Australia needs carbon trading to fight climate change: study

SYDNEY (AFP) — A major climate change report for Australia's government on Friday recommended the rapid introduction of an emissions trading scheme to curb greenhouse gases and warned that delay could be disastrous.

"Without early and strong action, some time before 2020 we will realise we've indelibly surrendered to forces that have moved beyond our control," said the report's author, economics professor Ross Garnaut.

The former diplomat and long-time advisor to governments said in his report that climate change was a "diabolical" problem which could cause immense damage to Australia.

An emissions trading scheme covering as many sectors as possible, including transport, was the best way of reducing the production of the greenhouse gases blamed for global warming, he said.

"The more sectors included in the emissions trading scheme, the more efficiently costs will be shared across the economy," Garnaut said.

However, energy prices would rise ...