Territory Labor is protecting the environment with the most substantial environmental reforms undertaken by a Territory government.
Reaching the government’s net zero greenhouse gas emissions target by 2050 requires a range of measures to ensure all sectors contribute to emissions reduction with the preferred approach being to avoid or mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
Supporting the net zero strategy, the government has released its Greenhouse Gas Offsets Policy and Technical Guidelines.
The policy provides greater certainty to industry regarding its obligations toward the government’s net zero by 2050 target, and clarity for regulators and decision makers in assessing emissions offset proposals.
Additionally, the Territory Government has today released for public consultation its draft NT Biodiversity Offsets Policy.
Biodiversity offsets are designed to compensate for residual impacts on biodiversity at one site by requiring conservation or restoration activities elsewhere.
Under the Environment Protection Act, development proposals must first be designed to avoid adverse impacts, or identify options to mitigate adverse impacts on the environment.
Offsets policies provide a mechanism of last resort to address issues of a residual nature that cannot be avoided or mitigated.
These policies address commitments made in the Northern Territory Climate Change Response and the Government’s response to the Territory Economic Reconstruction Commission and recommendation 8.9 of the Scientific Inquiry into Hydraulic Fracturing.
They are components of the NT Offsets Framework approved by the government in June 2020.
To see the Greenhouse Gas Offsets Policy and Technical Guidelines, visit here and the Draft Biodiversity Offsets Policy: here
Quotes from Minister for Climate Change, Environment and Water Security, Lauren Moss:
“Territory Labor is delivering a number of reforms to protect our natural environment while ensuring that we also support sustainable development, economic growth and jobs.
“This is complex work reflecting public consultation across a diverse range of stakeholders, and commitments made as a result of other reviews, including the Pepper inquiry into Hydraulic Fracturing.
“These offsets policies are just one part, an instrument of last resort, in a comprehensive all-of-government response to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.”
Northern Territory Government
