Climate Action Moreland

How can Australia learn from the lessons of the EU?

Australia is ramping up for an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). The Government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) having been passed in the lower house is heading for the Senate and it looks like the Liberals may pass it after all (which is the only way it would go through, as both independents and The Greens have stated that they won’t). The ramifications of the scheme will be far more widespread than even the GST, and it has the scope to affect every Australian. However, there is still much confusion and little real debate about what may actually happen. Will jobs be lost, will there be an explosion of green jobs and most importantly will emissions go down.

The EU has been operating an ETS for a few years now and many of the mistakes that were made in its inception are being repeated and expanded on by the Rudd Labor Government. And with a global deal in Copenhagen only months away, understanding how the system works is more important than ever. George Monbiot has generously given CAM permission to re-publish his article that appeared in the Guardian a few weeks back that takes a look at the UK’s targets of 80% by 2050.

George, many thanks and all the best from CAM.

Here is the simple mathematical reason why large scale carbon offsets can’t work

By George Monbiot. Published in the Guardian, 17th July 2009

Well at least that clears up the mystery. Over the past year I’ve been fretting over an intractable contradiction. The government [UK] has promised spectacular cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. It is also pushing through new roads and runways, approving coal-burning power stations, bailing out motor manufacturers and ditching its regulations for low-carbon homes. How can these policies be reconciled?

(more…)