The Minister for Climate Change and Energy is a portfolio in the
Government of Australia
The Australian Government, also known as the Commonwealth Government, is the national government of Australia, a federalism, federal parliamentary system, parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Like other Westminster system, Westminster-sty ...
. The current Minister is
Chris Bowen. The minister administers his or her portfolios through the
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (established on 1 July 2022.).
The portfolio is a federal ministerial portfolio responsible for the coordination and implementation of
sustainable energy
Energy is sustainable if it "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". Most definitions of sustainable energy include considerations of environmental aspects such as greenh ...
policies by the Australian Government. These policy areas include the mitigation of
greenhouse gas emissions, the promotion of
energy efficiency, as well as adaptations to
climate change within domestic and international contexts.
The post was first held by
Rex Connor in 1972 as Minister for Minerals and Energy.
History
The precursor to the department was led by
Secretary Blair Comley who reported to the
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency,
Greg Combet. The Minister was assisted by the Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency,
Mark Dreyfus. The
Clean Energy Regulator was an associated
statutory authority
A statutory body or statutory authority is a body set up by law (statute) that is authorised to implement certain legislation on behalf of the relevant country or state, sometimes by being Primary and secondary legislation, empowered or deleg ...
formed on 2 April 2012.
On 25 March 2013, the responsibility for Climate Change policy passed to the newly formed
Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education, and the duties of the
Ministry of Energy passed to the
Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism. Following the
2013 Australian federal election
The 2013 Australian federal election to elect the members of the 44th Parliament of Australia took place on 7 September 2013. The centre-right Liberal/National Coalition opposition led by Opposition leader Tony Abbott of the Liberal Party of Aus ...
the responsibility for energy was shifted to the
Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science under the
Abbott Government.
After the
2016 Australian federal election
The 2016 Australian federal election was a double dissolution election held on Saturday 2 July to elect all 226 members of the 45th Parliament of Australia, 45th Parliament of Australia, after an extended eight-week official campaign period. It ...
, the responsibilities were passed to the
Minister of the Environment and Energy under the
Turnbull Government. Following the appointment of
Scott Morrison as
prime minister in August 2018,
Josh Frydenberg was elevated to
Treasurer of Australia, whereby Frydenberg's previous ministerial positions were separated, with
Melissa Price as
Minister of the Environment and
Angus Taylor as Minister for Energy.
On 1 February 2020, An Administrative Arrangements Order (AAOs) was executed by the Australian Government. This order required small business and energy functions be passed to the renamed
Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources.
Objectives
The department deals with:
* Development and coordination of domestic and international climate change policy
* International climate change negotiations
* Design and implementation of emissions trading
* Mandatory renewable energy target policy, regulation, and co-ordination
* Greenhouse emissions and energy consumption reporting
*
Climate change adaptation strategy and co-ordination
* Co-ordination of climate change science activities
List of energy ministers
The following individuals have been appointed as energy minister, or any of its precedent titles:
List of ministers for climate change
The Minister for Climate Change is responsible for developing climate change (
global warming) solutions, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, and promoting
energy efficiency. The following individuals have been appointed to the post, or any of its precursor titles:
List of Assistant Ministers for Climate Change and Energy
The following individuals have been appointed as Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, or any of its precedent titles:
See also
*
Carbon tax in Australia
A carbon pricing scheme in Australia was introduced by the Gillard Labor minority government in 2011 as the ''Clean Energy Act 2011'' which came into effect on 1 July 2012. Emissions from companies subject to the scheme dropped 7% upon its in ...
*
List of Australian Commonwealth Government entities
References
External links
*
{{Australian federal ministerial portfolios
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
Climate Change and Energy