Environmental lobby group, ClimateWorks Australia, is calling on the Government to impose its proposed light vehicle emissions standard for Australia from 2020…
LOBBY GROUP, CLIMATEWORKS AUSTRALIA is calling on the federal government to phase in its proposed light vehicle emissions from 2020. Two years earlier than the proposal suggests (2022).
In its submission to the government, ClimateWorks Australia Head of Implementation, Scott Ferraro states the government’s proposal to implement the most stringent of the three standards modelled in the Draft Regulation Impact Statement would deliver the most emission reductions and greater savings for motorists.
“Our analysis of the government’s own modelling shows that if the most stringent proposed target (105g of CO2/km) were introduced from 2020 to 2025, it would deliver 6% of Australia’s 2030 emissions reduction target,” he said.
“This will save an additional 41 million tonnes of CO2 by 2030, 140 million tonnes by 2040 and an extra $8.1 billion overall by 2040, compared with the least stringent target of 135g of CO2/km by 2025.
“The strongest target also delivers over 2.6 times more fuel savings than the weaker target to 2030. This results in annual additional fuel savings of between $328 to $493 for an average driver doing 25,000 km per year, which is equivalent to reducing total household energy costs by up to 10%.”
Mr Ferraro said a strong vehicle emissions standard was also needed to drive the uptake of low emissions vehicles in the Australian market and ensure motorists have access to the latest technology.
“Currently, the uptake of electric and other low emission vehicles in Australia is slow and the industry are saying this is in large part due to a lack of standards and other incentives,” he said.
Mr Ferraro said there was no reason for the government to consider delaying the introduction of the most stringent CO2 standard for light vehicles.
“Australia is one of the last developed markets to implement these fuel efficiency standards, with standards now covering over 80% of the global automotive market,” he said.
Practical Motoring has been running a poll for less than a week with 55% of respondents calling for the banning of petrol and diesel vehicles in Australia by 2040. Decisions to ban petrol and diesel vehicles (but not hybrid vehicles) has already been approved in both the UK and France with other countries around the world considering a similar sale ban.
If all our vehicles are imported, and 80% of the world already has this higher standard, what is the big deal? Surely we just import cars that already meet the high standards overseas? Or am I missing something here? Over half the population want ICE’s banned from sale by 2040. Let’s see how real people are. Quote the CO2 emissions for each vehicle and watch people flock to the lower emission vehicles. Or not. Fixing our awful roads and reducing congestion would go a long way to reducing emissions also.