Scope 2017 survey: Economists say action on carbon is vital, or say nothing at all

Ai Group's Julie Toth said market mechanisms
 should be used to meet national commitments
to substantially cut emissions. 

There is no consensus. Economists either believe it is vital that Australia becomes a low-carbon intensity economy, or that the issue is so unimportant – or perhaps that it is so politically divisive – that they choose not to volunteer an opinion.

Asked about the importance of reducing the country's carbon footprint and how best to do it, more than half of 27 economists from industry, consultancy, academia and finance questioned for the annual BusinessDay Scope survey agreed it was a must.

Another 10 left the question blank. Whether this indicates a lack of interest or the contentious nature of climate change policy is unclear.

But none of those who did answer made the case that cleaning up the economy did not matter. They overwhelmingly said action should be swift and include a market-based carbon pricing scheme.

Read Adam Morton’s story in today’s Melbourne Age - “Scope 2017 survey: Economists say action on carbon is vital, or say nothing at all.”