A climate dividend for Australians

Climate change is one of the greatest moral challenges of our time, yet our current politics has failed to deliver any meaningful policy response. Whilst some of this is the product of a lack of political leadership, there are also legitimate concerns about what effective action on climate would mean for the economic well-being of low-income Australians, their access to affordable transport and energy, and the competitiveness of Australian industry.

Professors Richard Holden and Rosalind Dixon propose a new solution to bridge the current left-right divide on climate policy – a carbon dividend approach. The ‘Australian Climate Dividend Plan’ combines a universal carbon tax of $20-50 per ton for all carbon emissions in Australia, with a commitment to rebating the proceeds directly to all adult Australian citizens. Modelled on similar proposals developed in the US by the Climate Leadership Council, the proposal aims simultaneously to provide strong market-based incentives to reduce our carbon emissions, and decrease rather than increase economic inequality. The proposal is at once conservative and progressive and provides a workable solution that will appeal to all sides of the political spectrum.

We invite you to join Dr Kerryn Phelps AM MP to launch the Australian Climate Dividend Plan at UNSW Sydney on 21 November.

Proceedings will begin promptly at 6pm. Please join us for light refreshments after the speeches.