The International Energy Agency (IEA) has released its Energy Policies of IEA Countries – Australia 2018 Review. The review notes Australia’s rich energy resources but also the increase in energy security concerns. It highlights the need for a consistent national energy and climate framework to 2030/50 and the importance of increase energy efficiency measures across all economic sectors.

The report includes the following recommendations for the Australian Government relating to residential and commercial energy consumption and intensity:

• Ensuring the full implementation of the National Energy Productivity Plan, focused on improved energy end-use and emissions data collection and forecasts; understand and emphasise the role that energy efficiency will play across all relevant policy areas in the transition to a low-carbon energy system.
• Establishing a long-term vision for an energy-efficient and decarbonised building sector accompanied by regular updates of the national construction code.
• Adopting an ambitious fuel efficiency and emission standards for the transport sector, and start with light vehicles as a first step.
• Introducing measures for energy efficiency in business and industry, building upon the experiences from the Energy Efficiency Opportunities programme and through Clean Energy Finance Corporation funding of projects that also reduce GHG emissions in industrial facilities.

Read the full Energy Policies of IEA Countries – Australia 2018 Review here.

Australian Government media release on the review here.

Energy Efficiency Council media release on the review here.