Online Tutoring on Impact of Climate Change on Australian Forestry

With every passing year, the intensity of the impact of climate change on the Australian forestry deepens. Activities undertaken by humans such as land use, production of fertilizers and use, and fossil fuel combustion contribute to the increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, alongside several other greenhouse gases (Australian Treasury , 2008). Our basic living conditions are significantly determined by our climate. Climate is the primary regulator of the growth of forest and other agricultural crops that form the basic suppliers of fiber and food. Climate is the key determinant of energy required for the purpose of heating and cooling. Besides, the potency or strength of pollutants in water and air are mainly influenced by the climate (Ajani, 2007). The Gillard Labor Government introduced the “carbon tax,” also referred to as the Australian carbon pricing scheme back in 2011. The carbon tax was introduced as the Clean Energy Act 2011 with effect from the 1^st of July’ 2012. The carbon tax was implemented for a very brief period of time, repealed by the actions of Tony Abbott, the Opposition leader. He manipulated the organizations to cajole them into making little or no investment for the purpose of the reduction of emissions. The Abbott Government repealed the scheme within two years on the 17^th of July’ 2014.

The Clean Energy Futures Plan was an energy reform package with the carbon tax being one of its primary components. The purpose of this carbon tax was to cut down on the emissions of greenhouse gases in Australia by a staggering 5% below 2000 levels within a timeframe of 8 years (towards the end of 2020). The carbon tax also proposes the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 80% below 2000 levels towards the end of 2050. This plan was then implemented to accomplish its goals by motivating the largest emitters of Australia to enhance energy efficiency. Besides, these emitters were also encouraged to make generous investments in sustainable energy. The Clean Energy Regulator administered the entire scheme.

Minor climatic changes substantially contribute to the changes in forests, and therefore, to the society. A strong influence of climate change is exerted over the ecological functions. These functions include the productivity of plants and the use of water. Forests tend to use a lot of water during the longer growing seasons (Australian Government , 2008). Evaporation is also increased when the winters are warmer. The use of water in greater quantities ensures the the length and occurrence of droughts prolongs. Besides, the summertime soil moisture is also reduced when the water is use massively. The productivity of forests is reduced with the increasing occurrences and lengths of droughts in Australia. Therefore, the trees become vulnerable to diseases, pests and insects. This, in turn, influence the wood supply, fall foliage, and various other resources found in the economy (Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, 2012). The Gillard Labor

The Gillard Labor Government introduced the “carbon tax,” also referred to as the Australian carbon pricing scheme back in 2011. The carbon tax was introduced as the Clean Energy Act 2011 with effect from the 1^st of July’ 2012. The carbon tax was implemented for a very brief period of time, repealed by the actions of Tony Abbott, the Opposition leader. He manipulated the organizations to cajole them into making little or no investment for the purpose of the reduction of emissions. The Abbott Government repealed the scheme within two years on the 17^th of July’ 2014.

Climate Change Policies

The Former Labor Government’s Carbon Tax

The Gillard Labor Government introduced the “carbon tax,” also referred to as the Australian carbon pricing scheme back in 2011. The carbon tax was introduced as the Clean Energy Act 2011 with effect from the 1^st of July’ 2012 (Maher, 2012). The carbon tax was implemented for a very brief period of time, repealed by the actions of Tony Abbott, the Opposition leader. He manipulated the organizations to cajole them into making little or no investment for the purpose of the reduction of emissions. The Abbott Government repealed the scheme within two years on the 17^th of July’ 2014.

The Direct Action Plan

The Direct Action Plan is funded by the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF). It is a policy of climate change that aimed to cut down on the greenhouse gas emissions in Australia released by 2010. This was the time when the Coalition was in opposition. According to the Direct Action Plan, a scheme is needed in Australia that will ensure that firms are provided with sufficient incentives to cut down on their carbon emissions. In addition to that, the Direct Action Plan also ensures that firms are given the incentives to minimize the additional costs incurred by the sector or industry, and also by the overall economy of Australia (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2013).

There are a multitude of interdependent components in the Direct Action Plan. ERF accounts for the “centerpiece” of the Direct Action Plan. According to the Direct Action Plan, all the activities of the industries and businesses resulting in the emissions of the carbon dioxide will be reduced by the direct involvement of the ERF. The key theme underlying the development of the ERF revolves around the contributions of the Australian Government to the projects that shall result in the reduction of the emissions of carbon dioxide at the lowest cost. A reverse auction would be held to fund the allocations from the ERF. This reverse auction ought to be initiate with the projects costing the least amount of monetary, financial and other economic resources (Talberg & Power, 2013).

Impact of Climate Change Policies on Australian Forestry

During the implementation of the carbon pricing scheme in Australia, the largest emitters of the Australian forest sector were required to pay a penalty for every tonne of carbon emissions exceeding a threshold of 25,000 tonnes. For each tonne in carbon units, the emitters were required to pay a fixed penalty of $23 in 2012. In the year 2013, this charge was increased to $24.15. Finally, in the year the carbon pricing scheme was repealed, the emitters were required to pay $25.40 for each tonne of carbon they emitted over the 25,000 tonnes threshold (Teeter & Sandberg, 2016).

It was particularly due to the financial pressure borne by the emitters that the implementation of the carbon pricing scheme forced the corporations in the forestry sector to take immediate action in order to manage the carbon dioxide emissions. People involved in the forest sector of Australia argued that the imposition of the carbon tax caused the operating costs to elevate. The adverse effect of the carbon pricing scheme on the forest sector revolves around the impossibility of passing a proportion of the cost to the customers (Productivity Commission , 2012). Therefore, the imposition of the carbon pricing scheme caused the earnings of the overall forest sector to diminish.

When the carbon tax was repealed by the Coalition Government in July 2014, the Direct Action Plan was introduced.

The government of Australia has already managed to spend around $1.7 billion on about 143 million tonnes of emissions. This comes to an average costs of approximately $12 for every tonne (Liberal Party of Australia and National Party of Australia, 2010). Direct Action Plan, on the contrary, does not urge the companies and firms operating in the Australian forestry to take immediate actions against the carbon dioxide emissions. It was through the carbon tax that the companies were given all the incentives to take appropriate actions against the carbon dioxide emissions because it resulted in an increase the prices of utilities. Those companies that were liable to pay the carbon tax bore a financial burden that provided them enough motivation to manage the emissions of carbon dioxide. The Gillard Labor Government introduced the “carbon tax,” also referred to as the Australian carbon pricing scheme back in 2011. The carbon tax was introduced as the Clean Energy Act 2011 with effect from the 1^st of July’ 2012. The carbon tax was implemented for a very brief period of time, repealed by the actions of Tony Abbott, the Opposition leader. He manipulated the organizations to cajole them into making little or no investment for the purpose of the reduction of emissions. The Abbott Government repealed the scheme within two years on the 17^th of July’ 2014.

Adaptation Strategies

The forest managers of the Australian forestry must focus more on the adaptation. The developers of the carbon market must also consider how the changes in climate pose risks to the forests. These can be in terms of fire, diseases and pests. In addition, the heat tolerance of certain species in the forests ought to create several challenges for mitigation in the long term. Australia has a multitude of option for adaptation planning. Some of the adaptation strategies comprise of the implementation of the National Adaptation Programs of Action (NAPA) and the National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). Besides, Australian forestry can also adapt to the carbon dioxide emissions by broadening the scope of the national climate legislation and also implementing the climate-sensitive development plans. Success in the long run can be determined through adaptation because this is required by most strategies of emissions reduction. Sustainable development is one of the key strategies of adaptation that not only opens up opportunities for innovation, but also creates efficiencies ( Department of the Environment, 2013).