This discussion paper proposes a cap and trade greenhouse gas trading scheme for Australia. While AEBN does not support a trading scheme at this stage, the likely hood of its introduction promoted the submission and recommendations.
Key issues raised in AEBN’s submission includes:
- In setting the cap wider issues, such as economic growth, war etc also need to be considered
- Setting the cap too high is likely to result in a consumer back-lash
- The cap should consider the performance of developed countries to their greenhouse targets, not their targets alone (many are not meeting Kyoto obligations)
- Special credits be provided for companies that undertook early action, especially under the Greenhouse Challenge program
- Concern that the cost of energy measurement and auditing has been considerably underestimated by government
Recommended actions to control the costs of energy measurement / audit / verification include:
- Increase the efficient use of energy auditors, by limiting their official requirements.
- Increase the number of energy consultants and auditors through education programs.
- Government to set appropriate measurement/audit standards on emitters according to their scale of the emissions.
- Provide a means to review measurement/audit standards —Use an independent panel to review cases for lowering the cost and improving the accuracy of measurement and auditing.
- The government develop special energy-intensive trade-exposed credits for specific industry sectors based on energy use and sector wide emissions calculations
