Defence Exceeds Greenhouse Gas Reduction Target

Defence Exceeds Greenhouse Gas Reduction Target

Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Fran Bailey, today congratulated Defence for reducing greenhouse gas emissions for the second year since signing up to the Greenhouse Challenge Cooperative Agreement in March 2001.

In its second report submitted to the Australian Greenhouse Office, Defence reported a reduction of 34,974 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions against emissions reported for the 2000-2001 reduction target.

"I congratulate Defence for performing consistently well against the reduction targets set under the Greenhouse Challenge Cooperative Agreement," Fran Bailey said.

"Through the Defence Energy Efficiency Program, Defence has been able to consistently improve its energy efficiency, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the impact of Defence operations on the environment.

"At the same time it has sustained vital Defence capability.

"The results demonstrate the considerable effort and commitment being made to improve behaviour and management practices in energy consumption throughout Defence.

"Defence has performed extremely well to improve its energy efficiency. If this trend continues I am confident that we will achieve the targets set for June 2004 when the Agreement expires and a new agreement is negotiated," Fran Bailey said.

The Defence Energy Efficiency Program was established in October 2000 to address the Government's objective of reducing the environmental impact of Government operations through improved energy efficiency and associated greenhouse gas emissions.

Defence accounts for nearly 50 per cent of total Commonwealth energy usage and this program is a key vehicle for Defence to implement the Government's policy on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The Defence Energy Efficiency Program is focused on improving the energy efficiency of Defence's top 43 highest energy consuming sites, which are responsible for 80 per cent of the Department's total annual energy consumption.

A public statement on the report will be available on the Australian Greenhouse Office web site in 2003. More information on the Greenhouse Challenge and the Greenhouse Challenge Cooperative Agreement is available at http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/challenge/index.html.

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