Oil and gas companies should disclose the climate research and advocacy organisations they fund and their 'strategic goals' for that funding, say new guidelines prepared by an international investor alliance.
Several loopholes must be closed to prevent the UN climate talks delivering a result that will make it all but impossible to deliver emission cuts that can avoid dangerous climate change, WWF says.
As the Opposition joint partyroom meeting reconvenes for further battle, the Australian Aluminium Council has thown its weight behind passing the bills with the proposed amendments, as has WWF.
In a market where coking coal is forecast to sell for about $200 per tonne and thermal coal for $80 in 2010-11, most coal mines will face a carbon cost of only 80 cents to $1.60 per tonne if they remain liable under the CPRS, according to a Citi analysis.
Compensating investors in coal-fired power stations means the costs of their failure to properly consider risks would be borne by taxpayers, the Investor Group on Climate Change has warned.
Focusing only on lowest-cost action will fail to prevent runaway climate change, says a global report commissioned by WWF Australia and reviewed by author of the renowned 2004 'wedges' climate change scenario, Princeton University's Robert Socolow.
Plans for a protest at Victoria's coal-fired Hazelwood power station have prompted State shadow attorney-general Robert Clark to call for urgent action to protect Victoria's coal-fired generators from disruption.