A Rudd Labor Government will set a 20 per cent Renewable Energy Target for Australia to reach by 2020.

A 20 per cent target is the equivalent of powering Australia’s 7.5 million homes for a year.

In a major step to tackle climate change, a Rudd Labor Government will significantly expand the use of solar, wind and geothermal energy.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the generation of electricity is one of the central challenges in tackling climate change.

Federal Labor’s 20 per cent Renewable Energy Target will ensure that the equivalent of at least 20 per cent of Australia’s electricity supply is generated from renewable sources by 2020.

To achieve this, Federal Labor will increase the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target from 30,000 to 45,000 gigawatt hours (GWh) per year.

Federal Labor’s 20 per cent Renewable Energy Target by 2020 will reduce emissions between 2010 and 2030 by 342 million tonnes.

After 11 years under the Howard Government, renewable energy contributes less to Australia’s electricity supply (9.5 per cent) than it did in 1997 (10.5 per cent).

The Howard Government's consistent refusal to support the industry with policies that encourage clean energy sources, has led to many Australian companies moving off-shore to find opportunities to grow and to sell their locally developed technologies.

Federal Labor’s renewable energy target is part of our comprehensive approach to tackling climate change, which includes:

• Immediately ratifying the Kyoto Protocol;


• Introducing practical measures to improve household energy efficiency including generous rebates for solar power systems and solar hot water and low interest loans for Australian families to undertake practical water and energy efficiency measures in their homes;


• Establishing an emissions trading scheme by 2010 to put a price on carbon and cut emissions;


• Establishing a $50 million Australian Solar Institute and a $50 million geothermal initiative.