Domestic Influences on the Howard Government's Climate Policy: Using the Past as a Guide to the Future

Abstract

The Australian Government's climate policy during the administration of Prime Minister John Howard was based on three pillars: inaction on mitigation and adaptation, a preference for voluntary beneficiary pays programs and a desire to protect the interests of emission intensive industries. This article examines the domestic factors that shaped the Howard Government's approach in an effort to provide insights into the future direction of Australia's climate policy. The article finds that the most important domestic factors were concerns about abatement costs, the Howard Government's values and the influence of the fossil fuel lobby. The article concludes that while there is evidence of change with the departure of the Howard Government, fundamental political blockages remain. Australia's climate policy is likely to be cautious in the near term and fall short of what is needed to make an equitable contribution to avoiding dangerous climate change. A more aggressive Australian climate policy is only likely to emerge if there is a significant shift in public opinion or foreign influences. Show more