UNSW develops climate change response that returns money to adult Australians

THE University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney will release a new smart policy to address climate change – which the university argues is "the greatest challenge of our time".

The Australian Climate Dividend Plan (ACDP) involves a tax on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions with the revenue generated returned to all voting-age Australian citizens.

Developed by UNSW economics professor Richard Holden and law professor Rosalind Dixon, co-leads for the UNSW Grand Challenge on Inequality, the plan will be officially presented on November 20 at an event with the Federal Member for Wentworth, Kerryn Phelps. 

The plan outlines a comprehensive market-based approach to making energy in Australia more affordable and reliable, by an introduction of a universal carbon tax of $20-$50 per ton for all carbon emissions in Australia. The revenue generated would be returned to all adult Australian citizens, who would potentially see a tax-free payment of about $1,300 each per annum.

Professor Holden said the ACDP is modelled on similar proposals developed in the US by the Climate Leadership Council. 

“It’s a method we know works – albeit sometimes a hard sell," Professor Holden said. "The key to our proposal is that it not only provides strong market-based incentives to reduce our carbon emissions, it addresses the economic well-being of low-income Australians – previously a barrier to developing a meaningful policy response to climate change.”

The report serves to address legitimate concerns about what effective action on climate change would mean for the economic well-being of low-income Australians, their access to affordable transport and energy, and the competitiveness of Australian industry.

“Our carbon dividend approach bridges the left-right divide on climate policy,” Prof. Holden said. “It is at once conservative and progressive and provides a workable solution that will appeal to all sides of the political spectrum.”

One option canvassed in the ACDP is to phase in the carbon dividend, beginning at $20 per ton and increasing by $5 each year to $50. This would leave more than three-quarters of Australians better off financially, even if they did not change their consumption or energy use.

Under the plan Australian industry would remain competitive. Australian exporters to countries without a carbon tax would get a rebate for taxes paid. In addition, a fee would be charged based on the carbon component of exported goods to Australia from other countries that do not have a carbon tax – creating an incentive to produce less carbon or adopt a tax themselves.   

The plan would also see the rollback of subsidies for renewables and similar measures, which are unnecessary with the tax on carbon. This could save the government more than $2.5 billion annually.

UNSW engaged new independent MP for Wentworth,  Kerryn Phelps on the policy. Professor Phelps is regarded as being focused and passionate about addressing climate change.

"The people of Wentworth – and I think Australia generally – want decisive action on cutting greenhouse emissions and a carefully considered plan to transition the economy from fossil fuels to renewables,” Prof. Phelps said.

"At this stage, I’m not being overly prescriptive on the best pathway to achieve better climate change policy, but listening to the views of experts such as Professor Holden and Professor Dixon helps to inform me on developing the best policy settings to lead us to a clean energy future."

The UNSW Grand Challenges program aims to discuss and address the biggest issues facing humanity. The Grand Challenge on Inequality has previously developed policy reports on inequality and financial distress, including an innovative method for measuring the value of government expenditures.

For more information: UNSW’s Grand Challenges

Read the full report, A Climate Dividend for Australians.

www.unsw.edu.au

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