THE HON MARK DREYFUS QC MP
Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency
Parliamentary Secretary for Industry and Innovation
MEDIA RELEASE
LOW POLLUTION, CLEAN ENERGY GROWTH ON AGENDA FOR JAPAN TALKS
Economic growth in low pollution economies will be among the issues discussed when Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Mark Dreyfus, represents Australia in climate change talks with representatives from the U.S., Russia, China and ASEAN nations in Tokyo this weekend.
Japan is hosting the inaugural East Asia Low Carbon Growth Partnership Ministerial Dialogue to discuss and develop the region’s response to climate change.
“The Tokyo meeting aims to promote sharing of clean energy research, technology, best practices and skills to contribute to building low pollution growth models among East Asian countries, with our region advancing steadily along the clean energy path,” said Mr Dreyfus.
“Australia’s aim is to see the Ministerial Dialogue advance discussions on carbon markets in the region and to promote a more systematic pathway for regional cooperation on climate change mitigation, adaptation and energy efficiency.”
“The Australian Government’s own Clean Energy Future package is a key element of discussion with partner countries keen to hear the details of the plan. China and the Republic of Korea are developing their own national emissions trading schemes while the city of Tokyo has had an emissions trading scheme, covering 13 million people, since 2010,” said Mr Dreyfus.
While Japan’s emissions trading legislation is on hold pending a comprehensive energy review following the 2011 earthquake, Japan is increasing incentives for renewable energy development and plans to increase its tax on fossil fuels from October 2012.
Mr Dreyfus will visit a gas co-generation project that uses Australian natural gas and Tokyo’s Solar Techno Park which is developing leading edge renewable energy technology.
He will also meet with senior Japanese business representatives with investment interests in Australia to discuss clean technology investment opportunities in the Australian economy.
Following the Japan Ministerial talks, Mr Dreyfus will attend the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate in Rome and meet with economists from the International Energy Agency next week.
SATURDAY, 14 APRIL 2012
