If Australia Can Do It...

It appears that the Australian Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, has more cojones than our own U.S. Senators. This past Sunday, Gillard proposed a plan that would enact a tax on carbon emissions and eventually transition  into an "emissions trading" system. Sound familiar? No? That's because our country's version of this bill The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, although passed by the House, was never voted on by the Senate, putting all hopes, that a bill such as this may be passed, to rest. The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, better known as the "cap and trade bill," would have set a cap on the total amount of greenhouse gases allowed to be emitted nationally, and then allow polluters to buy and sell permits that would specify the amount of greenhouse gases they could continue to emit. 


The U.S. bill was rejected by many policy makers who felt that it would cause too much stress on the companies affected by the bill and, as a result, cause energy prices to rise. With the millions of dollars spent on lobbying by these energy companies, it's no surprise that policy makers would use this as an excuse to further delay clean energy progress. While our country, and others like us, continue to grow and use more and more energy we will soon be forced to meet our demands with a more sustainable, efficient, and clean source. Australia's Prime Minister seems to realize this and if the bill passes (as it is expected to) will be the first of its kind to be enacted. Although many Americans, myself included, would like to believe that we are the world's leader in clean energy policy and progress, as of recent it seems this is no longer the case. 


It is my hope that Australia's progress toward a cleaner future will be regarded as a good example on how America and other countries should move forward. Our planet needs help and it is up to our leaders and policy makers to make the big changes that will set the tone for our future. Let's hope it's a good tone.