Reason clouded by carbon
Scientists need to remain open to competing views and avoid being locked into tunnel vision on carbon emissions.Feature - Peter Schwerdtfeger - posted 29/6/2009

The 'green' bandwagon: skin-deep and paper-thin?
When Miranda Kerr bared all for the animals it generated plenty of free publicity for 'Rolling Stone' magazine.Media - Tim Wallace - posted 29/6/2009

Ranking the CPRS: a one-model beauty contest
Why would Australia unilaterally tax its exports, and effectively subsidise its imports, for no global carbon emissions reduction? Environment - Geoff Carmody - posted 29/6/2009

The return of the political wedgie: is this the Greens' GST moment?
The Rudd Government’s revised climate change legislation is an atomic-sized double wedgie.Domestic Politics - Reece Kirwin - posted 29/6/2009

Australian Government Media Releases

Response to Senator Fielding's questions about the climate change science - 24 June 2009
http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/wong/2009/tr20090624c.html
This is a simple feature of statistics. This is illustrated below.

Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme - transcript 24 June 2009
http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/wong/2009/tr20090624b.html
Lets remember this is why not just Australia, but the US, the United Kingdom, Europe, Japan, China - all these nations are acting on climate change because the threat is present and the threat is real. I think it is the way we can understand the Oppositions attempt to delay the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, the bill in the Senate this week, is that they have had to delay it because they dont have a unified position.

Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme - transcript 24 June 2009
http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/wong/2009/tr20090624a.html
We are very well Penny Wong, our listeners would have heard that Nick Xenophon, South Australian Senator, independent Senator, is asking for this important piece of legislation to be deferred - a matter of weeks, maybe two or three months - you'll be going in in just a moment saying no let's get it on today. It is really quite extraordinary that on this, such an important public policy issue, that the Liberal Party don't have the courage of their convictions, they haven't put forward a single amendment - they just don't want to debate it.

Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, fake email scandal - transcript 24 June 2009
PORTFOLIO: Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
URL: http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/wong/2009/tr20090624.html
Is that right now? Is that - the prospect that this will be delayed and that there won't be a vote until August, is that inevitable?. Well I think it really is incumbent upon Mr Turnbull to come clean on this issue and to disclose fully whatever dealings he has had in relation to this fake email.

Media release from Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Portfolio
URL: http://www.airservicesaustralia.com/media/pressreleases/pr20_09.asp
SNIPPET: Airservices Australia and Naverus today signed a contract that will lay the foundations for the worlds first nationwide performance-based navigation (PBN) network, delivering significant reductions in aircraft emissions and noise, reduced flight miles and substantial fuel savings. The new RNP procedures will be similar to those designed by Naverus for the 2007 Brisbane Green Trial, conducted by Airservices and Qantas. Naverus CEO Steve Forte said the company was delighted to continue the partnership with Airservices on a leading environmental initiative.

Australian Government Media Releases

Greenhouse reporting amendment to aid flexibility - joint media release 23 June 2009
http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/wong/2009/mr20090623.html
SNIPPET: You are here: &raquo 2009. 'This amendment to the NGER Act recognises this important feedback and is consistent with the Government's commitment to reduce, where possible, the reporting burden on industry through the streamlining of greenhouse and energy reporting through a single national reporting framework - the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting System,' Senator Wong said. Mr Combet said the amendment would ensure a high degree of continuity between current and future reporting arrangements, provide greater certainty for business and would lead to a reduction in compliance costs for business to meet their reporting obligations.

Opposition motion to delay consideration of Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme - transcript 23 June 2009
http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/wong/2009/tr20090623a.html
So what has happened today and over the last 24 hours or so is that the Coalition in the Senate has ensured that we have spent more time debating whether to debate the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, than actually debating it. It also - let's remember this - it was also one of the election commitments made by John Howard that they would take action on climate change.

OzCar, Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme - transcript 23 June 2009 http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/wong/2009/tr20090623.html
SNIPPET: One thing is crystal clear here: you are not going to get your Carbon Pollution Reduction Bills through Parliament this week are you?. But really the problem here is not the Senate the problem here is Malcolm Turnbull.

CPRS and Small Business - Changes Required - 23 June 2009
Executive Summary - Securing SMEs in Australia's Low Carbon Future - June 2009Full Report - Securing SMEs in Australia's Low Carbon Future - June 2009
http://www.acci.asn.au//text_files/media_releases/2009/078-09.pdf

Media Release: Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) - Senate should set scheme aside
Statement by Mitchell Hooke, Chief Executive Officer, Minerals Council of Australia
http://www.minerals.org.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/33996/MCA_CPRS_statement_21_June_2009.pdf

Media Release: Getting the CPRS Right Should be Main Objective - 26 May 2009
http://www.acci.asn.au//text_files/media_releases/2009/064-09.pdf

Australian Government Media Releases

Doorstop interview: Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, Amendments - transcript 5 May 2009
PORTFOLIO: Environment, Water, Heritage and the ArtsURL: http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/wong/2009/tr20090505.html
SNIPPET: You are here: &raquo Transcripts. Yesterday the Government announced a range of changes to the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme package that we will be putting forward into the Parliament. And that is behind - if you look at what has been said, that is behind - the logic behind the position of many responsible business organisations.

Inquiry into the exposure drafts of the legislation to implement the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme

Interim Report: Inquiry into the exposure drafts of the legislation to implement the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme [Australian Parliament Website]
TIlL SENATE STANDlI'\G COMMITTEE O~ ECONO\1ICS Inquiry into the exposure draft of the legislation to implement the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Interim Report 14 April 2009 Senator the Hon John Hogg President of the
Date: 21/04/2009 - Collection: Senate - Sub Collection: Senate Committee Reports

More info: http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/economics_ctte/cprs_09/index.htm

Australian Government Media Releases

Make a move for the environment this Youth Week - media release 1 April 2009
PORTFOLIO: Environment, Water, Heritage and the ArtsURL: http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/garrett/2009/mr20090401a.html
SNIPPET: You are here: &raquo 2009. 'Youth Week's theme for 2009, Make a Move , is a powerful message that can easily be applied to the environment. If you are unable to access a publication, please to organise a suitable alternative format.

Keynote presentation 5th Australasian Cleantech Forum - speech 1 April 2009
PORTFOLIO: Environment, Water, Heritage and the ArtsURL: http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/garrett/2009/sp20090401.html
SNIPPET: You are here: &raquo Major speeches. Evidence like this is clear - crystal clear - and so the Government is advancing a National Strategy for Energy Efficiency, to provide the Commonwealth leadership, and the framework for co-ordinated action, that has been so lacking for the last 12 years. We will also focus on ensuring the market has the right information to maximise investments in energy efficiency, for example, through a National 1 Prevention is Better than Cure: Avoiding Carbon Emissions through Energy Efficiency Projected Impacts of the Equipment Energy Efficiency Program to 2020, George Wilkenfeld and Associates, January 2009.

Defining emissions intensive industries under the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme - media release 1 April 2009
PORTFOLIO: Environment, Water, Heritage and the ArtsURL: http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/wong/2009/mr20090401.html
SNIPPET: You are here: &raquo 2009. Seven of the emissions-intensive trade-exposed activities that may be eligible for free permits under the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme have had their activity defined to allow for the next stage of data collection. 'The Government is committed to providing certainty to firms that may be eligible for free permits under the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme,' Senator Wong said.

STANDING COMMITTEE ON ECONOMICS : 30/03/2009 : Exposure drafts of the legislation to implement the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme [Senate Committee Hansard]
Canberra Senate STANDING COMMITTEE ON ECONOMICS 2009-03-30 Exposure drafts of the legislation to implement the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme 1 Committee met at 10.04 am 0 CHAIR (Senator Hurley) 10000 CHAIR Named 1
Date: 30/03/2009 - Collection: Committees - ID: committees/commsen/11961/0000 - Source: Senate

Climate change, Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme

transcript 17 March 2009
PORTFOLIO: Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts

SNIPPET: One of the key advantages of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme is it does enable that international linking - it enables us to be part of a global approach to this. But surely the aim of a scheme like the one you're developing - and what everyone thinks is the aim is that the polluters in this country, like polluters around the world, will hopefully stop polluting as much - our carbon emissions will decrease.

Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Bill

Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme(Charges—Customs) Bill 2009
No. , 2009
(Climate Change and Water)
A Bill for an Act to impose charges for the issue of Australian emissions units under the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Act 2009, so far as those charges are duties of customs

Exposure Draft

Release of CPRS exposure draft legislation

Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, today released exposure draft legislation and explanatory materials for the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme

An idea whose time never came

The federal government’s emissions trading scheme is in trouble. RICHARD DENNISS looks at the alternative

IT IS OFTEN SAID that there is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come. But it seems that in the case of Minister Wong’s version of emissions trading, the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, or CPRS, there is nothing less powerful than an idea whose time never actually came.

The flaws in the CPRS are becoming obvious, not just to the public but to the government itself. As the start date for the scheme approaches, the public and the parliamentarians are starting to look a little more closely at Minister Wong’s scheme and, as we saw with the debacle around the House of Representatives inquiry, they clearly don’t like what they are seeing...

Carbon emissions trading: a way forward or the Emperor's new clothes?

Australian federal politics at the moment is dominated by debate over the Rudd government's carbon pollution reduction scheme. This week, Rear Vision looks at the history of such carbon trading schemes and at how effective they are at reducing greenhouse gases. First Broadcast 28 September 2008

The federal government’s emissions trading scheme is in trouble. Richard Denniss looks at the alternative

IT IS OFTEN SAID that there is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come. But it seems that in the case of Minister Wong’s version of emissions trading, the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, or CPRS, there is nothing less powerful than an idea whose time never actually came.

The flaws in the CPRS are becoming obvious, not just to the public but to the government itself. As the start date for the scheme approaches, the public and the parliamentarians are starting to look a little more closely at Minister Wong’s scheme and, as we saw with the debacle around the House of Representatives inquiry, they clearly don’t like what they are seeing.

Release of CPRS guidance paper

Penny Wong: The Department of Climate Change today released a guidance paper for the assessment of activities for the purposes of the emissions-intensive trade-exposed (EITE) assistance program under the Rudd Government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme.

Developing your carbon strategy: How to respond to the Green Paper

The second paper in our business of climate change series summarises the Government's proposed Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme framework and helps you to assess your position in terms of liability, compliance and the steps needed for immediate action.

White paper and 2020 target range - the key tests

The Climate Institute
The announcement of the Federal Government's 2020 emission reduction target range and release of its Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) White Paper, charts a course for Australia's efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions over the coming decade. Posted 26-01-2009

Emissions reduction scheme-energy firms feel let down

16/12/2008 - Energy companies say the federal government's proposed carbon pollution reduction scheme (CPRS) will result in too heavy a cost burden while others are disappointed there is no support for "green" power generators.

In a white paper on the proposed CPRS release on Monday, the federal government set an absolute maximum cut to emissions of 15 per cent by 2020 - if the world signs an effective climate pact.