Joint media release: Govt kicks off work to develop a National Energy Performance Strategy

The Hon Chris Bowen MP, Minister for Climate Change and Energy 
Senator The Hon Jenny McAllister, Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy

The Albanese Government is looking to make every watt count, with consultations set to begin on the development of a Commonwealth-led National Energy Performance Strategy.

Announcing development of the strategy today at the 2022 Energy Efficiency Summit in Sydney, Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy Jenny McAllister stressed the need to reform current policy settings.

“For too long, Australia’s efforts at reducing emissions and cutting energy costs have lacked a national plan that will deliver a high energy performance economy,” Assistant Minister McAllister said.

“As we work to deliver secure and affordable low-emissions energy supply, we need to accelerate demand-side action to support an efficient, least-cost pathway through the energy transformation.

“So much of the energy Australians pay for every year is wasted on inefficiency.

Minister for Climate and Energy Chris Bowen said “energy efficiency policies driven by a national strategy will cut energy costs for households and businesses, reduce pressure on the energy system and help us meet our emissions reduction goals.”

Australia lags behind international counterparts on energy efficiency and performance. This year’s Climate Change Performance Index, an independent monitoring tool presented at the annual UN Climate Change Conference, ranks Australia 54 out of 64 countries for energy performance per capita.

The EU has been progressively strengthening its energy efficiency targets to reduce costs and meet its 2030 emissions reduction goals and, in our region, similar action is being pursued by countries such as South Korea and Japan.

The International Energy Agency has made it clear that without early action on energy efficiency, the transition to net zero emissions will be more expensive and difficult.

“We’re acting to put in place a strategy that will help us create a high energy performance economy, meet our emissions reduction targets, and enable us to put downward pressure on energy prices,” Assistant Minister McAllister said.

“And we’re doing this important work in consultation with state and territory governments, businesses, households and community groups across the nation.”

A discussion paper on how to deliver energy efficiency improvements across the economy and help Australia meet its emissions reduction targets, will be released in coming weeks.