National Environment Protection Council Act 1994

1. The parties acknowledge the potentially significant impact of greenhouse enhanced climate change on Australia’s natural, social and working environment, as well as on the global community and global environments. The parties accept and support the need for Australia to participate in the development of an effective international response to meet the challenge of greenhouse enhanced climate change and note Australia’s participation in the development of an international convention on climate change.

2. The parties note their endorsement of the decision to adopt an interim planning target to stabilise greenhouse gas emissions (not controlled by the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer) based on 1988 levels, by the year 2000 and reducing these emissions by 20% by the year 2005. The parties reiterate their support, as agreed in October 1990, for the interim planning target to form the basis of development of the National Greenhouse Response Strategy, subject to Australia not implementing response measures that would have net adverse economic impacts nationally or on Australia’s trade competitiveness, in the absence of similar action by major greenhouse gas producing countries. The parties agree that assessment of the implementation of the National Greenhouse Response Strategy against this agreed objective will be reviewed at Special Premiers’ Conferences.

3. The parties reiterate that a National Greenhouse Response Strategy based on the interim planning target must include positive measures for:

The parties also agree that such a strategy should include measures for auditing and reporting on national greenhouse gas emissions.

4. Taking into account regional differences, the parties recognise that development and implementation of the National Greenhouse Response Strategy will require coordinated and effective action by all levels of government and the community to achieve equitable and ecologically sustainable solutions.

5. The parties agree that First Ministers have ultimate responsibility for intergovernmental considerations of and final decisions on the National Greenhouse Response Strategy.

6. To facilitate the preparation of the National Greenhouse Response Strategy, the parties agree to establish a National Greenhouse Steering Committee.

7. The National Greenhouse Steering Committee will have the following responsibilities:

to facilitate the development and co‑ordination of an overall framework for the National Greenhouse Response Strategy;

to consult with the Standing Committees of Ministerial Councils on elements for inclusion in the Strategy and activities of the Ministerial Councils and other specialised bodies such as the National Greenhouse Advisory Committee, and make recommendations to First Ministers on proposed courses of action;

to encourage development of the strategy in areas where it is not being handled elsewhere;

to present the Strategy to First Ministers for consideration/adoption;

to recommend to First Ministers requirements for further development of the Strategy as implementation proceeds.