COP19 (18/11/13) – John Connor CEO of The Climate Institute talks about the background of the Australian climate debate.
He talks about the carbon tax that was introduced by the Australian government eighteen months ago and has since been repealed by the new government. A lot of scare mongering has been used to endanger the carbon tax despite the fact that it has led to reduction in emissions and growth in clean energy.
For the first time Australia has not sent a government representative to the negotiations.
The impact that this will have on the talks is yet to be seen but Australia has joined the ranks of Japan and Canada, despite Australia being a nation that will feel the effects of climate change. This could send a bad signal to those cooperating on an international level.