Is the falling European carbon price as dangerous as everyone is saying, or is the hype around it mostly politically opportunistic?
Chart shows carbon price of $US25 leaves emissions in 2040 one-third lower than current levels, and 40% lower than 2005 levels.
New research from UNSW shows that a medium-level carbon price of between $50-$100 would be sufficient to see all fossil-fuelled power stations in Australia’s National Electricity Market phased out and replaced ‘economically and reliably’ with commercially available renewable energy technologies.
Carbon pricing is still the best tool to address climate change at the scale required. The question is, how can we help it function efficiently.
The Climate Change Authority’s review on Australia’s emissions targets may arrive too late to embarrass the Coalition’s climate change policy before the election. That’s a pity, because the Coalition continues to spout a lot of nonsense about carbon pricing and electricity taxes.
The Opposition leader’s pledge to repeal the carbon price is looking more and more absurd, particularly after this week’s Aus-China Climate Change Forum.
Maybe not, but arguably too much focus was placed on the design and implementation of the carbon price, and not enough on communicating it.
BNEF white paper weighs up odds on whether the carbon price will survive the election of an Abbott government. Here’s what it found…
US GOP eyes carbon tax in exchange for income tax cut. Plus coal plants on the block in US, Germany; Buffett’s renewables bet; France solar.
Latest emissions projections suggest most of the task will be achieved by buying units overseas. But this sells short the effect of carbon pricing policy.
The government credits the carbon price for Australia’s falling emissions intensity. But until it’s more transparent about emission cuts, there’s no way to check.
Whether the EUA price increases or remains depressed, the linking of Australia’s ETS to the EU market looks like clever policy either way.
Australia says it will scrap the proposed carbon floor price of its emissions trading scheme as part of a deal to link with the EU ETS, and will restrict access to Kyoto credits. The Australian carbon price will now be set in Europe. All eyes on Poland!
It’s early days, but electricity prices are certainly up. To what extent is this attributable to the carbon tax? And will the sky fall in?
UN offsets approach key test price of €3; $1.3m for solar R&D; carbon compo as ‘underlying profit;’ cleantech open semi-finalists announced; new Hunter Hall CEO.
Poll shows a clear majority of Australian businesses think the carbon price, in one form or another, is here to stay. And they’re busy preparing.
If Australia wants to be clever about carbon, it’s time for a strategy rethink. And China’s flexible approach would be a good place to start.
Italy adds CO2 tax to boost green energy; global wind group predicts 500GW by 2017; Panax still hunts for funds; Plimer goes for Rio gold.
