GREENHOUSE GAS MITIGATION – GOVERNMENT POLICY – AUSTRALIA

Heat is on as emissions goal goes to cabinet

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Original article by Laura Tingle
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 10-Aug-15

The Australian federal cabinet will meet on 10 August 2015 to discuss the emissions target. The cabinet is likely to endorse a reduction in Australian carbon emissions by between 15 and 25 per cent by 2030. The Climate Change Authority recommended a much higher target, but Prime Minister Tony Abbott argued that a "practical approach" was more appropriate.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. CLIMATE CHANGE AUTHORITY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, CLIMATE INSTITUTE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY

Compromise deal on RET in the wind

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Original article by Joanna Heath
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 9 : 10-Mar-15

The Australian Government and industry bodies are expected to agree on a compromise arrangement for the Renewable Energy Target scheme. The new target of around 35,000 gigawatt hours by 2020 would stimulate investment in wind farms. Bloomberg estimates that the new target would result in 8.8 gigawatts of extra renewable energy capacity by 2021

CORPORATES
BLOOMBERG LP, CLEAN ENERGY COUNCIL LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP

BHP wants carbon rules clarity

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Original article by Amanda Saunders
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 6-Mar-15

BHP Billiton intends to spend more on low-emission technologies, but the group wants more clarity on climate change policy. Fiona Wild, BHP’s head of climate change, says the challenge is to make carbon capture and storage technologies financially viable. Such initiatives are important, but fossil fuels will retain their central place in energy generation

CORPORATES
BHP BILLITON LIMITED – ASX BHP

Direct Action may go above and beyond on savings, says Hunt

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Original article by Geoff Winestock
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 3-Nov-14

Under the Kyoto protocol, the greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of the Australian Government is 5% of 2000 levels by 2020. Environment Minister Greg Hunt says this will easily be achieved or even surpassed due to the new compromise deal struck with the Palmer United Party in order to secure passage of the Direct Action legislation through the Senate. Opposition environment spokesperson Mark Butler counters that the effort will fall short by as much as 70%. A new emissions reduction fund worth $A2.2bn is being created

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, PALMER UNITED PARTY, UNITED NATIONS, CARBON MARKET INSTITUTE LIMITED, ENERGY EFFICIENCY COUNCIL INCORPORATED, AUSTRALIAN SUSTAINABLE BUILT ENVIRONMENT COUNCIL, COLES GROUP LIMITED, WESFARMERS LIMITED – ASX WES, WOOLWORTHS LIMITED – ASX WOW

Labor, Greens could say ‘yes’

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Original article by Joanna Heath
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 7 : 26-Aug-14

An amended climate policy may gain the support of the Australian Labor Party and the Australian Greens. Independent senator Nick Xenophon is finalising amendments that would give access to international carbon permits. This would allow the passage of the Direct Action legislation without the support of crossbench MPs. However, divisions in the government would have to be resolved, as Prime Minister Tony Abbott is opposed to the inclusion of international permits

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, PALMER UNITED PARTY, CLIMATE INSTITUTE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED

Cheaper green permits

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Original article by Joanna Heath, Laura Tingle
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 4 : 25-Aug-14

Independent senator Nick Xenophon has proposed to allow Australian companies to purchase international carbon permits. The initiative is said to have the support of Environment Minister Greg Hunt, although a spokeswoman for Hunt has indicated that international permits are not on the agenda at present. However, the business sector favours allowing local companies to buy carbon permits from overseas

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF INDUSTRY, PALMER UNITED PARTY, CLEAN ENERGY COUNCIL LIMITED, REPUTEX AUSTRALIA PACIFIC PTY LTD, DEMOCRATIC LABOR PARTY

Hunt hints at global carbon permits

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Original article by Joanna Heath
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 23-Jul-14

The Federal Government may allow Australian companies to purchase a limited number of international carbon permits. Independent senator Nick Xenophon says he has held talks with Environment Minister Greg Hunt about potential changes to the Coalition’s Direct Action policy. Australian Industry Group CEO Innes Willox supports such a move. However, Hunt says changes to the Direct Action policy are not on the agenda

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT|THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP|AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY|AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET|PALMER UNITED PARTY

Carbon tax set for scrap heap as Palmer finalises ETS details

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Original article by Lisa Cox, James Massola, Tom Arup
The Sydney Morning Herald – Page: 5 : 9-Jul-14

There was further discussion in the Australian Senate on 8 July 2014 of the Federal Government’s legislation to repeal the carbon tax, with a vote now expected by 9 July. While the Australian Labor Party and Australian Greens are opposed, Prime Minister Tony Abbott will be able to pass the bill with the help of the Palmer United Party. However, in return it will extract a pledge to force electricity companies to pass on the savings in full and show them on bills sent to consumers. The Climate Change Authority will also be retained. Meanwhile Australian Motoring Enthusiast Party senator Ricky Muir wants to stop the abolition of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency as well

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, PALMER UNITED PARTY, AUSTRALIAN MOTORING ENTHUSIAST PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. CLIMATE CHANGE AUTHORITY, AUSTRALIAN RENEWABLE ENERGY AGENCY

Clive Palmer predicts an ETS will be law within a year

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Original article by Jacob Greber, Mark Ludlow
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 2 : 30-Jun-14

Clive Palmer says an emissions trading scheme (ETS) would protect the Australian economy against the adoption of similar schemes overseas. The carbon price in the ETS unveiled by the Palmer United Party will not increase above zero until Australia’s leading trading partners adopt ETSs as well. Palmer expressed faith that his ETS will be enshrined in law within one year. This suggests he will campaign on the proposal ahead of the next federal election

CORPORATES
PALMER UNITED PARTY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY, CLIMATE INSTITUTE (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED, AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION

Palmer hijacks Abbott’s vow to repeal carbon tax

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1-Apr : 26-Jun-14

Australian MP Clive Palmer revealed the carbon policy of the Palmer United Party on 25 June 2014. Palmer said that he would keep his promise to repeal the carbon tax. However, he wants associated climate programs to be retained and the Federal Government’s "direct action" policy to be dropped. He also demands an emissions trading scheme. Former US vice-president Al Gore, who supports global action on climate change, appeared at Parliament House with Palmer

CORPORATES
PALMER UNITED PARTY, AUSTRALIA. CLEAN ENERGY FINANCE CORPORATION, AUSTRALIA. CLIMATE CHANGE AUTHORITY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE ENVIRONMENT, THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY GROUP, BUSINESS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, MINERALS COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY