I think we can say we are all concerned about the cost of climate change, whether it is the cost of fires and floods or the cost of a transition to net-zero emissions by 2050. This is the reason this petition was started and why we are continuing to share it.  Please consider one or two more people or groups that you can share this petition with: https://www.change.org/p/climate-polluters-pay-not-taxpayers

The Letter to the Editor (26/2) below, was written to show the public that a transition is affordable for Australians.

"David Nicholson (Letters, 25/2) is concerned about the cost of achieving a net zero emissions outcome by 2050.

There is a way to reduce emissions, accelerate technology, stimulate the economy and 75 per cent of Australian households would be better off financially. It is clear, transparent and easy to understand.

I thought this sounded too good to be true until I read the Australian Carbon Dividend Plan by University of NSW. British Columbia began this a decade ago and it has been so successful it has now gone across Canada and it is in place in Switzerland.

It involves going to the main source of the problem and putting a steadily rising price on carbon emissions at the coal mine, the oil or gas well — like an emissions royalty fee. The money raised is returned as a payment to every Australian household.

Border adjustments are made to protect export trades and specific provisions would need to be made for farmers. It could be called a “polluter pays, not taxpayers” transition to net zero emissions.

Paula Samson, Applecross"