Many people working on climate change in Canberra are about to switch gears.

Hundreds of public servants who had been preparing to roll out the now laid-to-rest emissions trading scheme will instead be put to work on renewable energy initiatives. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said yesterday there was a ”truckload” of work to be done in that area.

The ETS has been delayed for at least three years. This leaves many working for the Australian Climate Change Regulatory Authority and the Climate Change Department’s emissions trading division in limbo.

Rudd said the focus now is on an acceleration of renewable energy plans. ”Very soon the government will be announcing short-listed projects from the $1.5 billion solar flagships program,” he said, adding that two renewable projects and a smart city demonstration project are also coming up.