Photo by Bert Kaufmann
Australia has been tearing itself apart lately as they argue over the impending carbon tax and emissions trading. Highly unpopular with the conservatives and big business, it would see the polluters pay with the idea that they'd rather reduce their emissions than pay the tax. One of the arguments is that this is highly unfair and will make Australian companies uncompetitive.
Well, it looks like that rug has just been pulled from under them. China has announced plans for a carbon-trading scheme in their latest 5 year economic plan. With 10% of Australia's coal headed to China, that means the Aussies would have to reduce their emissions if they wanted to continue to trade with China anyway.
I'm not wholly convinced by emissions trading. If you're rich enough, then you can pay your way out of doing anything about your pollution. But if the emissions limits are low enough, then hopefully some good will come of it.
And, let's be frank, it's nice to see China responding to it's growing pollution problem.
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