The Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) welcomes the opportunity to provide comment on the National Energy Transition Authority Bill 2022.
To meet Australia’s legislated emissions reduction targets, and ultimately the Paris Agreement Goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, there needs to be a large-scale energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. The necessary energy transition policy must leave no sector or community behind – Government must lead genuine transition planning for affected coal communities, workers in high emissions intensity industries and sectors, and highly impacted communities. A range of opportunities need to be consulted upon, including reskilling workers to emerging industries, and identifying opportunities for impacted communities, First Nations and rural landholders to benefit from the renewable energy transition.
This submission outlines EDO’s support for the National Energy Transition Authority Bill but makes several recommendations to improve the function and operation of the proposed new statutory body.
