36. Climate Policy Down Under

There has been many interesting articles about climate policy in Australia recently looking at different issues, but all linking together. Climate policy down under is approaching a critical point, namely the next election in September this year! What happens after the election will have major ramifications for Australia, and in many ways the world, since what happens in Australia will be used as "evidence" of either success or failure on climate policy and action. The article entitled "Will Australia's carbon price last?" argues that the carbon price in Australia can survive a change in government. The opposition has argued forcefully that it will scrap the carbon price if it wins government (which appears likely), but it clearly will not be so easy to simply remove the carbon price. Another article entitled "Who's in charge of coalition climate policy?" explores what the opposition plans to do instead of a carbon price, if it manages to remove this policy framework. The so-called direct action plan looks very weak at best. And finally, an article entitled "Who's doing the heavy lifting on carbon?" identifies who exactly in Australia is driving the country towards a low-carbon economy. So, that is three big questions and three interesting answers!