Australians combat climate change

Published: September 03, 2008 - 02:14 PM

Aussies prepared to pay for climate change

By Lesley Coombes

With the inevitable cost of climate change looming over Australian households, a study by the University of Sydney has shown a majority of Australians think climate change is happening and agree to support the fight to combat it, the Sydney Morning Herald reported on Sunday.

83.7 per cent of the 768 survey participants think that global warming is occurring with 84.9 per cent of them giving the green light for Australia to go ahead with an Emissions Trading Scheme. The study also found that Australians were willing to spend 20 per cent of the Emissions Trading Scheme revenues on Research and Development to combat climate change.

Visiting economics professor at UTS, Richard Carson said it “shows that Australians are very forward-looking, they see it as a long-term problem and the Research & Development efforts will help them get over the hump." If Australia sticks to the Federal Government’s plan to begin emissions trading by 2010, Australians will have to adjust to the costs incurred by the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme and a carbon tax where each tonne of CO2 that is released will impose a tax liability.

The July 2008 Green Paper confirms “The Government is offering a range of additional assistance measures, in particular for low and middle income households, to help with adjustment costs and improve household energy efficiency.” The Government confirms however that climate change will “... involve far reaching impacts on our economy, community and our environment.”

CSIRO’s Paul Graham says “Basically the issue is that when there is a shift into low-emission technologies, they [high CO2 emission technologies] obviously cost more, so there’s a jump in cost to the consumer.”

Green power is currently the most expensive energy available but when “black” electricity and gas suppliers begin to be penalised for polluting, they will be forced to increase their electricity prices and gas rates.

With wholesale electricity and gas prices expected to increase by 50% over the next 2-3 years, “black” power will no longer provide the cheapest gas and electricity plans urging Australians to switch to green energy.

David Power of ShopAround.com.au says “All Australian households need to prepare themselves financially for the effects of climate change legislation. It is essential for all of us to reassess their household budgets, whether you are resident in Victoria or shopping around for the best gas and electricity prices in NSW or Queensland. If carbon tax is introduced, traditional electricity suppliers and gas companies may no longer be providing the best electricity plans available.”

ShopAround.com.au delivers an efficient shop around service for Victorians looking to go green and do their bit to help save the environment from climate change. Households can prepare for increased costs imposed by carbon tax if they compare electricity providers and compare gas providers for cheap electricity and cheap gas and find a great green product online.

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