Australia’s ‘Carbon Police’ May Enter Premises

June 12, 2009

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Federal police will be forced to become “carbon cops” under the Australian Government’s climate laws to cut greenhouse (GHG) emissions, reports the Herald Sun.

Federal police agents, who are involved in law enforcement in Australia and overseas, investigating terrorist threats, drug syndicates, people trafficking, fraud and threats against children, now will be expected to prosecute a new range of climate offenses including under reporting of carbon emissions by firms and bogus carbon offset schemes without extra resources, reports the Herald Sun. Interpol has warned the carbon market will be a target of criminal gangs because of the vast amounts of cash to be made.

According to the Climate Change Minister’s office, the federal agents would be expected to enter premises and request paperwork to monitor firms’ emissions reductions, acting act on the Australian Climate Change Regulatory Authority’s orders.

In May, Australia decided to delay its program to cut carbon dioxide emissions. The carbon pollution reduction scheme is now facing Senate defeat unless it can secure the support of key cross-benchers or the Opposition, reports the Herald Sun.

Steelmakers and electricity generators are urging the Rudd government to delay a vote on its emissions trading scheme (ETS) until its effect on the key industries is finalized, reports The Australian. In addition, the Business Council of Australia, which publicly backed the amended scheme announced by the government in May, said in the article it wanted to see the ETS become law this year, but only after issues have been resolved for the electricity generators, coal miners and other emission intensive industries.

Climate Change Minister Penny Wong says the government is determined to force a Senate vote on the ETS this month before the winter break on June 25, reports The Australian.

The Coalition, the Greens and impacted industries recently accused the government of “playing politics” with climate change legislation after they learned that compensation for emissions-intensive industries under the renewable energy target would not begin until the carbon pollution reduction scheme and accompanying regulation were also passed, according to The Australian.

As a result, the Rudd government has hinted it could back down on its strategy of linking renewable energy legislation with the success of the emissions trading scheme, according to the newspaper.

Wong said she was “open to amendments” to the bills legislating that 20 percent of energy must come from renewable sources by 2020, due to be debated in June, reports The Australian.

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Enhance Sustainability. Improve Profitability.

Learn how at the SAP Sustainability Resource Center. >>

Unclear about the EPA's new GHG Rule?

Learn how it could affect your business. >>

EPA mandatory emissions reporting starts Jan 1st

CSA Standards can help your organization get ready for compliance. Find out how. >>

Survey Results: Product Environmental Compliance Best Practices

How to achieve compliance at a significantly lower cost. Download the full report. >>

Join the Discussion

Reader Comments

The Australian reports that these Australian executives are telling their legislators to wait on making any big decisions regarding carbon emissions until the United States finalizes our own policy. This just shows how important it is for the U.S. to step up and take on global climate change as soon and as aggressively as possible. We can’t wait on the rest of the world to improve their energy policies, when they’re all waiting on us to set the standard.

Sustainable Business Consulting | June 12th, 2009

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

11/20/2009
11/19/2009
11/18/2009

Charts [ see all ]

European Paper Industry Cuts CO2 Emissions by 42% since 1990

S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks

Nike Tops Annual Climate Action Scores

Oceans May Trap more Carbon than Forests

Jobs

View All Jobs >> Post a Job >>

Comments and Discussions

Trade Association on Trade Group on EPA Chemical Regs: ‘If Everything is a Priority, Then Nothing is a Priority’
"Seriously… that..."

Gary Markowitz on Supermarkets Tackle Emissions Reductions, Fuel Efficiency
"Supermarkets waste over 10 percent of their energy through improper..."

peter in ireland on Ontario May Follow California’s Lead on TV Energy Efficiency
"Governor Schwarzenegger is shooting himself in the foot! 1...."

Environmental Leader on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"The survey respondents (the PDF report mentions 4,000 respondents in 38..."

Jake on UPS Trying New Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks
"A point of clarification: the Reuters press release referenced herein reports that 20 UPS will purchase..."

Custom Organic Shirts on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"90% of North Americans believe it is urgent to get a global climate..."

peter dublin on California City’s Green Building Ordinance Applies to Commercial Buildings
"Why energy efficiebnt regulation on buildings –..."

Environmental Leader