CARBON LEADERSHIP FORUM – Understanding Australia’s proposed Carbon Laws: impacts & opportunities to business – May 16, 2014

 Understanding Australia’s proposed Carbon laws and the impacts and opportunities to business

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Senator The Hon Simon Birmingham

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Environment

 Presented by the

Australian Environment Business Network (AEBN)
In association with
Proud Principal Sponsor – Norton Rose Fulbright Australia

The Federal Government has stated that they will repeal the carbon tax and are proposing new carbon laws for Australia. 

It is important that all businesses understand the proposed carbon laws to ensure you understand the impacts and opportunities to your organisation. 

With the recent release of the Federal Government’s Emissions Reduction Fund White Paper and the exposure draft legislation, this timely Forum is aimed to provide an all-round perspective of the proposed changes which are likely to be implemented in 2014, and will have an impact on a number of Australian businesses.  

You will hear from the regulators, leading climate change lawyers, carbon and asset management specialists, an industry and energy users’ perspective, and more – to assist you in understanding how the proposed changes may affect your business and its operations.

Program

The program will include – 

• KEYNOTE SPEAKER:   Senator The Hon Simon Birmingham, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Environment
  • The Federal Government’s Direct Action Plan 
• Tina Khoury, CEO Australian Environment Business Network (AEBN)
  • Introductions and overview of the day
• Facilitator:  Paddy Spruce, Australian Environment Business Network (AEBN)
  • Facilitator of the day  

NATIONAL
 

Legal Implications:

• Elisa de Wit – Partner & Leader of the Australian climate change practice, Norton Rose Fulbright
  • The legal implications arising from the proposed Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) –
    • Transition of the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI) into the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF)
    • Legal requirements for participation
    • Method development
    • Contractual issues

Proposed National Carbon Policy:

• Trevor Power – Acting First Assistant Secretary, Emissions Reduction Fund Taskforce, Federal Department of Environment
  • Overview of the changes within the Federal Budget:  changes that relate to environmental and carbon matters, such as the Direct Action Plan
  • Details of the Emissions Reduction Fund White Paper
    • the structure;
    • the design;
    • proposed implementation plan;
    • how it will operate
  • The exposure draft legislation – an overview
    • Proposed changes to the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI)
  • Outline of other components of the Federal Government’s proposed carbon laws – Direct Action Plan
  • Q&A

Obligations prior and post abolishment of current laws:

• Mark Williamson – Acting Executive General Manager, Renewables and Carbon Farming Division, Clean Energy Regulator
  • Carbon obligations prior and post abolishment of existing carbon laws
  • Repeal process –
    • How it is intended to work and its timing
    • Update of the Renewable Energy Target (RET)

Key findings of related research:

• Anthea Harris – CEO Climate Change Authority
  • Current activities of the Climate Change Authority, including –
    • findings of the report on Targets and Progress Review
    • recent study on Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI)

Energy Users’ Perspective:

• Peter Dobney – General Manager Resources and Energy, Orora Limited  |  Board Member, Energy Users Association of Australia 
  • Safeguarding Mechanism – an energy users’ perspective on Emissions Reduction Fund’s (ERF) safeguard mechanism – safeguarding emissions reduction

Compliance:

• Matt Drum – Director Environment, Ndevr Environmental Consulting
  • Accessing funds through the Emissions Reduction Fund
  • Compliance and reporting obligations under the proposed scheme

Opportunities to business:  

• Jennifer Lauber-Patterson – Co-founder and Executive Director, Frontier Carbon
  • Key project opportunities for reducing emissions and costs for business in 2014
  • Assessment of the opportunities under the –
    • Emission Reduction Fund (ERF)
    • Environmental Upgrade Agreements (EUA)
    • Renewable Energy Target (RET)

Networking Opportunity

The Workshop will provide the opportunity to network with presenters and delegates during AEBN’s networking refreshment breaks (morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea).

A comprehensive set of course notes will be provided to each delegate.

Please note:

The AEBN strives to ensure members are provided with the latest changes to environmental and energy obligations, and therefore, should new developments arise due to the release of further information regarding the proposed carbon laws, the AEBN will strive to ensure we cover any additional information in our Program.  We aim to provide an all round perspective to assist YOU in understanding the impacts and opportunities to your business.  Therefore, the Australian Environment Business Network (AEBN) reserves the right to alter the program, should it be necessary.