Ai Group

Further information

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Paris Agreement and net-zero emissions

• Ai Group has stated support for the temperature goal of the Paris Agreement.[4]
• Ai Group has stated support for Australia’s target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.[5]
• In its 2022 pre-election statement on energy and climate, Ai Group stated that “2030 emissions goals should deepen in order to reach the 2050 goal, support needed investment and deployment, and keep pace with our international partners and commitments. While there is no one best number, roughly halving emissions by 2030 would put Australia in the mainstream of advanced economies.”[6]
• Ai Group stated support for the government’s Climate Change Bill 2022.[7] Ai Group is part of the Joint Australian Climate Roundtable, which also stated support for the Climate Change Bill 2022.[8]
• In 2022, Ai Group stated the New South Wales government’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions target of 70% off 2005 levels by 2035 was “impressively ambitious, but achieving it will require the State to work well beyond the electricity sector to help industry and others to make major transitions”.[9]

Carbon pricing

• Ai Group has stated support for a carbon price.[10]
• In a 2022 statement about the reform of the Safeguard Mechanism, Ai Group stated that “we are very hopeful that a robust Safeguard 2.0 can be designed which will support the transformational investments industry needs to get to net zero.”[11] Ai Group also stated: “This debate will produce better results if we shed some of the baggage of the past decade. The Safeguard Mechanism is quite different to the old Carbon Pricing Mechanism. But the laws of economics have not been repealed, and there is no reason to shy away from concepts and design elements like emissions trading that can lift efficiency and cut the cost of achieving our shared climate goals. Carbon prices have been embedded in Australian government policy throughout the past ten years. Making them more explicit would help everyone plan and respond better.”[12] Ai Group also called for a well-designed Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism to be implemented within three to five years to address carbon leakage risks.[13]

Energy efficiency

• Ai Group has stated support for improving energy efficiency.[14]
• In 2022, Ai Group was part of a coalition that called on Australia’s energy ministers “to work together both on immediate responses to calm chaos and on longer-term measures to moderate energy prices and cut emissions by improving supply and lifting demand-side efficiency, energy management and fuel switching”.[15]
• In 2022, Ai Group was a signatory to the 2022 Energy Efficiency Summit Communique that called for the acceleration of energy efficiency “for a rapid, affordable and equitable transition to zero emissions.”[16]

Decarbonised hydrogen

• Ai Group has stated support for decarbonised hydrogen.[17]
• In its 2022 pre-election policy statement on energy and climate, Ai Group stated support for investment in decarbonised hydrogen.[18]
• In 2022, the Ai Group Chief Executive stated: “A big push on all the options for gas transition – hydrogen, biogas, electrification and efficiency – is essential.”[19]

Natural ecosystems

• In its 2022 pre-election policy statement on energy and climate, Ai Group stated: “Given the importance of land sector abatement to existing offsetting and Australia’s future emissions reduction and export opportunities, a strong reputation for integrity is essential.”[20]

Carbon capture and storage

• Ai Group has stated support for policy mechanisms that drive growth in carbon capture and storage (CCS). They have stated CCS “remains a very important option to address heavy industry emissions” and that “without a strong price signal of some sort, Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage is unlikely ever to be competitive with high-emitting technologies.”[21]

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards and benchmarks, sustainable finance taxonomies

• Ai Group has stated support for “climate-related commitments to be rigorous and for performance against them to be assessed”.[22]
• In 2021, Ai Group responded to the regulator’s consultation on a Corporate Emissions Reduction Transparency Report (CERT). Ai Group stated concerns about overlap between the proposed CERT scheme and the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) System. It also stated that “if a robust and acceptable CERT framework emerges from this process it can then be opened to all interested NGERS entities.”[23]

Coal

• In Ai Group’s 2022 pre-election statement on energy and climate, it stated that coal power closures will accelerate and will need to be managed effectively.[24]
• In 2022, Ai Group stated support for early retirement of Victoria’s remaining coal generators.[25]

Electrification with renewable or low-carbon power

• In its 2022 pre-election policy statement on energy and climate, Ai Group stated support for growing “electricity networks with public finance and support for affected communities” and for “work with the States on a new national strategy to lift energy management, energy efficiency, electrification and adoption of clean gases”.[26] It also stated “Australia’s former competitive advantage in carbon-intensive energy is gone. Building a new advantage in clean energy is achievable but demands coherent and efficient action”, and that “Innovation, low cost, strong resources and emissions goals mean that variable renewables will increasingly dominate supply.”[27]
• In its 2022 response to the government’s Climate Bill, Ai Group stated that the “electricity transition is now urgent for security and affordability reasons as much as climate, in the wake of this winter’s coal failures and lasting fuel price rises.”[28]

Gases and methane

• In its 2022 pre-election policy statement on energy and climate, Ai Group stated that “natural gas plays vital roles in industry, power and households today”, but noted that Australia “should take steps to reduce natural gas demand across all sectors through context-appropriate support for energy efficiency, electrification and fuel switching to clean gases”.[29]
• In its 2022 submission on the Australian Domestic Gas Security Mechanism (ADGSM), Ai Group stated “while all will need to contribute to the transition to net zero emissions in coming years, most likely through replacing natural gas via electrification, biogas or hydrogen, the availability and affordability of natural gas will be important to their viability for many years to come.”[30]
• In July 2022, Ai Group’s CEO stated that natural gas “has always been seen as the best bridge between fossils and renewables as we grapple with emissions targets while seeking energy security”, but added that “high prices, looming insecurity and high emissions make it urgent to start gradually tapering our reliance on gas.”[31]
• In its 2022 response to the NSW Government’s new GHG emissions reduction target, Ai Group stated that “Natural gas is an important input to many businesses for heat, power and feedstock. We’ll need to rapidly scale up alternatives like electrification, bioenergy and hydrogen; make sure investment in electricity and gas networks matches our needs; and ensure that those gas users who have the least potential to switch are not disadvantaged.”[32]
• Ai Group has not stated positions in support of the direct regulation of methane emissions or the ending of routine flaring by 2030 or sooner.

Road transport: Passenger cars and vans

• In its 2022 pre-election policy statement on energy and climate, Ai Group stated a recommendation that the next government should “work with industry to strengthen Australia’s existing industry-led vehicle CO₂ Emissions Standard to a co-regulatory arrangement under the Recycling and Waste Reduction Act 2020 that can more effectively support both improved fuel economy and uptake of zero-emissions vehicles” and “charging infrastructure rollout needs greater urgency and links to built environment standards […]. Close coordination with electricity system development is essential.”[33]

Road transport: Heavy-duty vehicles

No position

Heavy industry decarbonisation

• Ai Group has stated support for policies to decarbonise heavy industry.[34] In its 2022 pre-election policy statement on energy and climate, Ai Group states “credible policy signals, demand for cleaner products and favourable investment conditions are essential to industry decarbonisation.”[35] It states that the “Safeguard Mechanism should be built on as a driver of long-term abatement within industry and the wider economy” and that “The Safeguard Mechanism is only relevant to large facilities. The Commonwealth should work with the States to level up support for industrial energy efficiency, electrification and fuel switching at non-Safeguard facilities.”[36]

Aviation

No position

Shipping

No position

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