The political debate over climate change has confused many consumers with respect to voluntary carbon offsetting and how it ‘fits’ with the Australian Government’s scheme.

The Australian Government’s Clean Energy Future legislative package has now passed and a carbon price for Australia’s (roughly) 500 largest polluters will take effect from July 2012.

There are two stages to implementation:

·      1. fixed price period: The carbon pricing mechanism will commence on 1 July 2012, with a price that will be fixed for the first three years. The price will start at $23 per tonne and will rise at 2.5 per cent each year in real terms.

·      2. emissions trading scheme: From 1 July 2015, the carbon price will transition to a fully flexible price under an emissions trading scheme, with the price determined by the market.

The Australian carbon market can now be broadly defined under two quite distinct markets:

•  mandatory: (those with an obligation to cancel permits for every ton of CO2 emissions under the Clean Energy Future Program); and
• voluntary: (those with no obligation who measure, reduce and offset emissions using carbon offsets, to become carbon neutral).

The carbon price is effectively a tax on pollution and will only be paid by Australia’s largest polluters.  It encourages big, heavy polluting businesses to reduce their emissions to improve profitability and competitiveness and to move to clean energy technologies. For most people, the Government’s comprehensive Household Assistance Package will cover, and in many cases exceed, any price rises caused by the Clean Energy Future Program. Nine out of 10 households will receive compensation from a combination of tax cuts and increases to family benefits.

The carbon price aims to reduce Australia’s emissions by 5% from its 2000 levels by 2020.  While a welcome development, this reduction target is well below what climate scientists consider is necessary to make a significant impact on climate change.  Leading climate scientists consider a reduction target for Australia of at least 10-15% from our 2000 levels by 2020 is required – double or triple what is currently in place.

As a result, Climate Positive continues to encourage Australians to take responsibility for their own emissions by voluntarily measuring, reducing and offsetting their individual, household and business carbon footprint.

Previously, voluntary actions were rolled up into Australia’s total carbon pollution reduction measurement, which effectively reduced the burden placed on big business.  Under the new Clean Energy Future program, the government has pledged to make sure individual voluntary actions are managed so they produce more abatement than is required under the carbon price – these voluntary contributions will be additional to the Government’s target. 

This is a better result for the environment, as it will lift Australia’s total contribution above the 5% target to be achieved through taxing the 500 largest polluters.

Climate Positive is proud to have reached a significant milestone of offsetting more than 160,000 tonnes of carbon and re-planting more than 46 hectares of cleared land on our partners’ behalf since launching in 2006.

We thank our partners, households and individuals who have offset and then gone ‘climate positive’ with us through the past five years.

The additional funds we receive from carbon offsets are directed towards our tree planting efforts and advancing science-based solutions and education programs.  We have proudly provided funds to progress the excellent efforts of like-minded non-profits Safe Climate Australia and Beyond Zero Emissions in recent years.

In addition we’d like to acknowledge all the Green Team, sustainability, procurement and facilities management staff that have shared their motivational stories, challenges and ideas at our regular networking events and helped to reduce their organisation’s carbon footprint.

We have the solution! …. By giving a carbon offset gift certificate you can help to fund accredited renewable energy projects, restore forests, promote innovative science solutions as well as helping to provide a sustainable planet for your loved ones…. The perfect gift!

]]> http://climatepositive.org/wp/2011/12/20/giving-the-best-gift-of-all%e2%80%a6a-carbon-positive-future/feed/ http://climatepositive.org/news/article/892 Tue, 20 Dec 2011 03:18:23 +0000 admin http://climatepositive.org/wp/2011/12/20/the-move-is-on-at-climate-positive-2/  

Positive changes are underway at the Climate Positive office with a move to our new premises in Port Melbourne. Co-located with Red Star Coffee’s HQ, feel free to drop in for an organic, Fair Trade, carbon neutral coffee at our new address: Unit 1/5 Rocklea Drive Port Melbourne.

Danielle Johnston, well known to many of our partners, has had a healthy baby girl and is on maternity leave.  Climate Positive welcomes Maria Simonelli as our interim General Manager.  Maria has many years’ experience in managing sustainability programs in both government and non-government bodies. She was most recently in an executive role in a non-profit organisation that provided the opportunity to deliver empowering programs to help individuals, organisations and sectors work collaboratively through transformational culture change principles.

Presenters from NAB, ABC and Qantas inspired the audience, comprised of 50 green team members from a diverse range of industries, with their accounts of engaging staff in activities to make their organisations more sustainable. To view their presentations, visit:nab-pres-for-climate-positive-green-team-convention-sydney-may-20.pdfqantas-pres-for-climate-positive-green-team-event-sydney-may-2011.pdfabc-pres-for-climate-positive-green-team-event-sydney-may-2011.pdf

NAB’s presenter was Carla Khoo, Manager, Environmental Engagement & Communications. Carla has four years’ experience in environmental employee engagement. In her current role at NAB she is responsible for raising awareness of NAB’s Climate Change strategy through engagement programs, events and communications as well as the development of an employee-driven Green Team Community. She’s passionate about working for an organisation that can have a meaningful impact, particularly in its response to climate change, and is part of the team delivering NAB’s Beyond Carbon Neutral commitment. Carla is participating in Climate Positive’s Green Team Convention so she can share NAB’s story and hopefully inspire other organisations to empower employees to reduce their impact - however big or small - on the environment.

Representing the ABC was Megan Shaw, National Coordinator, ABC Green Futures. Megan has worked in the broadcast media industry for the past 15 years. Her strong interest in Environmental Sustainability led her to take on the role of National Green Futures Coordinator at the ABC in June last year. Having worked at the ABC for the last 7 years, Megan believes understanding an organisation’s culture is key to bringing about behavioural change within the workplace.

Qantas’s Head of Environment and Resilience, John Valastro, shared insights into the Qantas green team work. Within his portfolio, John’s responsibilities include positioning Qantas to remain a leading airline Group committed to creating a cleaner future through its ongoing care for the environment. John’s responsibilities also include the provision of flexible, efficient and tailored resilience options that enable the Group to reduce crisis or incident risk impacts, continue critical services and ensure the sustainability and credibility of the Group brand. Finally, John is also responsible for creating a connected work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration, empowers people and instils a sense of pride.

Climate Positive, whose remit includes the measurement, reduction and offset of carbon emissions - as well as education about climate science and solutions, wants to bolster the capacity of Green Teams to tackle global warming and assist offset partners to reduce their footprints and costs. Climate Positive wants to make it easier for Green Teams, of all shapes and sizes, to access proven strategies for improving environmental performance to cost-effectively and quickly reduce an organisation’s carbon footprint.

Climate Positive is very appreciative of the three presenters who gave their time to take part in this event. We are also indebted to NAB for the use of their meeting room overlooking the beautiful Sydney Harbour.For more information about Climate Positive, please visit http://www.climatepositive.org/ or contact Danielle Johnston, General Manager, Climate Positive on 03 9698 5700 or via danielle@climatepositive.orgTo view photos taken at the event, please visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/safeclimateaustralia/sets/72157627066792503/