Per capita, Australia ranks as the worst polluter among developed nations.
After years of intense political disputes, Australia’s Senate has passed a contentious pollution law.
The Clean Energy Act will require the country’s 500 biggest polluters to incur a tax on their carbon emissions starting from 1 July next year.
The Senate decision marks a significant win for Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who has strongly supported the initiative. Although environmentalists largely endorse the plan, it has sparked considerable public protests.
Opposition parties contend that this tax will result in job losses and an increase in the cost of living, vowing to overturn the law should they secure victory in the next election, scheduled for 2013.
