Tsuen Wan International: Australia is risking isolation by not pricing carbon: top adviser.

May 31, 2011 - PRLog -- Ross Garnaut, in his final report to the Australian government, also said Australia needs to consider stronger emissions targets, and that the promise to cut emissions by 5% of 2000 levels by 2020 should be the minimum target. He went on to say that the 2010 Cancun global climate meeting increased the need for Australia to set strong targets, after delegates agreed to limit global warming to no more than 2° C, Tsuen Wan International was informed.


"If we didn't do much we would run great risks for Australia," Garnaut said. "It would be contrary to our national interest because it would make a strong global mitigation outcome less likely," he added talking about global steps to fight climate change.


"Inaction by Australia, with the highest emissions per person in the developed world, would invite retaliation in trade and other areas of international cooperation," Garnaut’s report says.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has been pushing for a carbon tax to begin from July 2012 on the nation’s 1,000 largest polluters, with a transition to a full emissions trade scheme three to five years later.

Government, Greens and independent lawmakers are currently ironing out details of the tax, including the starting price and levels of compensation for industry and households, with final details expected by early July, Tsuen Wan International sources report.

But managing to get legislation for a carbon tax is far from certain. The country’s Labor government has battled to introduce a carbon price as the cornerstone of its climate policy since it first came to power 2007, when Labor defeated conservative Prime Minister, John Howard.

Gillard told Tsuen Wan international that she would consider Garnaut's final report.

"Pricing carbon is an economic reform where the benefits far outweigh the costs," she said.
"He tells us a fixed price followed by a carbon trading scheme is the best path forward to reduce the dangers of climate change without damaging the prosperity of the Australian nation."

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