Climate Policy Engagement Analysis
Climate Policy Engagement Overview: The Smart Energy Council (SEC) has a high level of engagement with climate policy and demonstrates consistently positive positions on specific Australian climate-related policies, including the Safeguard Mechanism and Vehicle Fuel Efficiency Standards. The SEC strongly supports the transition towards a renewables-based energy system and endorses Australia’s ambition to become a “renewable energy superpower”.
Top-line Messaging on Climate Policy: The SEC displays positive top-line messaging on climate change. It repeatedly supported greenhouse gas emissions reductions in line with the 1.5°C target, for example in a November 2023 consultation submission on the Climate Change Amendment Bill 2023. The association also explicitly expressed its support for the 1.5°C target of the Paris Agreement in a May 2023 consultation submission. In addition, in an August 2022 consultation submission on the Climate Change Bill 2022, the SEC appeared to support a wide range of policies to respond to climate change with a clear reference to the need for increased ambition.
Engagement with Climate-Related Regulations: The SEC’s engagement with climate-related regulations in Australia is highly positive. The association strongly supported the country’s Safeguard Mechanism reforms in a February 2023 consultation submission, advocating for the Mechanism to be aligned with Australia’s 2030 and 2050 emissions targets. In addition, the SEC broadly supported a carbon border adjustment mechanism in a January 2023 consultation submission on the Safeguard Mechanism Amendment Bill 2022.
In addition, the SEC has advocated in favor of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions targets and standards, as well as renewable energy targets. The association supported the legislation of Australia’s 2030 GHG emissions target and called for “an ambitious 2035 emissions reduction target” in an August 2022 consultation submission on the country’s Climate Change Bill 2022. The SEC likewise advocated for ambitious Australian CO2 emissions standards for light-duty vehicles in a May 2023 consultation submission on the design of Australia’s Vehicle Fuel Efficiency Standards. In an April 2023 consultation submission on the National Battery Strategy, the SEC also supported Australia’s 2030 renewable energy target and advocated for the introduction of a small-scale renewable energy storage target.
Positioning on Energy Transition: The SEC adopts strongly supportive positions on the transition of the energy mix. In a November 2023 consultation submission on the Climate Change Amendment Bill 2023, the association advocated in support of a full transition away from fossil fuels towards renewables in the power sector and promoted the need for policy intervention to ensure the ramp up of renewables in the energy mix. In addition, the SEC supported Australia’s Hydrogen Headstart program, which provides revenue support for large-scale renewable hydrogen projects, as well as the country’s ambition to become a “renewable energy superpower” in an August 2023 consultation submission on the program.
InfluenceMap collects and assesses evidence of corporate climate policy engagement on a weekly basis, depending on the availability of information from each specific data source (for more information see our methodology). While this analysis flows through to the industry association’s scores each week, the summary above is updated periodically.
This summary was last updated in Q1 2024.