Securing a Clean Energy Future - What the Carbon Pricing Mechanism means for business

The Commonwealth Government’s carbon pricing mechanism is a key component of its “Securing a Clean Energy Future” climate change plan.

The mechanism has been introduced through the Clean Energy Act 2011 (Cth) in conjunction with a suite of supporting legislation and will commence on 1 July 2012. 

With the legislation in place and commencement imminent, businesses should now be assessing the impact the mechanism will have on their activities and taking steps to prepare for its introduction.

Key issues to consider include:

• whether you will be required to acquire and surrender carbon units
• opportunities to minimise your potential exposure or to formally transfer liability to another person
• whether you will be entitled to any industry assistance, grants or other Government funding
• whether your contracts allow you to pass through any cost increases as a result of the carbon pricing mechanism and whether your suppliers will be entitled to pass through any cost increases to you
• whether you will need to make disclosures to the market under the ASX Listing Rules and the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)
• opportunities to acquire or create carbon credits
• potential exposures under funding agreements or securing new funding in the affected sectors
• how greenhouse gas information is being collected and analysed in your organisation

Click these links to find out more on:

• the mechanics of the carbon pricing mechanism
• the various forms of industry assistance
• the opportunities for the renewable energy and clean technology sectors