Julia Gillard - Australia sets carbon tax to fight climate change

Australia announced plans Sunday to the pollution of carbon tax to AUS $ 23 (U.S. $ 24.74) per tonne to help combat climate change as it moved towards the creation of the largest in the region trading of emissions.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard said there would be a fixed price of carbon, global warming, starting next year before an emissions trading system was introduced in 2015.

Under the scheme, to begin July 1, 2012, about 500 of the largest polluters in Australia pay a fixed price, which starts at AUS $ 23 per tonne for their emissions of carbon dioxide in the first three years.

The mechanism would then pass through an emissions trading system with a variable price set by the market. The government set a floor price and ceiling for at least the first three years to avoid price shocks.