Oz Government Fighting Emissions on Three Fronts

The Australian government takes a step toward cleaner air with a call for consumer and industry input on three draft proposals to reduce fuel consumption as well as greenhouse-gas emissions and pollution from vehicle exhausts.

A joint statement from Environment and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg and Urban Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher says the proposals are designed to keep Australia in line with international vehicle markets.

The first proposal for new fuel-efficiency standards would require global automakers to supply vehicles in Australia with more fuel-efficient engines, as they are doing in many other countries.

The government says these new standards could cut consumer fuel spending up to A$28 billion ($20.3 billion) by 2040 and translate into annual fuel savings for the average car or light-commercial-vehicle owner up to A$519 ($376) and A$666 ($482), respectively.

The proposed standards also could reduce Australia’s greenhouse-gas emissions up to 72 million tons by 2030.

The second proposal calls for upgrading existing air-pollution standards for vehicles in line with the higher standards already applied in Europe, the U.S. and many other countries. The government says this could reduce toxic emissions and potentially save A$4.2 billion ($3.04 billion) in health care costs by 2040.

The third proposal is for a discussion paper exploring options to improve the quality of road-transport fuels to reduce noxious emissions.

“Current fuel standards expire in 2019 and we need to be ready with new standards to ensure Australians can have access to the right fuel for the latest vehicle technology,” the statement says. “The right standards will deliver further health and environmental benefits.”

The Ministerial Forum on Vehicle Emissions will host a meeting with stakeholders in February as part of the consultation process.

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries says the industry always has supported a mandated target for new cars which is tailored to the Australian market, taking into consideration consumer choice, consumer driving conditions, market fuel and infrastructure.

FCAI CEO Tony Weber says while the CO2 contribution made by Australia’s annual sales of new vehicles is less than 1% of the country’s annual greenhouse-gas emissions, the auto industry recognizes it has a role to play in emissions reductions and is committed to developing and delivering new technologies to reduce CO2 emissions.

Emerging technologies, such as automated and connected vehicles including hydrogen and electric variants, he says, present another opportunity to achieve further emissions reductions in the longer term.

“To effectively introduce a range of low-emissions vehicles, it is important the industry and government work together to provide the appropriate infrastructure,” Weber says.

Australia needs its own solution for emissions reductions.

“Australia is not the same driving or market environment as Europe or the U.S,” he adds. “We have our own driving needs and our particular consumer requirements.”