BBC:
Australian environmentalists won a victory with the
Senate’s approval of the Clean Energy Act. The
plan—part of a global policy to combat climate
change—will force the country’s 500 worst-polluting
companies to pay a tax on their carbon emissions. Hardest hit
by the tax will be mining and energy companies, airlines, and
steel makers. Consumers can also expect higher fuel bills as a
result. Nevertheless, Australia’s government hopes that
the legislation will force advances in renewable energy
technologies and wean the country away from fossil fuels.
