Briefs: Australia’s White Paper

In its White Paper "Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS): Australia's Low Pollution Future" - an amended version of the Green Paper issued in July 2008 - unveiled in December 2008, the Australian government gave details concerning its future greenhouse gas emissions reduction scheme: - making HFCs more expensive: the CPRS will apply pressure to phase out the use of high- GWP HFCs bymaking them subject to a strong price mechanism.This will be done by applying Scheme obligations to large importers, as well as raising existing import levies to achieve an equivalent carbon price on all synthetic greenhouse gases sold in Australia; - early phase out of R-22: in new equipment, use of HCFC-22 will be phased out in 2010, five years sooner than planned; - recovery and destruction incentives at end of life and servicing of equipment will be issued. It is expected that this Scheme will begin on July 1, 2010.