Australia’s energy emissions continue to increase, breaking all-time records. Petroleum, in particular diesel consumption, is the main driver of emission increases.

This discussion paper evaluates the energy policies required to meet Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets set by the Abbott Government and pledged at the international climate summit in Paris.

From large-scale mixed-use developments with hundreds of offices and dwellings to smaller university precincts, this precincts standard can be used to achieve carbon neutrality and showcase climate leadership.

This is a voluntary building standard to manage greenhouse gas emissions and to achieve carbon neutrality. It provides best-practice guidance on how to measure, reduce, offset, report and audit emissions that occur as a result of the operations of a building.

There has been strong interest in delving into the quantitative data behind the Climate of the Nation report, so the Australia Institute has released this material for anyone interested to use.