Comparing Carbon Tax Vs. Direct Action Plan In Australia And The Impact On Urban Water

The Relationship between Urban Water and Climate Change

Question:

Discuss about the Project on Urban Water for Climate and Agriculture.

In 2012, the Australian government introduced a carbon tax in 2012 to mitigate global warming as well as to handle the aspect of change in climate. Also, the government hosted a direct-action plan that would substitute the carbon pricing and technically accomplish the very similar goals of global warming alleviation. In relation, the paper will appear in an in-depth analysis attempt to compare and contrast the two related policies (Ekström 2015). 

Urban water simply means all water surfaces that occur in the urban environments (Head, Adams, McGregor and Toole 2014). Subsequently, this is inclusive of consideration of natural surface water as well as underground water and the water used for portable use, food services, storm harvesting among other projects. There is a profound association that exists between water, energy, climate, and agriculture (Whetton, Ekström, Gerbing, Grose, Bhend, Webb and Risbey 2015). Technically, the relationship can be viewed as one that is getting out of hand and in relation threatening foodstuff, water as well as security for energy. Subsequently, change in climate is a factor that can no longer be ignored because its impact is progressively becoming something that has more evident across the world.

It is important to point out that 1992 was listed as one of hottest years ever registered and nearly each year since this year has been included on the list. According to NOAA and NASA data, 2015 was the hottest year ever recorded. The rise in the earth’s temperature is something that has continuously created an impact on our freshwater and urban water supplies. Technically, the results point towards a devastating effect on these resources. Due to the temperature increase, evaporation also increases and as a result sometimes there are experienced cases of droughts. Australia has not been left out of the list of some of the greatest severe and many-year famine affected places. Additionally, it is true to say that increasing temperatures are also melting ice-cold at an extraordinary proportion. As it is publicly known, glaciers are part of the most important sources of fresh water worldwide, and the reduction of such has disastrous impacts. Some, an example of those found in Glacier national park face the possibility of extinction within the 21 century.

The dangerous part in all of this is that once glaciers melt away, it is impossible to restore them. In relation, the areas that formerly hinge on the glaciers will strictly have to find other options. What complicates this outcome further is the point that in a radiated environment, more rainfall will occur and not snow. More rain than snowfall could happen from a third-party perspective seem a plus, but this is not the case. On the contrary, this means more frequent water shortages which are not a positive result. This can be credited to the fact that while hail and ice collect on the highland tops, rainwater in relation released slowly into the pools and it dissolves slowly through summer besides spring.

Carbon Tax vs. Direct Action Plan in Australia

On the other hand, when there is rain, basins fill speedily to volume in the wintertime which in return leads to excessive water runoffs which lack storage areas. As a result, the areas within Australia that are dependent on snow-melt as their main fresh water source will gradually face water scarcities. It is also important to point out that the link between water and change in climate does not close there. Subsequently, the arrangements which are used to purify as well as to move public water supplies require an extensive large amount of energy which most of the time is formed by regular gas and other vestige fuels. In relation, when people use water, we also use energy and hence contribute to change in climate.

The rationale behind the carbon tax is of far reaching consequence on the urban water in Australia. The carbon tax is justifiable in a number of ways amid nations joining hands to embrace carbon tax instruments therefore it be regrettable to give up on the carbon tax initiative (Schiermeier 2014). The carbon tax initiative costs less and much is realized on the side of the government while the Direct Action Plan is likely to cost more on the government with little impact. The Direct Action is approximated at $ 5 billion dollar each year in the Australian budget meaning that it would cost more than carbon tax would cost with very minimal carbon reduction.

Carbon tax is more efficient as compared to Direct Action plan. In the short run it would slightly reduce electricity bills consequently reducing the cost of pumping urban water to the consumers. The Australian energy use is surely reducing bringing efficiency in controlling urban water as well as the reducing the negative externalities on the urban waters.

The theoretical underpinning carbon tax and Direct Action explains how each of them works. The carbon tax is levied on the firms depending on the amount of negative externalities in the environment. The tax increases with the increase in the negative externalities produced by the firm. Pricing of Carbon may take different ways. The pricing system sets limits for firms on the general amount of green gas emitted into the environment and makes the environmental contaminators to stay under control and check (Lindsay, Furie, Davis, Donnan and Norrving 2014).  It is aimed at increasing the polluters’ bills so as to make fossil fuels expensive thereby reducing affordability and then the consumers are finally protected from the negative effects of uncontrolled green gas emission.

Challenges and Opportunities of Urban Water in a Carbon-Constrained World

On the other hand, the Direct Action Plan argues that the Australian government would incur costs of business projects that reduce carbon emission into the environment (Robson 2014). It further explains that allocations would be made by the government through opposite sale beginning with lowest costing projects.  In Direct Action, the reduction of emission would identify and buy reduction of emission from the allocated funds at the lowest possible cost also the allocated fund will be used to buy the emissions that are genuinely geared toward reducing the carbon emission (Parliament of Australia, Direct Action Plan). That is, firms that genuinely reduce emissions into the environment lower than their individual standards would definitely offer to sell the carbon produced to the government but the businesses emitting carbon above their standard would be penalized (Meng, Siriwardana and McNeill 2013).

The increasing population pressure, as well as susceptibility to projected climate change impact, have the capability to pose strains on the water facility in the country. Traditionally, water facility concentrated more on satisfying water urban demand through a network of little energy lines that is largely founded on the capture and storing of external runoff. The approach, however, is showing that it is no longer adequate in sustaining the swelling demand for water in Australian urban centers.

Now, water springs rely on innovative know-hows which technically incur plentiful operating energy overheads, and several efforts have been made to address developing water supply difficulties in Australia. Technically, there are various risks and opportunities associated with city water in a world constrained with carbon, particularly in Australia. Development of Australian water assets usually employed low-cost solutions which has negligible operating energy. Also, it is vital to point out that the increasing water demand together with Australian regular climate inconsistency has technically caused water dealers snowballing water quantity sources through aspects such as recycled water or desalination which is a form of energy-intensive climate independent alternatives.

The challenge, however, is that these sources require high operational cost attributed to the rising cost of energy. Similarly, when this price of energy upsurges, the price of water is also possible to surge. Subsequently, this leads to bigger probability of being affected by locally useful carbon restraints hence making it an essential variable for urban water (Smith, Haberl, Popp, Erb, Lauk, Harper and Masera 2013). Also, as the water functions adjust to the varying water quantity circumstances through the use of varying water bases, it is paramount to acknowledge the influence that the great energy results have on the alleviation of environment change.

Mitigating the Impact of Climate Change on Urban Water Resources

The potential need for climate change mitigation as well as improvement makes it necessary for developing approaches to be critically evaluated. Australia can be considered as the wealthy country which has abundant fossils fuels that can potentially elect energy-intensive solutions which are technically acceptable in the short term. The proposed emissions reduction makes its target the execution of a decarbonization of the energy segment as well as the economy in shorter durations (Miller 2014).

Australia must also acknowledge the concept of unique hydrology as well as the effective use of a mixture of low energy methods to reduce the water stores generally impact on the atmosphere. Relatively, this will comprise the minimization of evaporation, appropriate sources and reuse and applying reuse with a keen interest in energy consumption. The country also needs to change the current paradigm regarding water resources. Such an approach will relatively save both water as well as energy which in return will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Another primary benefit is that it will enable more effective transitioning towards more sustainable practice regarding our utilities (Pikaar, Sharma, Hu, Gernjak, Keller and Yuan 2014).

Buying of energy-efficient goods. Consumers should deliberately begin to buy and use energy-efficient goods even if they are seemingly expensive, they will reduce energy bills in the long run hence reduce water bills as well. Businesses also need to invest in machines that have lower consumption of carbon fuel

Rewriting rules and regulations for the services. Writing rules and regulations in regard to environment promotes conservation of the environment just like selling the energy.  It will also act as public education program to enlighten the public on the need to conserve the environment because when the environment is conserved, several benefits are reaped as far as the availability and use of urban water is concerned (Marlow, Moglia, Cook and Beale 2013).

Restricted types of transportation. In order to realize strategy for reducing green gas emission into the environment, means of transport should be looked into and restricted measures be taken into consideration. Vehicles that use high carbon fuel should be greatly reduced in number as compared to those that consume less. Mass transit system should also be adopted to reduce the number of private cars on the road that increase heating. The number of big ships on the waterways should be restricted to avoid spillage of oil in water that consequently causes pollution of the water is later used by the urban dwellers (Grant, Fletcher, Feldman, Saphores, Cook, Stewardson and Hamilton 2013).

Changes in water use practices.  The urban dwellers have to change their habit of using water and take precautions on the rate of use or otherwise face scarcity due to overconsumption. Good use of the available water by small and large consumers is important in reducing negative effects of lack of water in the environment (Troy 2013)

Plans for the resource conservation. Taking lead in the plans for conserving the environment is important and indispensable in realizing mitigation on green house effects. Conservation plans should be encouraged through financial aids to undertake reforestation in areas where plants have been cruelly dealt with. Reforestation will ensure water availability in urban centers for the dwelling population thereof.

On the note, deforestation ought to be discouraged completely among the population since without plants, warming is likely to heighten thereby increasing greenhouse effects (Hristov, Oh, Lee, Meinen, Montes, Ott and Yang 2013). With increased warming to the environment, devastating effects occurs, drought is experienced thereby reducing the water level from the water sources consequently reducing the amount of water for use in the urban centers. Therefore, the more fruitful mitigation strategies advanced toward the effects of greenhouse emission, the more successful human life becomes in the urban areas.

References

Ekström, M. 2015. Central Slopes Cluster Report, Climate Change in Australia Projections for Australia’s Natural Resource Management Regions: Cluster Reports, eds. Ekström, M. et al. Cluster reports,CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology, Australia. https://www. Climate change in Australia. gov. au/en/publications-library/cluster-reports.

Grant, S. B., Fletcher, T. D., Feldman, D., Saphores, J. D., Cook, P. L., Stewardson, M. … and Hamilton, A. J. 2013. Adapting urban water systems to a changing climate: Lessons from the millennium drought in southeast Australia.

Head, L., Adams, M., McGregor, H. V., and Toole, S. 2014. Climate change and Australia. Wiley             Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, 5(2), 175-197.

Hristov, A. N., Oh, J., Lee, C., Meinen, R., Montes, F., Ott, T. … and Yang, W. 2013. Mitigation of        greenhouse gas emissions in livestock production: A review of technical options for non-CO2 emissions. FAO Animal Production and Health Paper No, 177, 1-206.

Lindsay, P., Furie, K. L., Davis, S. M., Donnan, G. A., and Norrving, B. 2014. World Stroke Organization             global stroke services guidelines and action plan. International Journal of Stroke, 9(A100), 4-13.

Marlow, D. R., Moglia, M., Cook, S., and Beale, D. J. 2013. Towards sustainable urban water      management: A critical reassessment. Water research, 47(20), 7150-7161.

Meng, S., Siriwardana, M., and McNeill, J. 2013. The environmental and economic impact of the carbon             tax in Australia. Environmental and Resource Economics, 1-20.

Miller, C. 2014. Australia getting hotter. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 12(3), 150-150.

Parliament of Australia, Direct Action Plan                https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Environment_and_Com            munications/Direct_Action_Plan/Report/c05

Pikaar, I., Sharma, K. R., Hu, S., Gernjak, W., Keller, J., and Yuan, Z. 2014. Reducing sewer corrosion through integrated urban water management. Science, 345(6198), 812-814.

Robson, A. 2014. Australia’s carbon tax: An economic evaluation. Economic Affairs, 34(1), 35-

Schiermeier, Q. 2014. Anger as Australia dumps carbon tax. Nature, 511(7510).

Smith, P., Haberl, H., Popp, A., Erb, K. H., Lauk, C., Harper, R. … and Masera, O. 2013. How much land?based greenhouse gas mitigation can be achieved without compromising food security and environmental goals? Global Change Biology, 19(8), 2285-2302.

Troy, P. 2013. Troubled waters: Confronting the water crisis in Australia’s cities (p. 217). ANU Press.

Whetton, P., Ekström, M., Gerbing, C., Grose, M., Bhend, J., Webb, L., and Risbey, J. 2015. Climate change in Australia. Information for Australia’s natural resource management regions: technical report.