Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will chair a new emissions reduction and clean energy advisory board to be established by the NSW Government.
The Net Zero Emissions and Clean Economy Board will provide strategic advice to the NSW government on the first phase of its Net Zero Plan, a $1 billion push which will start with subsidising heavy emitting industries’ switch to cleaner technology.
“The world’s move to net zero emissions by 2050 will create huge economic opportunities for Australia and I intend to make sure NSW realises them,” Mr Turnbull said in a statement.
NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte has been appointed deputy chair, which will be established by regulation.
Further board appointments will come from representatives from the electricity, power-fuels, transport, manufacturing and primary industries sectors as well as climate science, technology and innovation, public policy and finance representatives.
NSW Energy Minister Matt Kean confirmed the appointment of the former Prime Minister late on Monday after the proposal had earlier been leaked to the media before NSW Cabinet approval.
“The Board will help us to drive a clean industrial revolution for NSW – providing advice on opportunities to grow the economy, create jobs of the future, support industry to develop low emissions technologies and modernise industrial processes,” Mr Kean said.
“The Board will bring cross-sector experts together to ensure we have the right policies and initiatives to give industry the confidence they need to invest, innovate and build a low-carbon future – right here in NSW.”
Mr Kean said the Board will help to deliver “low-carbon jobs” to help diversify the economies of traditional coal regions like the Hunter and Illawarra.
“It is a privilege to have Mr Turnbull leading the Board. As a former Prime Minister, Commonwealth Environment Minister and head of Goldman Sachs Australia, Mr Turnbull is ideally placed to help NSW reduce its emissions in ways that grow the economy,” Mr Kean said.
Do you know more? Contact James Riley via Email.