nuclear-news

Australians ignorant about the existence of successful carbon pricing in Europe

there was an incorrect perception that Australia would be going it alone if it put a price on carbon.

Aussie carbon tax revolt ‘bizarre’: expert Sydney Morning Herald, March 8, 2011 A European Union climate expert has described Australian opposition to a carbon tax as bizarre, diplomatically pointing out Britain’s Conservatives were more co-operative in opposition. Jill Duggan, who managed Britain’s initial emissions trading scheme (ETS), said there was an incorrect perception that Australia would be going it alone if it put a price on carbon.

“The thing that struck me is how the debate has changed here and also that wide perception that I keep hearing that Australia shouldn’t go first,” she told reporters in Canberra today.

“Coming from Europe, that sounds slightly bizarre because there are 30 countries in Europe that have had a carbon price … since the beginning of 2005.”

While reluctant to comment on Opposition Leader Tony Abbott’s campaign against a carbon tax, Ms Duggan pointed out how the British Conservative Party was enthusiastic about an ETS when in opposition.

“During the last Labour government, it wasn’t Conservatives saying, ‘You shouldn’t be doing this,'” she said.

“They said, ‘You should be doing more, you should be doing it faster.'”…..

Job losses were also minimal, with the European ETS creating service-sector jobs in Britain.

“I don’t think we can think of any jobs losses that are the direct result of carbon policy,” Ms Duggan said……Aussie carbon tax revolt ‘bizarre’: expert

March 10, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | climate change, UK