There’s some sunlight beyond the climate doom, and it's coming from business

We live in anxious times. That is understandable. But as all eyes look to Canberra for a solution to the pressing problem of climate change, it's important – and heartening – to remember a lot of work is already being done.

The Green Wattle fire in Orangeville, NSW on December 6.

Indeed, despite lacking a clear carbon price signal from government, corporate Australia has for some time now been factoring a "shadow" carbon price into long-term decision-making.

Why? Not because Canberra is telling it to, but because climate change is the new business reality.

It's a reality that will impose significant costs on business, including the direct costs of extreme weather events, the impact of shifting weather patterns on the agricultural sector, health and productivity impacts for workers and trade disruptions arising from other countries’ attempts to tackle climate change.

Read the opinion piece from The Age by Jessica Irvine - “There’s some sunlight beyond the climate doom, and it's coming from business.”