The Greenhouse Challenge / Challenge Plus - Industry Partnerships

The Greenhouse Challenge Plus Program lapsed in June 2009. The key elements of the Greenhouse Challenge Plus Program, emissions inventory reporting and assisting companies in reducing their greenhouse emissions, have been superseded by the National Greenhouse & Energy Reporting Systems (NGERS). The Greenhouse Challenge was a joint initiative between the Australian Government and industry to: - Encourage greenhouse gas abatement; - Improve greenhouse gas management; - Improve emissions measurement and monitoring; and - Strengthen government/industry information sharing. Starting as a completely voluntary programme in 1995, the scheme transition to an industry partnership programme with voluntary, incentive-based and compulsory membership in 2004, with some industry groups required to be members. Membership was broad, including large and small public and private organizations from almost every business sector. Participants signed agreements with the Government that provided a framework for undertaking and reporting on actions to reduce greenhouse emissions. Challenge Plus delivered an expanded industry partnership program that integrated greenhouse issues into business decision making, further reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and accelerating the uptake of energy efficiency. The Governments Greenhouse Friendly Program and Generator Efficiency Standards were integrated into Challenge Plus. The programme included emissions in key areas across the Australian economy, in particular electricity generation, the aluminium industry, integrated clinker and cement supplies and oil and gas extraction. Coverage was also extensive in the mining and manufacturing sectors. Members reported emissions reductions of more than 21 million tonnes of CO2-e in 2002 as a result of actions taken as part of the programme. The seven most significant types of actions associated with these emissions reductions, each of which resulted in savings in excess of 1 million tonnes CO2-e, were: coal seam methane drainage; energy management and audits; fuel switching; boiler upgrade/optimisation; flare reduction; cogeneration; and process gas mitigation. The programme ceased at 30 June 2009 in accordance with the Wilkins Review recommendations.

Want to know more about this policy ? Learn more