Carbon Pricing

Mr Fletcher asked the Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, in writing, on 21 August 2012:

In respect of a recent online media report by Qilai Shen Profits Carbon Credits Drive Output of a Harmful Gas (New York Times, 8 August 2012), what action is the Government taking under its carbon price arrangements to avoid the purchasing of carbon credits that may increase the output of harmful gases.

Mr Combet: The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

"The Government announced in 2011 that international emissions reduction units generated from the destruction of trifluoromethane (known as HFC-23) and nitrous oxide from the production of adipic acid would not be eligible units for surrender under the carbon pricing mechanism. This policy was announced in Securing a clean energy future: The Australian Government's climate change plan (Table 8 on p.107). Regulations to give effect to the policy are scheduled to be made in 2012."