My Climate Change Garden

In great contrast to my story yesterday about why the UK is falling behind its commitments to cut its carbon footprint, todays blog confirms why Australia is attempting to lead the world into a carbon free future.

The Australian parliament has just passed laws that impose a price on carbon emissions  in one of the biggest economic reforms in a decade.

KEY POINTS

* The Clean Energy Act will force the country’s 500 worst-polluting companies to pay a tax on their carbon emissions 

* Tax to take effect mid-2012 before moving to a carbon-trading scheme in mid 2015

* Price initially set at A$23 ($23.78) per tone

* Aims to cut carbon pollution by 159 million tones by 2020 or by 5 percent based on year 2000 levels

* To spend A$9.2 billion to help heavy polluting industries like steel and aluminum, and close dirtiest power stations

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-15632160

Wikipedia explains  carbon taxes and their role in cutting carbon emmissions :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_tax

One of the reasons that Australiawants to lead the world in challenging carbon emmissions is that although it only accounts for 1.5% of the world’s emissions,  it is the developed world’s highest emitter per head of population thanks to its relatively small population.

Australia is  already experiencing some very serious effects of climate change  http://www.cleanenergyfuture.gov.au/australia%E2%80%99s-carbon-pollution-the-global-context/

If you are reading this blog from Australia check out how future increases in temperature might affect your state: http://www.climatechangeinaustralia.gov.au/