A carbon tax expert from Charles Sturt University (CSU) believes Australia needs to fundamentally change the way the economy works to make a difference in the nation’s carbon emissions, not just have a carbon tax imposed.

 

Professor Kevin Parton from the University’s Institute for Land, Water and Society said the latest results of the National Greenhouse Accounts are “no big deal”.

 

“The 2011 figures released by the federal government showed total greenhouse gas emissions in Australia rose by 0.6 per cent over 2010, and Australia remains on track to meet its Kyoto Protocol target, which was expected,” he said.

 

“This target itself is a ‘straw man’, given that it involves an increase in emissions when we actually need to reduce them to address climate change.”

 

Professor Parton believes what is more important is what is likely to happen in the future.

 

“The government’s ‘carbon tax’ should help contain the growth in emissions. However, even with carbon pricing, it is unlikely that there would be a fall in emissions during 2012, unless there is a dramatic fall in economic activity in the remainder of this year, which none of us wants.

 

“To reduce Australia’s carbon emissions significantly will need a change in the way the economy works and a transition, as soon as possible, to low carbon technology. However, there is currently not great optimism about the rate of progress.

 

“Electricity generation is the sector with the largest emissions. The best renewable prospect in this sector is wind power, but we are at an embryonic stage when it comes to the roll-out of this technology.