australia's path to lower emissions and share your knowledge on challenges driving technology deployment across Australia's economy,” Taylor said.
“The roadmap will help prioritise Australian investments in new and developing low emissions technologies and allow us to work towardsclear priorities over the short, medium and long term.”
The Federal Government has faced a lot of criticism this week for its ‘technology neutral’ response to the King Review.
The review was established to provide advice to the Minister on how to incentivise low cost abatement opportunities from across the economy, with a focus on the industrial, manufacturing, transport and agriculture sectors, and energy efficiency.
It was led by former Origin executive, Grant King.
Targeted consultation was undertaken for the review and recommendations will be used to help Australia exceed its current international commitments and create a pathway for ongoing emissions reductions beyond 2030.
Responding to the recommendations Minister Taylor has agreed to open up funding to carbon capture and storage projects in the Emissions Reduction Fund as well as to big emitters.
Organisations critical of this approach claim it will fail to reduce emissions, while investing taxpayer money in fossil fuels.
The Australian Centre for Corporate Responsibility executive director, Brynn O’Brien, said the review is more of the same from a government that is desperate to protect a handful of climate polluters.
Climate Council senior researcher, Tim Baxter, said the government is dreaming if it thinks carbon capture and storage is a legitimate form of reducing emissions.
“This ‘roadmap’ will only lead to more bushfires, higher power bills, stranded assets and ultimately job losses,” Baxter said.