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.
In 2009, a Bob Brown-led Greens party voted against an emissions trading scheme – but they can’t be blamed for what came after.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
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.
New Zealand’s emission reduction target for 2030 is to bring emissions to 30% below 2005 levels, and to be carbon neutral by 2050.
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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 and federal energy minister Josh Frydenberg have been forced to back down on plans to legislate emissions reductions for the electricity sector.
AAP Image/Mick Tsikas
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.
No about-face: Barnaby Joyce (left) may have gone to the backbench, but his successor Michael McCormack looks set to keep his climate views aflame.
AAP Image/Mick Tsikas
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.
The Emissions Reduction Fund is not capturing enough emissions from the most polluting industries.
AAP Image/Dave Hunt
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.
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, seen here with Australia’s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull during this month’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting, has moved climate change onto the new government’s priority list.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
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.
The new energy policy could potentially function to preserve black coal’s place in the energy mix.
AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts
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.
Climate teams: if countries pooled resources, they could support a low-emission transformation.
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.
A strong, certain price signal could see the dawn of a new period of investment in renewables.
EPA/NIC BOTHMA
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.
A very bad year for the Great Barrier Reef.
AAP Image/XL Catlin Seaview Survey
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.
Was Liberal backbencher Craig Kelly right about the relative cost of electricity in Australia and the US?
AAP Image/Lukas Coch