Welcome to today’s carbon causes climate catastrophe class. Let’s start with a few thoughts from around the room.

Righty-oh, who’s got an idea of what we should do? Marius* has his hand up. Put a price on carbon as soon as possible he says. Yes Mitchell*? You agree so long as it doesn’t negatively impact on jobs, investment, exports and growth.

Julia*? Did you have your hand up? Sorry, what ... oh, you want to be excused. While you’re out there, if you come across an assembly of citizens, ask them what they think.

Who said crap? Heavens above Tony*, what are we to do with you? Sorry boy, this is a serious discussion. OK, if you’re going to be like that, go and sit at the back of the class facing the corner with the “D” hat on your head.

Yes Joe*? Now that Tony’s not looking, you agree we should do something, even if it’s not much and even if climate change is all bull but just to be on the safe side?

Sorry Malcolm* I know you’ve had your hand up the whole time but the bell’s just rung.
The next class is religious studies or ethics, depending on your beliefs but the fundamental premise is the same — how to do what is right.

Most people agree that we need to put a price on carbon but sometimes fail to remember why. There seems to be an inability or unwillingness to join the dots.

The price of carbon emissions makes no difference to the climate, it’s the amount of carbon being released into the atmosphere that will determine the quality of our future.

There is little or no benefit in having an exhaustive debate on the mechanism for pricing carbon while emissions continue unabated and the coal industry is allowed to remain in denial and ever-expanding.

When the captains of industry, the chambers of commerce and the politicians at last heed the scientists’ warnings, we are at least heading in the right direction.

Putting a price on carbon is a mechanism to make carbon-emitting technology less attractive than alternatives. So far so good.

If we can agree to do this, then it’s just one step further to develop and promote a plan to burn less coal each and every year from now to eternity.

It’s not an economic catastrophe we’re facing here, it’s an environmental one.

The price of carbon might affect our standard of living but the amount of carbon affects our chances of living.

*Marius Kloppers, BHP Chief Executive; *Mitchell Hooke, Minerals Council CEO; *Julia Gillard, Prime Minister; *Tony Abbott, Opposition Leader; *Joe Hockey, Shadow Treasurer; *Malcolm Turnbull, Shadow Communications Minister. I trust that they and the rest of the class will strive for their personal best at all times.