Tuesday 29 May 2007

Price hikes to combat climate change "not end of the world"

AAP Newswire,
Friday, 25 May 2007

Australian of the Year Tim Flannery says higher power and transport charges to combat climate change wouldn’t be the end of the world for average consumers. The government is set to receive a report from a taskforce into emissions trading next week. Prime Minister John Howard has already flagged the government has no intention of introducing any schemes which could damage Australia ’s coal industry .. which provides the bulk of the nation ’s energy.

Professor Flannery has told ABC TV in order to begin reducing Australia ’s greenhouse gas emissions .. the country needs to think seriously about non-polluting sources of energy. He ’s predicted a carbon price of 50 dollars a tonne will help level the playing field for renewable energy providers .. saying at that price .. all of the renewables become fairly competitive. He says this would equate to about a 30 per cent increase in the retail price .. but there would be something wrong if people couldn’t make efficiency gains in their homes .. as everyone wastes electricity.

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