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• Carbopedia
• Australia's Climate Change Approach

The Regulatory Landscape of Australia

• Emissions trading scheme time line

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• Kyoto Protocol and Australian Govt Emissions Targets

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• Australia's Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Summary in PDF Format

The National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) Act 2007 was initiated in July 2008. This system requires corporations and facilities to account for greenhouse gas emissions, abatement actions and energy consumption.

The NGER Act is to be implemented in phases, starting with the largest corporations and facilities in Australia that either consume the most energy or emit the most CO2e. The threshold to include businesses within the scheme will be expanded over time to include smaller businesses in years to come.

The data collected from participants in the NGER Act will be used to manage the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS), a 'Cap and Trade' system whereby participants will bid for 'Carbon Pollution Permits'. The number of permits available will be reduced each year in line with the Government's 2050 target of '60% below 2000 levels of CO2e pollution.'

Potential Impacts and Costs

Severe weather patterns and an increased occurrence of natural disasters on a global scale have been predicted as a result of climate change:

• Insured damage attributable to intense and frequent bushfires, cyclones, hailstorms, flooding and other catastrophes are expected to amount to billions of dollars in losses;
• Increased frequency and severity of drought conditions will drastically reduce the availability of water for consumption and irrigation. Restricted water use and soaring food prices will continue to adversely impact struggling producers, suppliers and consumers;
• A rise of just a few degrees Celsius in global temperature - coupled with the rising rate of human population growth - is expected to result in 3000 - 5000 heat-related illnesses and/or deaths by 2050. While temperature change will universally affect the greater societal infrastructure, temperate zones pose the greatest risk for sickness and mortality
• For more information on climate change, its impact and the associated costs please visit the Carbopedia section.