Australia's Clean Economy Future: Costs and Benefits

Abstract

This Issues Paper offers the first-ever comparison of the costs of emission reduction in Australia relative to the potential damages from climate change under current policy settings. The Issues Paper considers the options available to state governments in Australia – specifically the Queensland and Victorian governments – to transition to a clean economy and considers the costs of these options, compared against the costs of doing nothing and the cost benefits of avoiding potential damages in the future. While the costs of mitigation are substantial, this is one of the first times these costs are considered relative to the environmental, social and economic benefits and damages that can be ..