Abbott destroys carbon symbol but emissions issue remains
The carbon price has become the ultimate political symbol. But has this helped or harmed the cause for those who support it?
For many progressives this symbol was so potent that they ran a “say yes” campaign for it even before they knew what it would entail.
Regardless of the emission reduction targets or the generosity of the compensation package enshrined in the final legislation, supporters of the symbol of carbon pricing were just happy to see their team win the day.
But what if the carbon price was nothing more than an economic instrument with some capacity to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
Related documents
Between the Lines Newsletter
The biggest stories and the best analysis from the team at the Australia Institute, delivered to your inbox every fortnight.
You might also like
Here are 23 Times Carbon Offsets Were Found to be Dodgy
Carbon offsetting has received a lot of attention recently. As businesses and governments look to meet their climate targets, many are turning to carbon offsets. That is, they are paying someone else to reduce or avoid putting greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, so they don’t have to.
Ending Nazi Symbols: Let’s Get It Right
Australia needs legislation outlawing the public display of Nazi symbols in the service of white supremacist ideology, but it is critical that we get the free speech balance right.
The carbon con killing koalas
The NSW Labor Government took office promising to create a vast koala sanctuary on the state’s mid-north coast – the Great Koala National Park. Despite the threat of koala extinction in the state, more than a year later the Great Koala National Park is yet to be established.