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2023-12-22 2:05 pm

Climate, nature and electrification references and resources

Climate action is a complex topic. We’re creating this list of sources for statements on our website and other channels including social media, about climate, nature and biodiversity, home electrification, and related topics. We’ll keep updating this list as our work in this area continues.

a woman cooking in a kitchen on an induction stovetop

What's on this page

Climate

Claim
Source & link
Supporting statement
To reach net zero emissions in our economy, we need to electrify homes.
“Every home that is currently using gas must be upgraded to all-electric to reach net zero.”

“All-electric homes save hundreds of dollars a year in energy bills, are healthier to live in, and are better for the environment.”
“Australia’s net zero future will require both increases in electrification and energy efficiency. The same is true for net zero homes. Electrifying a home by swapping gas for electric cooktops, space heating and hot water is an important part of the energy performance equation.”

There are some sectors  of the economy where getting off gas is going to be challenging, but for  homes the technologies needed are ready to go now.
See p.52-54 ‘Beyond homes’ section, which  explains limitations to replacing gas with electricity in some industrial  uses.
Electrifying homes is critical for climate  action.
“Australia will not hit its 2050 net-zero emissions target  unless it gets off natural gas. All-electric homes are cheaper to run and  better for people’s health.”
17% of Victoria’s emissions come from gas.
See report.
The Victorian Government has set a target to reach 95% renewable  energy in the grid by 2035.
See report.
Victoria will need to take 200 homes off gas every day until 2045 to  achieve reach the state government’s net zero target.
See report.

Health

Claim
Source & link
Supporting statement
Indoor gas appliances are an established source of air pollution.
Cooking and heating with gas is common in Australian homes and  is a risk factor for several important health problems.
Gas cooking carries a comparable risk of  causing childhood asthma as living in a home with cigarette smoke.
A child living with gas cooking in the home faces a comparable risk of  asthma to a child living with household cigarette smoke.

Cost savings

Claim
Source & link
Supporting statement
Running an all-electric home can save households around $1,000  per year on their energy bills, compared with a home that uses gas  appliances.
Analysis indicates households can make average savings of over $1,000  a year across Australia by switching from gas appliances to the most  efficient electric alternatives.  
Gas connection fees are roughly $350 per  year.
See tables in report. This figure is based on an average of AGL  prices, with AGL being the largest supplier of gas to homes in Victoria.
Victorian Government agency Sustainability Victoria has also researched cost savings across a broad range of homes, and given detailed estimates based on the size and quality of insulation in a home, and the types of heating, cooling and hot water systems installed.
See page.

Gas usage

Claim
Source & link
Supporting statement
Victoria is the state that relies most heavily on gas in the home in  Australia.
See report.
Around 80% of Victorian homes are currently  connected to gas supply.
See media release.
Around 5 million homes in Australia are currently connected to gas.
See report.

Nature and biodiversity

Claim
Source & link
Supporting statement
Half of world's economy is dependent on nature
See reports.
Nature helps us lead  healthier lives
See article and and report.
Biodiversity - our strongest natural defense against climate  change
When human activities produce greenhouse gases, around half of  the emissions remain in the atmosphere, while the other half is absorbed by  the land and ocean. These ecosystems – and the biodiversity they contain –  are natural carbon sinks, providing so-called nature-based solutions to  climate change.
Nature positive economy
Nature positive is a disruptive idea. It forces us to think  differently about our place in the world. It is a destination for humanity.  It is a foundation for good governance, long-term stable societies and  healthy economies. It is a philosophy that values our common future. And it  is a new business model based on regeneration, resilience and recirculation –  not destruction and pollution.