Low Carbon Growth Plan

The Low Carbon Growth Plan (LCGP) for Australia provides the first comprehensive economy-wide blueprint for how Australia can achieve an ambitious reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, whilst also building a growing low-carbon economy.

The Low Carbon Growth Plan identifies 54 separate opportunities - across all sectors - that together can achieve a reduction in emissions of 249 MtCO2e (million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent), or 25% below 2000 levels. This target is achievable using technologies available today, and at cost of just A$185 per household in 2020.

Based on detailed economic and policy analysis, the Plan identifies the actions required to reduce emissions, the barriers to their implementation, and their relative cost in six key sectors – power, forestry, industry, buildings, agriculture and transport.

The Plan finds that prompt action is required to capture all 54 opportunities. Delaying action will mean some low cost opportunities are lost, ensuring greater cost to society and business in the long run.

The Plan was prepared by ClimateWorks Australia in conjunction with global business consultants, McKinsey & Company.

Since completing the report in March 2010, ClimateWorks has presented the findings of the Low Carbon Growth Plan report to over 3000 people at a variety of launches, events and seminars as well sharing with a larger audience via radio and television interviews and media articles. In August 2010 the Plan was awarded the Eureka Prize for ‘Innovative Solutions to Climate Change’.

ClimateWorks continues to seek to inform government, business and community on the findings of the LCGP to initiate low cost practical measures to mitigate climate change from a national and also a regional perspective. Regional Low Carbon Growth Plans are underway in Geelong and Gippsland (commencing early 2011) in Victoria, and we look towards facilitating the implementation of projects based on the opportunities identified in these regions as well as nationally.

ClimateWorks is currently exploring potential projects in a number of areas, some of which include industrial and commercial energy efficiency and co-generation. We are also maintaining our focus on our overarching goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in all sectors of Australia's economy and to track and report the progress of emission reductions.

View media coverage on LCGP & ClimateWorks

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Click here to watch a presentation on the LCGP