Time to move

One of the more surprising aspects of our regular pre-election reader surveys was the level of frustration expressed at both sides of politics because of inaction on climate change.

While we knew that many entrepreneurs see climate change as an extremely important issue, it was clear that many SME owners want action far sooner than Labor or the Coalition have planned.

Anecdotally at least, it seems that this is as much about sensible risk management than anything else – there are clearly problems caused by carbon pollution, and regardless of the debate about the causes and potential effects of that pollution, it is prudent and responsible to take action.

Last night, we saw BHP Billiton chief executive Marius Kloppers – who is perhaps the highest profile CEO in the country – join the calls for prompt action.

Kloppers said the Government should be looking at a multi-faceted approach using a combination of a carbon tax, land-use actions ad a limited trading system.

“There is no silver bullet,” he said in a speech delivered last night.

The central point is that we need to start taking action, and that action is likely to involve a number of different strategies. To Kloppers’ suggestions you would probably add incentives for renewable energy, and more programs to cut pollution at household and business levels.

Kloppers calls have been backed by Business Council of Australia president Graham Bradley, who yesterday acknowledged that some sort of emissions trading scheme is inevitable.

From the point of view of big business – and SMEs for that matter – the sooner firm decisions are made on the approaches the country will use to tackle climate change, the sooner businesses can prepare and adjust their businesses if necessary.

Most businesses know an emissions trading scheme is coming, and they don’t have a big problem with it. So let’s just get on with it.