The Greenhouse Challenge is a co-operative
effort by industry and government to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions
through voluntary industry action groups such as the Latrobe Valley Task
Force. This group comprises the major industries, federal, state and local
government, TAFE, Monash University and the Gippsland Trades and Labour
Council.
A cut to the 1988 level of carbon dioxide
discharges by 20 per cent is expected by the year 2005. A number of
solutions are being investigated:
- Enhanced Generation Practices -
incremental plant improvements to current electricity generation practices
to minimise greenhouse gas emissions;
- Improved Generation Technology -
pursuing new technologies to further optimise electricity generation
efficiencies;
- Establishment of Carbon Sinks -
development of extensive forest plantations in conjunction with
environmental and conservation groups for the absorption of carbon dioxide
- Productive Use of Carbon Dioxide -
harnessing carbon dioxide waste emissions for the production of carbon
based products;
- Overseas Energy Technology Audits -
checking the Asia-Pacific Power Stations where low rank coal is burnt
without the "world best practices" of the Australia brown coal technology;
- By pursuing initiatives like these a
significant contribution can be made to the reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions, and also to the economy of the region.
