Right now, the safeguard mechanism meant to reduce emissions is not fit for purpose. Labor is exploring ways to fix it - and create a proper pollution market.
What should be done to enhance Indonesia’s emission trading scheme’s accountability? We list three points to consider to further enhance the scheme’s transparency.
History shows how the states and territories can step into a policy breach when the federal government fails. It’s time they band together on electric vehicles.
Paul Burke, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University; Frank Jotzo, Australian National University, and Rohan Best, Macquarie University
Having a carbon price is linked to lower emissions growth. A larger price cuts emissions by more.
Labor continues to be hung up on a decade-old Greens’ decision to oppose an emissions trading scheme in 2009. But responsibility for Australia’s climate policy void lies elsewhere.
Suzi Kerr, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
With consultation underway to improve the New Zealand emissions trading scheme, experts argue that a reserve price on emissions units could help rebuild confidence in low-emission investment.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has abandoned the emissions-reduction component of his signature energy policy, in the latest chapter of a brutal decade-long saga for Australian climate policy.
Barnaby Joyce had a long history of opposing climate action. His successor Michael McCormack seems to think the same way, despite climate being a growing threat to the Nationals’ rural voters.
Australia’s flagship climate policy, has spent more than $2 billion on emissions reductions, yet big businesses could wipe all this out. Time to resurrect the idea of a simple carbon tax.
As part of its 100-day priority plan, New Zealand’s new government has pledged to set a target of carbon neutrality by 2050, which means phasing out fossil fuels and products that burn them.
While Tony Abbott’s London climate speech has been widely criticised, research suggests his views have long had a sympathetic ear in Australia’s coal heartland.
Suzi Kerr, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
New Zealand is a trailblazer for emissions trading, which could help drive a low-emission transformation, both domestically and overseas, in a post-Paris world.
Labor has been criticised for vacillating about about its 50% renewable energy ambition. But its proposed emissions intensity scheme could boost green energy without any hard target at all.
In a year of coral bleaching, power blackouts, electricity arguments and Donald Trump, 2016 made the previous year’s climate of environmental optimism rather difficult to maintain.