It's delusional to think everyone will always be better off under political policy change. We might now be ready to have that conversation
1 year, 1 month ago

It's delusional to think everyone will always be better off under political policy change. We might now be ready to have that conversation

ABC  

A week before the 1983 election, Bob Hawke rang economist Ross Garnaut to talk about whether Garnaut would work for the likely next prime minister of Australia as his economic adviser. ABC Politics in your inbox Photo shows Brett Worthington looks at the camera wearing a blue blazer and glasses Sign up to the ABC Politics newsletter with Brett Worthington This was a good policy call but what is forgotten are the political and policy mechanics which made it acceptable to voters at the time: the fact the GST was sold as replacing a whole series of federal and state taxes, excises and duties, and that there were massive compensation arrangements for home owners. But there were signs in both a speech the prime minister delivered in Newcastle on Friday and new policy proposals unveiled this week at the National Press Club by Garnaut — 41 years after that conversation with Bob Hawke — and his fellow economic veteran Rod Sims. Loading An opportunity for Australia The two economists say we could neutralise that with a fossil fuel levy of our own set at the same rate as the Europeans, though they quickly concede this "carbon solution levy" is unlikely to be taken up by the major political parties in the bruising aftermath of the "carbon tax" debate.

Policy Change Australia Political Tax Cost Carbon Howard Global Economic Sims Garnaut  change  cost  policy  delusional  conversation  carbon  think  political  global  economic  better  australia  garnaut  ready  tax

History of this topic

Opinion | Climate Activists Need to Radically Change Their Approach Under Trump
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Opinion | Climate Activists Need to Radically Change Their Approach Under Trump

New York Times  

Donald Trump’s return to Washington might seem like a terrifying moment for the fight against climate change. The incoming administration is not just hostile to the energy transition; it’s also expected to pull the United States out of the Paris climate agreement, roll back a wide range of pollution regulations and promote domestic fossil fuel production — decisions likely to …

Climate myopia: This year’s CoP was a big disappointment but small surprise
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Climate myopia: This year’s CoP was a big disappointment but small surprise

Live Mint  

The 29th Conference of the Parties to Climate Change came to an end on 24 November 2024 with deep disappointment on the outcomes—not just on finance, but on most other aspects of the agenda. With grossly inadequate mitigation of the crisis, the climate finance that developing countries can legitimately asl for will increase exponentially, leading to continued disappointment from a …

The Fossil Fuels Conversation Needs a Hard Reset
4 months ago

The Fossil Fuels Conversation Needs a Hard Reset

Wired  

In 2025, we will see a fundamental transformation in the language of climate politics. We’re going to hear a lot less about “reducing emissions” from scientists and policymakers and a lot more about “phasing out fossil fuels” or “ending coal, oil, and methane gas.” This is a good thing. The 28th Conference of the Parties—the annual conference of the world’s …

Mint Quick Edit | Can the market play a pro-climate role?
4 months, 1 week ago

Mint Quick Edit | Can the market play a pro-climate role?

Live Mint  

“We are blowing past 1.5° Celsius right now," said John Kerry, former US secretary of state and till recently the US president’s climate envoy, at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit. While this would be a setback, it needn’t be quite so bad if market forces keep pushing for a sustainable future. Yet, even if we invest hope in a pro-climate …

The energy transition will be much cheaper than you think
4 months, 2 weeks ago

The energy transition will be much cheaper than you think

The Economist  

Your browser does not support this video. Briefing | Carbon bargain The energy transition will be much cheaper than you think Most analysts overestimate energy demand and underestimate technological advances Video: Jiaqi Wang P eople who want to do more to fight climate change and those who want to do less tend to have one thing in common. Donald Trump, …

Countries at COP29 urged to invest trillions to cope with climate change
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Countries at COP29 urged to invest trillions to cope with climate change

Al Jazeera  

Countries need to invest more than $6 trillion per year by 2030 to tackle the effects of climate change or risk having to pay more in the future, according to report by an independent panel of experts at a United Nations climate summit. “Investments in all areas of climate action must increase across all economies,” said the report published on …

Action against climate change ‘robust and will endure’ Trump years, UN climate chief tells COP29
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Action against climate change ‘robust and will endure’ Trump years, UN climate chief tells COP29

Firstpost  

Trump’s election sweep has cast a long shadow over proceedings in Azerbaijan, with concerns that the imminent US withdrawal from the landmark 2015 Paris deal could undermine ambition around the negotiating table Participating world leaders and delegates arrive for a family photo during the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Baku. AFP Global action on climate change “is robust and …

A shadow ‘financial crisis’ has cost the world $2 trillion
4 months, 2 weeks ago

A shadow ‘financial crisis’ has cost the world $2 trillion

CNN  

CNN — Last month, two major storms, Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, caused a total of between $51.5 billion and $81.5 billion of property damage, mostly to Southeastern US states, according to estimates from CoreLogic. The report from the International Chamber of Commerce, which comes as the United Nations Climate Change Conference begins in Azerbaijan this week, estimated that the …

Climate Crisis: World Paying a Terrifying Price for Inaction, UN Warns
5 months ago

Climate Crisis: World Paying a Terrifying Price for Inaction, UN Warns

Al Jazeera  

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that current climate policies will result in global warming of more than 3 degrees Celsius (5.4 degrees Fahrenheit) by the end of the century. The report also finds that the world faces as much as 3.1C (5.6F) of warming above pre-industrial levels by 2100 if governments do not take greater action on slashing planet-warming …

UN climate chief presses for faster action, says humans have 2 years left ‘to save the world’
11 months, 2 weeks ago

UN climate chief presses for faster action, says humans have 2 years left ‘to save the world’

Associated Press  

OXFORD, England — Humanity has only two years left “to save the world” by making dramatic changes in the way it spews heat-trapping emissions and it has even less time to act to get the finances behind such a massive shift, the head of the United Nations climate agency said. With governments of the world facing a 2025 deadline for …

Absolute decoupling yet to happen between carbon emission, GDP growth globally, says RBI deputy governor
1 year, 4 months ago

Absolute decoupling yet to happen between carbon emission, GDP growth globally, says RBI deputy governor

The Hindu  

While the growing recognition of the adverse effects of climate change had led to some recent actions that were weakening the correlation between carbon emissions and GDP growth globally, an absolute decoupling was yet to happen, Michael Debabrata Patra, deputy governor, Reserve Bank of India said at the New York Fed Central Banking Seminar organised by the Federal Reserve Bank, …

Government’s climate goals ‘even harder to hit now with softer policy package’
1 year, 6 months ago

Government’s climate goals ‘even harder to hit now with softer policy package’

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The UK Government seems to be slipping further off track from meeting its legally binding …

Climate talks chief, who also heads oil company, says world must ‘attack all emissions, everywhere’
1 year, 8 months ago

Climate talks chief, who also heads oil company, says world must ‘attack all emissions, everywhere’

Associated Press  

BERLIN — The head of this year’s United Nations climate talks called Thursday for governments and businesses to tackle global warming by reducing greenhouse gas emissions in all regions and sectors if they want to stop the planet from passing a key temperature limit agreed on more than seven years ago. “We need to attack all emissions, everywhere: one, two …

Cost-of-living crisis overshadows ‘unavoidable’ climate action
2 years, 2 months ago

Cost-of-living crisis overshadows ‘unavoidable’ climate action

Al Jazeera  

Rising cost of living, energy and food supply crunches, and heavy national debt threaten to thwart the collective will needed to address the climate crisis, new report says. Climate change is the global economy’s biggest long-term challenge but one the world is least prepared to tackle because of short-term problems led by a cost-of-living crisis, the World Economic Forum said …

The Climate Struggle Literally Hit Home in 2022
2 years, 3 months ago

The Climate Struggle Literally Hit Home in 2022

Wired  

A year ago, I lambasted politicians for missing a huge opportunity for climate action. “I feel a lot more heartened about climate change now than I ever have,” says Jonathan Foley, executive director of the nonprofit Project Drawdown, which advocates for climate action. Like, Hey, wait a minute, things are really starting to pivot.” “2022 has proven to be a …

EU reaches deal on major carbon market reform
2 years, 3 months ago

EU reaches deal on major carbon market reform

The Hindu  

EU member States and parliamentarians on Sunday announced an agreement for a major reform to the bloc's carbon market, the central plank of its ambitions to reduce emissions and invest in climate-friendly technologies. The EU Emissions Trading System allows electricity producers and industries with high energy demands such as steel and cement to purchase "free allowances" to cover their carbon …

Australia passes landmark climate change bill for net zero emissions by 2050
2 years, 6 months ago

Australia passes landmark climate change bill for net zero emissions by 2050

Firstpost  

The legislation, a key election promise of Australia’s new centre-left Labor government, aims to slash emissions in the carbon-intensive economy by 43 per cent from 2005 levels Sydney: Australia on Thursday passed its first major climate change bill in over a decade, codifying emissions targets and enshrining into its law for the first time a goal to reach net zero …

Carbon should cost 3.6 times more than US price, study says
2 years, 6 months ago

Carbon should cost 3.6 times more than US price, study says

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Our results suggest that we …

Carbon should cost 3.6 times more than US price, study says
2 years, 6 months ago

Carbon should cost 3.6 times more than US price, study says

Associated Press  

Each ton of carbon dioxide that exits a smokestack or tailpipe is doing far more damage than what governments take into account, researchers conclude in a scientific paper published Thursday. “Our results suggest that we are vastly underestimating the harm from each additional ton of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere,” said Kevin Rennert, a study author and director of the …

Politicians, energy experts, advocates on climate bill
2 years, 7 months ago

Politicians, energy experts, advocates on climate bill

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. — “It is going to force Biden’s hand …

EXPLAINER: Can climate change be solved by pricing carbon?
2 years, 11 months ago

EXPLAINER: Can climate change be solved by pricing carbon?

Associated Press  

— As climate change bakes the planet, dozens of nations and many local governments are putting a price tag on greenhouse gas emissions that are increasing flooding, droughts and other costly catastrophes. Pennsylvania on Saturday becomes the first major fossil fuel-producing state in the U.S. to adopt a carbon pricing policy to address climate change. President Joe Biden is attempting …

Biden Says Energy Plan Will Fight Climate Change, Inflation In State Of The Union Speech
3 years ago

Biden Says Energy Plan Will Fight Climate Change, Inflation In State Of The Union Speech

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING President Joe Biden honed a pragmatic new message on climate change in his first State of the Union speech Tuesday evening, recasting his sweeping proposal to spend more than any country ever has on clean energy as a way to simultaneously combat the rise in U.S. planet-heating emissions and inflation. And we’ll do it to withstand the …

‘A future full of risks’: What’s next for climate crisis conversations in 2022?
3 years, 2 months ago

‘A future full of risks’: What’s next for climate crisis conversations in 2022?

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Therefore we need to enable all countries to do that, to transition to an economy that’s not based on …

Editorial: Go narrow and deep. The three things the U.S. must accomplish in 2022
3 years, 2 months ago

Editorial: Go narrow and deep. The three things the U.S. must accomplish in 2022

LA Times  

Our nation has waffled on climate change or introduced only minor changes. Rising sea levels threaten populations in low-lying coastal areas across the world — it’s already felt in Africa, according to a Nigerian climate report — and large-scale resettlement of those people would almost certainly lead to widespread famine and political destabilization. It contains $555 billion to incentivize renewable …

US climate pledge faces test in Senate with global impact
3 years, 4 months ago

US climate pledge faces test in Senate with global impact

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — After talking the climate talk at U.N. negotiations in Scotland, the Biden administration now tests whether a divided United States can walk the climate walk: push a massive investment for a new era of clean energy through the narrowest of margins in the Senate. “The problem is that when you have these storms that are coming with such …

At COP26, nations strike climate deal that falls short
3 years, 4 months ago

At COP26, nations strike climate deal that falls short

Al Jazeera  

Revised deal was approved after last-minute change on coal, which drew complaints from vulnerable nations and others. pic.twitter.com/NluZWgOJ9p — António Guterres November 13, 2021 UN chief Antonio Guterres called the global deal “an important step” but said, “it’s not enough. United States climate envoy John Kerry said governments had no choice but to accept India’s coal language change: “If we …

A look at the top issues for this year’s UN climate summit
3 years, 5 months ago

A look at the top issues for this year’s UN climate summit

Associated Press  

BERLIN — This year’s U.N. climate summit renews an urgent question to the international community: Can the world come together to confront the common enemy of global warming before it’s too late? Here are five of the top issues that will need to be tackled in Glasgow: RICH COUNTRIES OWE POOR ONES The pledge by rich countries to mobilize $100 …

The U.S.’s Best Hope For Real Climate Policy Is Fizzling. What Happens Now?
3 years, 5 months ago

The U.S.’s Best Hope For Real Climate Policy Is Fizzling. What Happens Now?

Huff Post  

A man uses a garden hose to water down dry vegetation as the Alisal fire burns at the edges of a ranch near Goleta, California, on Oct. 12. “The White House better have a Plan B for how we’re going to maintain those cuts.” West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin's family controls a coal empire. On Tuesday, however, Manchin seemed …

Scott Morrison's climate change policy is being left behind by corporate action
3 years, 11 months ago

Scott Morrison's climate change policy is being left behind by corporate action

ABC  

It's no easy task, attempting to make a virtue out of inaction. So spare a thought for Prime Minister Scott Morrison in his address to US President Joe Biden's virtual climate conference with global leaders late last week. Despite being at odds with the bulk of those present, many of whom upped already ambitious targets to hit net zero carbon …

Biden Makes New Pledge For U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions: A 50% Cut
3 years, 11 months ago

Biden Makes New Pledge For U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions: A 50% Cut

NPR  

Biden Makes New Pledge For U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions: A 50% Cut Enlarge this image toggle caption Charlie Riedel/AP Charlie Riedel/AP President Biden opened a global summit on climate change Thursday morning by announcing that the United States will aim to cut its greenhouse gas emissions in half, based on 2005 levels, by the end of the decade. When the …

Editorial: Biden set the right climate goal. Now we have to meet it
3 years, 11 months ago

Editorial: Biden set the right climate goal. Now we have to meet it

LA Times  

Thousands of new cars are stored at Toyota logistics service yard in Long Beach. President Biden opened an international climate summit Thursday with a pledge that the U.S. would reduce carbon emissions by 50% by the end of the decade. Regrettably, Biden didn’t describe his road map for getting there, but he has included some elements in earlier proposals, such …

Instead of panicking, fight climate change with innovation
4 years ago

Instead of panicking, fight climate change with innovation

China Daily  

Across the world, politicians are going out of their way to promise fantastically expensive climate policies. US President Joe Biden has promised to spend $500 billion each year on climate policies－about 13 percent of the entire federal revenue. The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found that of the 128 analyzed climate policies, all made us poorer. Tellingly, European Commission …

Instead of panicking, fight climate change with innovation
4 years ago

Instead of panicking, fight climate change with innovation

China Daily  

Across the world, politicians are going out of their way to promise fantastically expensive climate policies. US President Joe Biden has promised to spend $500 billion each year on climate policies－about 13 percent of the entire federal revenue. The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change found that of the 128 analyzed climate policies, all made us poorer. Tellingly, European Commission …

Climate change is actually pretty easy to solve — even easier than Joe Biden thinks
4 years, 8 months ago

Climate change is actually pretty easy to solve — even easier than Joe Biden thinks

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. And the message behind Democratic presidential …

The Green New Deal would never work. This Earth Day, I'm backing a conservative alternative that makes sense for everyone
4 years, 11 months ago

The Green New Deal would never work. This Earth Day, I'm backing a conservative alternative that makes sense for everyone

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. A focus on restructuring the economy, …

It's Too Late For Us To Fight Climate Change. Instead, Here's How We'll Spend Our Lives.
5 years, 1 month ago

It's Too Late For Us To Fight Climate Change. Instead, Here's How We'll Spend Our Lives.

Huff Post  

Barry Rueger looking out over the Pacific Ocean on Vancouver Island in Ucluelet, British Columbia. “If the powerful people who could significantly reduce carbon emissions at the stroke of a pen won’t act to save us, are we wasting our time?” My wife and I are at the age when we’re preparing for retirement as much as possible. We’d like …

Why solve climate change when you can monetize it?
5 years, 2 months ago

Why solve climate change when you can monetize it?

Salon  

Hidden in a $1.4 trillion spending bill passed by Congress last month, in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it paragraph, was a sizable provision to fund research to reverse climate change. From the text of the House appropriations bill: he agreement provides no less than $4,000,000 for modeling, assessments, and, as possible, initial observations and monitoring of stratospheric conditions and the Earth's radiation budget, …

Climate change could directly cost the world economy $7.9 trillion by 2050
5 years, 4 months ago

Climate change could directly cost the world economy $7.9 trillion by 2050

Live Mint  

Climate change could directly cost the world economy $7.9 trillion by mid-century as increased drought, flooding and crop failures hamper growth and threaten infrastructure, new analysis showed Wednesday. "Richer nations are really able to be more resilient towards the impacts of climate change, so this really threatens growth trajectories of the developing world as they try to catch up with …

Editorial: Surviving climate change means an end to burning fossil fuels. Prepare yourself for sacrifices
55 years, 2 months ago

Editorial: Surviving climate change means an end to burning fossil fuels. Prepare yourself for sacrifices

LA Times  

The evidence, the expert advice, common sense — they all point to a single unavoidable conclusion: Humankind has dragged its feet for so long on the looming crisis of climate change that it is no longer looming but is upon us, and will be impossible to undo. A 2018 estimate put the annual cost to mitigate climate change if the …

Labour has started to show it takes climate change seriously – but can it bring the working class along with it?
5 years, 10 months ago

Labour has started to show it takes climate change seriously – but can it bring the working class along with it?

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The first is that the Committee …

Can geoengineering slow climate change, or will it be used as an excuse not to cut emissions?
6 years, 1 month ago

Can geoengineering slow climate change, or will it be used as an excuse not to cut emissions?

ABC  

In October the United Nations' climate body, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, sounded a grim warning. Global carbon levels from 2010 needed to be cut by almost half by 2030, limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, otherwise the world could be locked into catastrophic climate change. 'Last warning' before 1.5C warming inevitable The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change …

The War On Climate Change Won’t Be Won Quibbling Over The Green New Deal’s Costs
6 years, 1 month ago

The War On Climate Change Won’t Be Won Quibbling Over The Green New Deal’s Costs

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING The Green New Deal unveiled last week by Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a powerful and ambitious statement. The Green New Deal’s agenda, however, is clear: Dramatic action must be taken to avert a climate disaster that will otherwise render much of the world uninhabitable. Noah Smith intones that Ocasio-Cortez is calling for “unlimited …

U.N. climate report: Is there anything to stop the worst from happening?
6 years, 5 months ago

U.N. climate report: Is there anything to stop the worst from happening?

Slate  

On this week’s episode of my podcast, I Have to Ask, I spoke to Coral Davenport, who covers energy and the environment for the New York Times. However, at the time of the signing of the Paris Agreement, a bunch of heads of small island nations—countries that are already seeing the impacts of rising sea levels, water loss, severe coastal …

Building a low-carbon economy could be the 'growth story of the century': Expert
6 years, 6 months ago

Building a low-carbon economy could be the 'growth story of the century': Expert

Firstpost  

Stern described the evolution of power, transport, and construction technology as “extraordinary”. A report released earlier this month by the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate, which he co-chairs, concludes that strategic investment today across five sectors – energy, cities, food and land use, water and industry – would deliver trillions in benefits over the next 12 years, ranging …

By 2030, We Will Pass The Point Where We Can't Stop Runaway Climate Change
6 years, 6 months ago

By 2030, We Will Pass The Point Where We Can't Stop Runaway Climate Change

Huff Post  

A polar bear stepping onto sea ice. The next two to three years are a “critical window” for bold climate decisions that can usher in a new era of economic growth by 2030, says the study by the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate, an international green growth initiative fronted by former political leaders, including former Mexican President Felipe …

We Cannot Fight Climate Change With Capitalism, Says Report
6 years, 6 months ago

We Cannot Fight Climate Change With Capitalism, Says Report

Huff Post  

As access to cheap, plentiful energy dries up and the effects of climate change take hold, we are entering a new era of profound challenge ― and free market capitalism cannot dig us out. Fred Greaves/Reuters Faced with these interconnected crises, says the report, our economies are woefully underprepared: “It can be safely said that no widely applicable economic models …

Mapping The Potential Economic Effects Of Climate Change
7 years, 9 months ago

Mapping The Potential Economic Effects Of Climate Change

NPR  

Mapping The Potential Economic Effects Of Climate Change Enlarge this image toggle caption Hsiang, Kopp, Jina, Rising, et al./Science Hsiang, Kopp, Jina, Rising, et al./Science Climate scientists agree that this century is getting much warmer and that such warming will likely bring economic pain to the U.S., but economists aren't sure how much. "I think the takeaway message that is …

Climate change: $4 trillion carbon tax is needed to save humanity from global warming, say economists
7 years, 9 months ago

Climate change: $4 trillion carbon tax is needed to save humanity from global warming, say economists

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A global carbon tax that would raise trillions of dollars if applied across the world …

Global warming set to cost the world economy £1.5 trillion by 2030 as it becomes too hot to work
8 years, 8 months ago

Global warming set to cost the world economy £1.5 trillion by 2030 as it becomes too hot to work

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “For individual countries, even within a short timespan, the losses due to the increasing heat can be in the …

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