NATURE CLIMATE CHANGE | VOL 2 | JULY 2012 | www.nature.com/natureclimatechange 477 opinion & comment COMMENTARY: Science and the governance of Australia’s climate regime Rodney J. Keenan, Lisa Caripis, Anita Foerster, Lee Godden and Jacqueline Peel The promise of a scientifcally sound policy approach to tackle greenhouse-gas emissions in Australia gives hope that the country’s eforts to mitigate climate change can make an efective contribution to international objectives. A fer more than two decades of debate on climate change policy, in November 2011 the Australian Parliament passed legislation establishing a Carbon Pricing Mechanism (CPM). For the frst time, large emitters across the country will be legally required to reduce their greenhouse-gas emissions. Te CPM will commence on 1 July 2012 with a fxed unit price on emissions and transition afer three years to a cap-and-trade scheme 1 . It is part of a package of clean energy legislation and associated initiatives to support the development of renewable energy and improve energy efciency. Te CPM is the centrepiece of Australia’s climate change response. Although it is more comprehensive than the European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme, the mechanism does not cover emissions from some key sectors such as agriculture, which accounts for almost 15% of Australia’s emissions 2 . Te CPM will operate in conjunction with a voluntary ofset scheme for the agricultural and land-management sectors — the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI). It also allows for trading in ofset credits generated from credible international carbon markets and emissions trading schemes. As enshrined in the new law, these arrangements form part of Australia’s contribution to the development of an efective global response to climate change, which aims to ensure that warming of the climate system does not exceed 2 °C above pre-industrial levels. But will these legislative arrangements ensure Australia’s contribution is scientifcally sound? Te integration of scientifc expertise into governance arrangements is important for a credible outcome. Climate Change Authority Setting the level of emissions (the ‘cap’) from 2015 onwards is a critical factor in meeting the objectives of the legislation. One of the laws establishes a new independent, expertise-based body, the Climate Change Authority (CCA), to advise the government on the annual caps and future emission targets, and to review the efectiveness and efciency of the mechanism. Te CCA is to be guided by the principles of environmental efectiveness, economic efciency, equity and administrative integrity, which are integral to the goal of ecologically sustainable development that informs Australian environmental law and policy. Te CCA must also take into account Australia’s international obligations. It is largely modelled on the UK’s Committee on Climate Change 3 , which has had some success in obviating the short- term political interests that frequently infuence governments when developing and implementing policy commitments to climate change 4 . Te establishment of such a body in Australia provides some assurance that caps and emissions-reduction targets will be informed by the latest science and have scientifc integrity. Te CCA’s nine members are appointed by the Climate Change Minister: an independent chair, the chief scientist and seven other members who must have “substantial experience or knowledge and signifcant standing” in at least one specifed area relating to climate science, economics, climate change mitigation, emissions trading, environmental and land-resource management, investment and business 5 . Te body provides advice on Australia’s carbon budget and emissions trajectory. It will recommend levels of annual caps on greenhouse-gas emissions that are in-line with medium- and long-term emissions- reduction targets. Te CCA is also required to review the efectiveness of reporting, the mechanism’s coverage and progress towards achieving the national reduction targets. © ISTOCKPHOTO/THINKSTOCK © 2012 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved