Environment Minister Greg Hunt will make a pitch for his direct action alternative to carbon pricing as consistent with action other countries are taking to address climate change in a speech on Tuesday.
Mr Hunt will tell a conference in Melbourne carbon taxes play a “limited role” in reducing emissions and there are many international “direct action” policies such as renewable energy targets and funds to pay for emissions cuts.
His speech comes as China launches three of regional emissions trading schemes in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangdong province, to add to one scheme already operating in Shenzhen and three more planned for next year.
Mr Hunt’s pitch for the $2.55 billion direct action policy – which will pay companies and farmers for emissions cuts – comes as a vote on the government’s repeal bill for the carbon tax is due in the Senate in the next fortnight.
In the speech Mr Hunt will point to Norway’s Carbon Procurement Program and bilateral deals signed by Japan to purchase emissions reductions and build clean technology projects in other countries as examples of direct action.
He will also point to energy efficiency measures and renewable energy targets established in countries such as United States, China, the European Union and Russia, along with regulations of emissions from cars and power plants in some countries.
“The Coalition Government’s Direct Action plan is entirely consistent with the direction taken by many overseas countries,” Mr Hunt will say.
There are an estimated 33 countries – including those in the European Union – around the world that have some form of carbon pricing in place, along with 18 sub-national regions. Last month an OECD report found carbon pricing must be the cornerstone of national polices to cut emissions.
The December vote to repeal Australia’s carbon price is expected to fail with Labor and the Greens – who control the Senate until July 1 – against it. The government is likely to have more success with the next Senate post-July.
