Australian and international renewable energy policy initiatives

Despite efforts in Australia and other developed countries, greenhouse gas emissions from most countries continue to rise and the targets set in 1997 for emission reductions in the Kyoto Protocol are becoming more difficult to achieve. Without coordinated policy development and successful policy implementation, there is a chance that the major players will not ratify the Protocol and efforts at a global response to emissions control will be abandoned. Renewable energy technologies offer the only long term strategy for emissions reduction. This paper summarises policy initiatives used around the world to support their development and use and suggests some strategies for Australia.