Antinuclear

30 European countries successfully managing a carbon price

“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,”

“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.”

Aussie carbon tax revolt ‘bizarre’: expert, Sydney Morning Herald, 9 March 11, 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.'”

Ms Duggan also dismissed suggestions that a carbon price would push up electricity prices dramatically, arguing higher oil and commodity prices accounted for three-quarters of the 40 per cent increase in power bills during the first year of an ETS in Britain.

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 | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, climate change - global warming, spinbuster | climate change - global warming