For someone who is a keen environmentalist, pricing carbon is a vital first step in solving the climate crisis. I am non-partisan – I make decisions based on policy not parties. The Coalition’s environmental policy is simply not up to scratch.
The proposed carbon pricing scheme forces 500 of our biggest polluters to pay for their right to pollute; smart business people need to innovate and change to environmentally sustainable practices to remain competitive. This creates new sustainable industries – creating jobs and protecting the environment.
It’s important to understand the projected cost to end consumers. Under the scheme, 90% of households will be subsidised and most will be better off economically. The worst effects of climate change will be far more detrimental economically and diplomatically than deciding not to act. Finally, we see action in Australian parliament to bring the nation into the sustainable energy age.
People say that Australia’s emissions are insubstantial compared to countries like China but we have the highest carbon pollution-per-head of population. We have some of the dirtiest coal fired plants, and the price on pollution will pay to shut down 2000MW of these plants. China itself is taking action to reduce the pollution-per-head, starting a carbon pricing mechanism in some regions before merging into an economy-wide scheme like Australia’s. The effects of being “left behind” could be far more devastating to the future of Australia’s economy and environment.
Under the Renewable Energy Australia scheme, jobs will be created in the renewable and clean energy sectors. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) will manage a further $3.2 billion for investment schemes like the Solar Flagships Program which recently funded two massive new solar farms in Chinchilla (QLD) and Moree (NSW). Australia has huge amounts of the resources required to create photovoltaic cells (solar panels) - by investing in the technology, Australia has a potential to be the world leader in renewable energy. That’s a big deal when you consider how important this type of energy is for the future.
(Carolyn and Lochsley contributed to this post)
