One of the principles underpinning legislation in Australia and the world at the moment is called the Precautionary Principle. What it says is that when there is uncertainty about damage to the environment it is preferred to err on the safe side and not take action, so as to avoid potential damage. Same thing here, it is better to act and try to use all tools available to try and stop, mitigate and adapt to this wicked problem. One tool is enforcement and legislation, another can be economic incentives, such as a carbon trading scheme.
To be honest, my worries are more focused on the fact that, as with any new tries to fix a complex problem, there will be teething issues in the beginning and sometimes, humans tend to make things worse before they get better. But in any event, someone has to start somewhere. Let’s just hope that this scheme works in the way it should so that fossil fuel emissions are curbed and we reduce our pollution substantially or at least enought to make a difference!
I firmly believe that effective communication is a great tool, but as always, scientist are not good at communicating, neither are governments, so all we hear out there is just political jargon! But not an educational and informative description of what has been happening. But what would be the point of further public consultation when a substantial number of Australians still do not believe in climate change?