Climate Change

The EPHC is contributing to the effort to address climate change in a number of ways.

Wind Farms

Wind energy has the potential to deliver a significant proportion of Australia's future electricity needs and contribute to national greenhouse gas abatement objectives. Building community acceptance of this technology is vital to the continued development of renewable energy in Australia.

EPHC agreed to work cooperatively with the Local Government and Planning Ministers Council to develop a set of national guidelines for wind farm development. The guidelines will address community concerns about wind farm development such as turbine noise and impacts on landscapes and threatened species, and applies greater national consistency in the way they are examined.

The EPHC has released the draft National Wind Farm Guidelines, which cover all phases of wind farm development, for public feedback.

The guidelines include technical components covering: shadow flicker; noise, including prediction and post-construction monitoring of noise; impacts on landscapes; impacts on birds and bats; and electromagnetic interference.

The draft guidelines can be found below for information.

Please note that the public consultation period has now closed. 

Environmental Guidelines for Carbon Dioxide Capture and Geological Storage 2009

 These Guidelines will promote a comprehensive and nationally consistent  approach to environmental assessment of carbon dioxide capture and storage in geological formations. They will assist states and territories to manage the environmental risks posed by this emerging technology, and will also assist the work of the newly launched Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute.  

Transport

Together with the Australian Transport Council, EPHC has provided advice to the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) on measures to encourage the uptake of more fuel efficient and low emission passenger and light commercial vehicles and options for collaboration across governments on travel demand management.

Further information on climate change can be accessed at http://www.climatechange.gov.au