The Carbon Tax: Let's Keep Australia's Reputation Clean
Putting a price on carbon has been a long and difficult process, with two previous attempts defeated in Parliament. If and when the vote happens it'll be a welcome victory for the Labor Government. (ABC News)
On a per capita basis, according to the OECD, Australia is the third largest polluter in the world - that's a bit embarrassing. All over the globe we have positive reputation, which promotes our beautiful land and our laid back living, the carbon tax only further encourages this.
"Australian's have never had it so good", Bruce Jackson (Nine MSN Finance News) highlights. "We have had 20 years of uninterrupted economic growth. We have unemployment running at less than 5%. Our economy is the absolute envy of the world. As a result, collectively we are living a comparative life of luxury." So why not make a positive change for the environment?
There is much debate on how the Carbon Tax will affect small businesses. While they will not be required to pay a carbon price, the majority of sources are saying that there is expected to be an indirect impact on this sector of the economy. It has been said that cost pressures will be passed down through the supply chain resulting in higher costs which will eventually be passed onto consumers.
Decreasing expenses in other areas of the business by implementing sustainable practices will level out costs from this indirect impact. If costs saving measures are put into place now they shouldn't be affected. Their expenses will already be decreased; this will give way for any indirect impact. It will be the businesses that don't implement sustainable practices that will suffer the most. They will keep their current costs up as well as get whacked with the cost pressures passed through the supply chain. This is what will result in the higher costs being passed onto consumers. It's the sustainable businesses that will be able to offer a far more superior product with a competitive price.
With just one year to implement these practices, our advice is to start sooner rather than later. Putting a price on carbon will give businesses an incentive to invest in cleaner energy sources. It's a small price to pay for the future generation to live in a cleaner planet and to further demonstrate the love we have for our land.
To get your carbon footprint assessed and determine ways to save call GreenBizCheck to start your journey to sustainable business.
By Zoey Jurss, GreenBizCheck
