A price on pollution in Australia: How will it work? Who will pay? Will it help protect our planet?

The landslide of facts and figures, questions and retorts since the announcement of Australia’s plans to put a price on pollution has been immense. For many, this overwhelming – and often conflicting – information has resulted in a small amount of hope and a large serving of confusion.

In my circle of friends and around the kitchen table at work these are the questions that I have heard again and again: how will the price on pollution work? Who will pay? Will it help protect our environment?

In answer to these questions I’ve been pointing my friends and colleagues to watch this video which manages to explain the price on carbon pollution, what it means for the environment, the economy, business and households, in about 2 minutes. Impressive huh?! Check it out and let us know what you think.

Once you move past “the sky will fall in” rhetoric it is clear that the proposed carbon price package is a good start to help Australia reduce our domestic carbon pollution and catch up to international action on climate change.

However, over the coming weeks we know that the naysayers will be out in force, nosily stomping about Australia as they ramp up their campaign to block action on climate change.

Right now our Parliament is on winter break, which means that from now through to mid-August politicians are in their home electorates meeting with their constituents, taking calls and reading emails. This is a critical time for you to remind your local politician that you are concerned about the impacts of climate change and want to see action. Send your local MP one of our pre-prepared letters or go one step further and place a call to their office.

Together we have already come so far highlighting the impacts of climate change on our developing country neighbours and calling on our government to act. Now’s the time to remind our politicians that we need this carbon price legislation in place, as a first step to getting the kind of international climate action we truly require. Take action now.

P.S If you have further questions about the proposed price on pollution legislation or what to get more involved in campaigning for climate action check out the Say Yes website for fact sheets and ways to get involved.