Sustainability Issue in Australia - Case Study Example

Case Study on a Sustainability Issue in Australia Name: Course: Tutor: Date: Case Study on a Sustainability Issue in Australia Carbon Mitigation Introduction The reality of sustainability around the globe is achieved through assumption change considering the diverse economies present. This is achieved by taking into account resource input real costs and that of waste generation. The factors ascribed to this component of having a healthy economy include reuse, renewable sources of energy, conservation, recycling and making efficiency. Many developed nations have managed to reduce environmental impacts and resource inputs through the growth economic decouple’ from consumption of energy. This results in the decrease of energy input with regard to economic growth. This has been successful through change of behavior and technology that promotes and improves efficiency and thus, closes the loop of energy during production. The case study intends to describe more on the Clean Energy Act of the Australian government, which depicts more on how the implementation process became a challenge to government officials. The issue under scrutiny is carbon emission. Carbon mitigation has been a great concern to the local Governance due to changes in climate. This paper involves examining carbon mitigation in Australia and the challenges it poses to the environment and government. I will also look closes at the problems and find a way of solving the governance problems faced. In Australia, potential threats caused by climate change are one of the most conspicuous policies being discussed currently. There has been an increased emission of gases by the green houses leading to global warming. This has led the government to find an approach of how to regulate and solve the issue by the introduction of carbon trading scheme by having a federal carbon tax, to be implemented from July 2012 (Exploring Australia Ix). Actors Carbon trading and taxes is influencing the quality and prices respectively of carbon that is emitted by human activities to the environment. This translate to high taxes been paid for high carbon emission and vice versa (Exploring Australia p. 2). Carbon mitigation is important because it provides extra income and value to the environment at large. To be able to develop strategies to mitigate Carbon it is important to consider the sustainability, safety and sturdiness of the carbon maintained and created. One should also consider the environmental effects, social and cultural issues as well as economic costs (Metz., Davidson., Swart & Pan, 2001). The Australian local government authorities had strategies on gas emission, which were to ensure that data on gas emission kept, and regularly updated for the government to regulate carbon in the atmosphere. The government also did numerous surveys with the type of carbon mitigation actions and object for emissions reduction. There are several case studies that the local government is using to analyze greenhouse gas mitigation, to find a means of reduce the effects of carbon to the environment. This research include Methodologies of asses carbon emissions (Hamilton et al., 2008), Climate change Law and liability (Englsnd, 2008) and many others. There aims being to assess and standardize carbon mitigation measures, estimate causes for carbon emissions, categorize key council members and review opportunities for council sustainable technologies (Zeppel, p. 72). The Government, environmental management bodies, other stakeholders and the company are the major actors involved in ensuring that less carbon is emitted to the atmosphere. Their relationship demonstrated in the figure below:- The Government in relation to environmental management bodies and other stakeholders will work together to ensure that the industrial companies will maintain the set standard of operation. Governance Challenges There are several governance challenges on carbon mitigation in Australia. These are globalization, decentralized environmental governance, market and individual focus instrument and governance across scales. In regard to globalization, it has become a major challenge to the government, this is because, it has its positive and negative effects, it is good for the growth of the economy, but it has as well become a giant in over utilization of natural resources. According to Carter “Globalization stretches the chain of production and consumption over a great distances and across many locations, which increases the temporal and spatial separation between the sources of environmental problem and their impact in specific places” (273). Although it improves the quality of life and solves social problems, it is greatly affecting the environment and the government should have a mechanism to balance the two. The decentralized environmental governance has also proved to be futile on management of environmental issues; the challenge here is for the government to enforce its regulations on a decentralized system with different rules and regulations. According to Sustainable Energy Handbook, another important issue faced by many councils is the climate change. This has brought negative effects to developed and developing countries at large; natural hazards, damages of infrastructure community safety, legal liability and risk of coastal flooding are some effects of climatic change. The council will be a force to hold a regular meeting to try to mitigate the current problem; this will then increase cost of expenditure (5). The many challenges concerning energy supply, there is much resistance by stake to reduce fossil fuel and pay the tax on fossil fuel subsidies or the carbon charges. The government needs to ensure that this is implemented to reduce carbon emission to the atmosphere. The other challenge on transportation is the partial coverage on the obligatory bio fuel blending with carbon for road transport. The government should also ensure that the industries perform according to their standards; they should also provide information about their company in regard to carbon emission, pay their tax, and have renewable trade permits. This will enable that government to allocate resources and ensure stability of national policies. The other key challenge is the lack of formal way of communication by the officers to the council for the need of carbon mitigation actions. A study is needed on how the council will tackle the carbon mitigation actions. In order to meet this council need to improve on its policies, have adequate funding to carry out the takes and ensure that their staff are well skill and knowledgeable and that they have the resources required. Other constrains like climate governance, management and spontaneous practices within the local government need addressing for the success of carbon mitigation (Zeppel p.12). Value Conflicts Australia government is going towards clean energy, and for it to met this target, it will be required to have in place a carbon price, promote innovation and implementation of renewable energy, promote energy competence and also create chances for inhabitants to reduce pollution. This will reduce pollution by 23% by 2020 as compared to 5% in 2000. The effect also translating to reducing the number of cars by 45 million off the road and by 2050, and predicting pollution by 80 %. Concerning innovation, the government, is intending to put, in place large-scale hydropower generation projects, to generate renewable energy. This is anticipated to generate 40 % of the country’s electricity by 2050. The government is also planning to negotiate for closure of industries generating high pollution thus, gives them a chance to introduce the use of renewable energy. The increase in carbon price its effects will be slightly smaller as compared to other items. This is translating to 0.7% by the year 2012/13 according to Consumer Price Index (CPI). Competing Interest Several competing interests will affect carbon mitigation in Australia. These include the availability of electricity and hydro generated power. Most electricity companies will work to ensure that the communities do not adopt the policies on carbon. Others include powerful politician who can derail the adoption of the set policies by the council and considering that they can make their decision independently; they will always work toward their own objective. Another competing interest is the staff working within the council and has an interest on an industry. The staff will have to take an oath and ensure that work and people come first before him. Thus, should ensure that work code ethics and conduct maintained all the time. Institutional Barriers Barriers are intrinsic to the process of expansion. The institutional barriers the prevent carbon mitigation are mainly related to technology. This is because several issues affect the initialization of new technology; it varies depending on the region. These factors are the cost of the new technology; competence, flexibility, its existing capacity and risk of obsolesce. There will be much need for infrastructure to be set, which needs many funds from the government. The government should ensure that it has enough resource to be used these being human resources and non human resources. The main barriers to mitigation are lack of information, knowledge, data used to convince the affected party that this is required. The law of awareness applies mostly to the community, not knowing the risk of high carbon production to the atmosphere harmful to your health. Another barrier is high transaction or operating cost to initialize the process. This greatly affects the low and middle-income class households, but the government of Australia is promising to meet some of the cost. The lack of adequate policies and standards to regulate renewable energy has made it difficult for pollution of the atmosphere reduced. It is a tendency for financial institution to accord services differently to organizations depending on their size. Hence, this blocks small firms in accessing financial aid to enable it reduce the greenhouse emissions as required. There is also the lack of human and institutional capabilities, which will bring down the process and thus, not able to meet the set target. For the government to be able to meet the barriers on mitigation it will be required to have well laid and workable policies, strategies and measure and action to influence the stakeholders way of doing things to introduce new technologies and endure that renewable energy is practiced countrywide. Solutions Scientific experts on climate around the world, which includes Australia’s Meteorology Bureau and CSIRO, warn that global warming and high continuity of carbon pollution levels risk increased risks of both economic and environmental damage (Combet, 2012). In order for the governance to fix the challenges concerning regulations, they should ensure that the policies are adhered to even without legislation. The government should cub this by debating the issue in parliament and should only support policies that have more benefits than its costs (Carter, 2007). It has become a norm for the Australian Politicians to adopt policies without taking much consideration because of the rise in environmental degradation. This issue should be put to rest and only sustained policies adopted (Sustainable energy handbook, p. 70). There is a current campaign in Australia to ensure that 1 billion new trees are planted over the next 15 years. This is believed to enable them reduce carbon emission by 75% because the tree will absorb the carbon monoxide through their leaves. Consequently, use the carbon to formulate organic compounds through the sun. Tree planting is considered a voluntary mechanism and good expenditure for the country. The project will cost approximately $3 billion and these will keep the country cool, have clean water and preserve natural habitat for local animals. Most industries failed to adhere to these regulations. For example, if they are to emit a certain percentage of carbon to the atmosphere, they emit more than its required and make it difficult to deal with the dilemma. The Government of Australia recently passed a clean energy act, which will be measure used to fix the current challenges on carbon mitigation. This will shift Australia’s energy consumption from fossil fuels to renewable energy. This will ensure the increase in participation on energy issues by the Government. However, it has not been implemented fully as it has some pending legislation. According to the Global Public Affairs Hot Issue, the legislation affects numerous companies and stiff opposition expected. These companies include the Mining industry, Aviation and steel industries. There Act contains key provisions, which are expected to act as an incentive to the affected companies, for example, compensation package to be paid for the most affected industry (Hot Issue p. 2). The Energy Act gives “mandated to New Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to administer AUD3.2 billion in government support for renewable energy”. Advantages of carbon pricing The government intends to improve the level of household of a million Australians; most low level and middle-income households will be given help for the cost of living. These will be in two forms, “Increases in pensions, allowances and family payments that they may receive and income tax cuts on top of these increases”. These means that averagely, households will be affected by an increase of $9.90 per week, but obtain help amounting to $ 10.10 per week. The extra coast and assistance was to start in May and June of 2012, the prices will change automatically and will run with a fixed price for 3 years. The revenue from carbon price will help many working Australians’ as it will cut down their taxes permanently. No working employee will be required to pay income tax, and around 60% of tax payers will get $300 tax cut, this tax cut will aid in projects concerning renewable energy and its sustainability. In regard to household assistance, the government intends on increasing the pension for the aged persons. The government will offset the increased price due to carbon price, it will also ensure that all families receive new tax cut and cash payment increase as a family tax benefit. The government also intends to assist self-funded retiree to be able to earn the same amount as the age pensioners. In conclusion, the council should make certain of more support from the Commonwealth and state governments and set to zero rate emission to the environment. They should also set their priorities as well and ensure enough funding is available. Carbon mitigation is very important to the Australian government as shown by the various legislations debated and through the numerous programmers and researches being conducted. References ACT Sustainable Energy Policy Energy for a sustainable city 2011-2020. Retrieved 19 October, 2012 from Australian Policy Online. (2011). The clean energy plan. Clean Energy Future. Retrieved 18 October 2012 from Angelsen, A., Streck, C., Peskett, L., Brown, J., & Luttrell, C. (2008). What is the right scale for REDD. Moving ahead with REDD: issues, options and implications, 31-40. Carbon Market Institute. (2011). Australia’s Clean Energy Legislative Package. Retrieved from Carter, N. (2007). The politics of the environment: ideas, activism, policy (Paper). Combet, G. (2012). Securing a Clean Energy Future: Implementing the Australian Government’s Climate Change Plan. CanPrint Communications Pty Ltd. Garvey, J. (2008) Ch. 3 in the Ethics of Change (pp. 57-87) Humphreys, J. (2007). Exploring a carbon tax for Australia. Centre for Independent Studies. Marsteller, B. (2011). Global Public Affairs: HOT ISSUES. Retrieved 18 October, 2012 from Metz, B., Ogunlade, D., Swart, R. & Jiahu, P. (2001). Climate Change 2001: Mitigation: Contribution of Working Group III to the Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Editors University Press. Zeppel, H. (2012). Governing carbon mitigation and climate change within local councils: A Case Study of Adelaide, South Australia. Commonwealth Journal of Local Governance, (10). Zeppel, H. (2012). Governing carbon mitigation and climate change within local councils: A Case Study of Adelaide, South Australia. Editorial Board, 70. Read More