The Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO) was formed in 1998 within the
Government of Australia as a stand-alone agency within the environment portfolio to provide a whole of government approach to greenhouse matters. It was the world's first government agency dedicated to cutting
greenhouse gas emissions
Greenhouse gas emissions from human activities strengthen the greenhouse effect, contributing to climate change. Most is carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels: coal, oil, and natural gas. The largest emitters include coal in China and ...
, managed Australia's response to
climate change
In common usage, climate change describes global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes to ...
, and provided government-sanctioned information to the public.
Writer
Guy Pearse
Guy Pearse is an Australian author and former Research Fellow at the Global Change Institute at the University of Queensland. His first book titled ''High & Dry: John Howard, climate change and the selling of Australia's future'' was published ...
was employed by the agency as a consultant.
David Evans was employed by the office from 1999 to 2005 to conduct
carbon accounting
Greenhouse gas accounting or Carbon accounting is a framework of methods to measure and track how much greenhouse gas (GHG) an organization emits or takes actions to reduce. Corporations, cities and other groups use these techniques to help limi ...
and to build
models.
History
The agency was responsible for administering the
Energy Star
Energy Star (trademarked ''ENERGY STAR'') is a program run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) that promotes energy efficiency. The program provides information on the energy consumption of pr ...
program in Australia and provided funds for a
fuel cell bus trial in Perth. An auditing method was developed to assist local councils to improve the energy efficiency of their lighting, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning.
In 2001, the Australian Greenhouse Office introduced the Australian
Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS), which were revised in 2006 to a more stringent level.
In 2004, it became part of the
Department of the Environment and Heritage. Following the
2007 federal election, the functions of AGO were split between the new Department of Climate Change and the
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
The Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts was an Australian Government department that existed between December 2007 and September 2010.
Scope
Information about the department's functions and/or government funding allocatio ...
. In March 2010, the remainder of the AGO functions- the (Renewable Energy Efficiency Division) was moved to DCC, creating the new Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency.
See also
*
Climate change in Australia
*
Effects of global warming on Australia
*
Renewable energy in Australia
References
External links
Archive
Climate change in Australia
Defunct Commonwealth Government agencies of Australia
1998 establishments in Australia
2010 disestablishments in Australia
Funding bodies of Australia
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