The potential conflicts of interest in the Climate Change Authority (CCA) are evident in today's release of research promoting the potential of carbon offsets in Australia, according to The Australia Institute.
Key points:
- Today's release by the CCA is its third since the May election. All three focus on expanding the carbon offset industry, with little attention on broader decarbonisation.
- Four of the CCA's nine members are closely linked to the carbon offset or fossil fuel industry, including CCA Chair Grant King. Mr King is also the chair of Australia's largest carbon aggregator, GreenCollar.
Australia Institute polling shows:
- Three in four Australians (75%) agree that members of the CCA's board should not also be employed by companies or organisations that could be affected by CCA's recommendations and advice.
- Three in four Australians (76%) agree that the CCA should be chaired by a climate scientist.
- Three in four Australians (74%) agree that the CCA should be mandated to give advice based on best practice climate science. One in ten (9%) disagree.
"The Australian public is sick of climate policy being run by industry interests," said Polly Hemming, Senior Researcher at The Australia Institute.
"The CCA is publishing research and advice that reflects the interests of its members, not the scientific need for rapid decarbonisation.
"The science and economics is clear - we need to avoid and reduce emissions now and offset whatever remains later.
"The CCA seems uninterested in phasing out fossil fuels, increasing energy efficiency or economy wide carbon pricing.
"The CCA is a one trick pony - offsets, offsets, offsets.
"Our research shows that Australians want serious climate action, based on science.
"Across all political persuasions, Australians want the CCA to be chaired by a climate scientist.
"Australians are almost unanimous that they want vested interests out of climate policy.
"75% agree that members of the CCA's board should not also be employed by companies or organisations that could benefit from its decisions.
"Today's CCA publication just shows what the Australian public already knows - it's time to get vested interests out of climate policy."
