Global Climate Change Australian Law and Policy

A comprehensive guide to climate change law and policy at the local, state and national level in Australia.

Global Climate Change: Australian Law and Policy is a comprehensive guide to climate change law and policy at local, state and national levels in Australia. The international framework established to deal with climate change is also examined in the book, together with frameworks in other non-Australian jurisdictions.

In writing the book the authors have drawn on legal sources including recent studies undertaken by government and non-government organisations, commissioned reports and journal articles, as well as academic studies. In addition, the authors have explored the physical science basis of climate change, the impact of climate change on human and biological environments, with a focus on Australia and the Pacific, and climate change mitigation and adaptation issues.

Subjects covered in the book include: carbon sequestration; climate change litigation; business, risk and climate change; emissions trading; carbon markets; and possible post-Kyoto climate change regimes.

The book is aimed not only at legal practitioners but also those involved in business, government and policy formulation. Corporations will find the book particularly useful.

Important Features:
· Examines both the legal and policy aspects of climate change in Australia
· Multi-disciplinary and multi-jurisdictional approach provides an integrated and nuanced understanding of climate change law and policy at all levels
· The avoidance of legal jargon makes it accessible to business, corporations and governments
· Detailed, up-to-date and complete coverage which is authoritative and timely

Review:
Global Climate Change: Australian Law and Policy
David Hodgkinson & Renee Garner

NOW THAT world leaders have collectively pulled their heads out of the sand about global climate change, a rapidly growing body of law and cross-jurisdictional regulation is taking shape. There are sure to be many more texts to come on this topic, but this is a very good start and a useful entry point into this growing area of law.

Authors David Hodgkinson (Special Counsel, Clayton Utz) and Renee Garner (solicitor, Freehills) have pulled together the current law and policy covering climate change in Australia and overseas jurisdictions in a simple and concise format.

They steer away from the intricacies of the ongoing policy debate, focusing on providing an easy-to-navigate guide to the current regulatory framework. Subjects covered in the book include: carbon sequestration; climate change litigation; business, risk and climate change; emissions trading; carbon markets; and possible post-Kyoto climate change regimes.

Short extracts from key economic and policy texts couch the legislative content in real world context, making this a valuable reference for both legal readers and generalists.

About the authors:

David Hodgkinson is Special Counsel, Clayton Utz; Director, The Hodgkinson Group (Aviation and Climate Change Advisors); and Executive Director, EcoCarbon

Renee Garner is a Solicitor at Freehills and a member of Freehills National Climate Change Steering Group. Renee has expertise in all aspects of climate change law, including emissions trading, energy and renewable energy major projects.

Lawyers Weekly
Issue 404 Friday 12 September 2008